More action from the match. A previously unpublished image.

W. G. Grace would have turned in his grave had he seen the goings on at the cricket match between Burnley councillors and council officials at Belvedere on Sunday, 4th September 1974. But the councillors didn't mind, for they won by 13 runs and gained sweet revenge after their defeat in the annual bowling match last month. After this defeat the councillors decided to throw down the gauntlet and challenge the officials to a cricket match. They thought they had a good chance, with their trump card, the Mayor of Burnley, Councillor Edward Hanson, being a former Lowerhouse player.

The officers went in to bat first, and got off to a great start, hitting two fours off the first two balls bowled by Councillor Tommy Lynch, 14 runs coming from the over. But after that Councillor Lynch settled down to a fine line and length and in his third over had J. Hartley caught for two. In the second over, opening batsman G. Fairhurst was caught by Councillor Kenneth McGeorge off the bowling of Councillor Edward Fisk. The other opener D. Hackney carried on where his partner left off, hitting both Councillor Fisk and Councillor Lynch for six, before Councillor Lynch trapped him leg before when he had scored 21. The councillors were spurred on by this and when the Mayor came on to turn his arm, in his second over he bowled W. Turner and then in his third had D. Whitehead caught for one. The middle order batting collapsed and the officials struggled to a total of 93, thanks to a last wicket partnership of 16.

It looked a tall order for the councillors but the officials did not reckon with the batting talents of Councillors Peter Smith, Edward Fisk and Jesse Bradshaw, who between them hit 72 runs. Councillor Smith held the innings together with a sterling knock of 24, after he had lost his opening partner, Councillor Albert Pickup, after only a minute at the wicket. The Mayor did not last very long either, being bowled after scoring only one run. But his side continued to forge ahead and scored 103 runs, beating the officials by 13 runs.