A 92-YEAR-OLD has donated £1,000 to help a cricket club clear its debts.

Generous Ronald Harrison, an ex-Colne Cricket Club player, said he wanted the Byron Road side to survive for ‘future generations.’

The club owes Marston’s Brewery £76,000 but officials have agreed a loan with Yorkshire Bank to clear this debt.

Mr Harrison said: “I had a lot of pleasure and some great times when I was playing for Colne.

“I had many good years there and I want other generations to have the same experience. It is important the club survives.”

Colne chairman Gary Hunt said Mr Harrison would be made an honorary member for life at a special presentation.

Mr Hunt said: “It is a wonderful gesture and one we are really grateful for.

“It shows there are still people out there who not only want Colne Cricket Club to survive but to prosper as well.

“It is an incredible donation from a former player.”

Mr Hunt said the loan deal with Yorkshire Bank meant they would soon be free to negotiate with new suppliers to receive the best deals for the club.

He said that the club had made a £46,000 profit in the last financial year.

Mr Hunt said: “Some of this money will go towards reducing our debt.

“We received a £28,000 legacy from Arnold Tate which was a massive help but we still managed an extra £18,000 on top of that, which is phenomenal.

“There is a lot of hard work going in to clearing the debt and the making the club a success.”

Great-grandad Mr Harrison presented a cheque to Jan Dickinson, whose grandad Ellis Dickinson is the club’s all-time run scorer.

Mr Harrison joined Colne Cricket Club aged 14, and the all-rounder played for the first team between 1948 and 1953.

Mr Harrison told Mr Dickinson how he played in the same team as Ellis for several seasons.

Mr Dickinson, co-owner of Scruples, in Barrowford, said: “It was really nice to speak to Ronald and hear some of his cricketing tales.

“It’s the first time I’ve actually spoken to someone who played in the same team as my granddad, which was good.

“The £1,000 donation is fantastic and will be a great help.”