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News, sport and entertainment from Chorley and the surrounding villages
Tributes to Chorley's 'unsung hero' of sport (From Chorley Citizen)
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Tributes to Chorley's 'unsung hero' of sport
5:09pm Wednesday 30th January 2013 in News
By Chris Gee, Reporter
Jack Markland with granddaughter Chelsea
Tributes have been paid to an “unsung hero” of Chorley sport, who died suddenly after clearing snow from his front drive.
Jack Markland, 79, who gave decades of unpaid service to Chorley Cricket Club, collapsed at his home in Walgarth Drive at around 1pm on Saturday and could not be revived.
Mr Markland who bought his home 31 years ago because it overlooked the club’s Windsor Park ground, was extremely well known and respected for his dedication to the club.
Chorley CC chairman Peter Mockett, said: “Jack Markland is one of those unsung heroes that over many years Chorley CC has been blessed with.
“He gave up endless hours of his own time on the maintenance of the ground and support of the club in general.
“Many of the people who have known him a lot longer than I have tell stories of him building new sight screens and digging drainage ditches and in later years he helped out on pitch preparation.
“Our thoughts are with his family but he will also be very sadly missed by Chorley Cricket Club.”
Mr Markland, who before retirement worked as a joiner for Norweb, served on the club’s committee for many years and spent countless hours working on the ground or assisting with the club’s junior coaching programme.
He leaves wife Margaret, sons Karl and Heath, daughter Dawn and grand daughter Chelsea.
Both Karl and Heath Markland formerly played for Chorley’s first team after being coached by their father.
Mrs Markland, said: “It was all very sudden.
“He had been out clearing the snow from the drive, but the doctor told me it could have happened at any time.
“Jack loved being involved with the cricket club and living so close by.
“We’ve never had a summer holiday since we moved here as we always had to go before or after the cricket season.
“The club was his passion.”
Mr Markland’s funeral will be held at 2pm on Wednesday, February 6 at Charnock Crematorium.
