His face is amongst the most well know at the Club, his voice is certainly the best known and he is undoubtedly FCC's number one supporter, so it was with extreme pleasure, and thanks, that Dennis Lasley was welcomed into the FCC 4th XI for the fixture against Southport Trinity on 13 Aug 17, having agreed to be a late replacement for Tom Simpson.

After agreeing a pay as you play deal with Captain Dwyer, setting out his batting and bowling conditions, all pre-contractual details were confirmed and Dennis looked resplendent as he slipped into his FCC kit.

Given the 50 year gap between this fixture and his last match (For his school side) Dennis could have been forgiven for looking forward to a relatively quiet afternoon being posted down to fine leg or 3rd man. Captain Dwyer was having none of this and, exercising a cricketing 6th sense, posted Dennis in the very busy cover area where he performed with incredible efficiency.

Very little was able to get past the Dennis wall and, on another day and with a bit more luck, he could even have had a catch against his name having managed to intercept a fiercely hit cover drive, from a full toss, that went to him like a train.

Having Dennis in the side meant that the 4th XI did not have to go into a game with 10 men, as has happened too frequently this summer, and his presence in the covers assisted greatly in keeping the Southport score to a realistic level.

From everyone in the 4th XI, and I am sure that I speak for the entire club, congratulations and thanks go to Dennis for stepping into the breach and I am already thinking that this is not the last time that we will see him playing for the 4th XI.