Early in January we were all deeply saddened to hear of the untimely loss of our club’s greatest ever batsman Jim Handforth. Our thoughts were with, and remain with his wife Beryl and sons, Philip and Andrew.

Words cannot fully express just how much esteem this man was held in by so many people far and wide. In a Mottram playing career spanning seventeen years Jim scored 5,047 runs averaging 25.76 with 5 centuries and 16 half centuries to his credit.

Jim is the only batsman to score centuries in all four senior competitions in the Glossop & District League.

When Jim decided to join Mottram from their great rivals Hadfield St Andrews in 1960, it was the latter day equivalent of say, David Beckham signing for Arsenal.

With the master now in the ranks of Mottram’s already star studded line up, they were to sweep all before them.

The story goes that Jim once scored a century in a Rhode Bowl Final at North Road, Glossop and purchased a car with the takings from his collection, and that, after buying everyone a drink!

From a personal point of view, the greatest innings I ever saw the great man play was in Rhodes Bowl match at Stockport Georgians in 1975. He had been recalled from 2^nd team duties to help bolster a depleted batting line up and typically, rose to the challenge. Jim was 54 years of age.

Mottram had been given a solid start by their excellent openers Andrew Marsden and Colin Mitchell and were comfortably placed on 60 for 1, when the latter was dismissed. Out strode Jim, looking less than athletic with those long spindly legs supporting an increasingly stooping frame. He posed a rather apologetic figure to those who didn’t know any better.

The arrival of this bespectacled old codger at the crease, prompted the re introduction of Georgian’s opening bowler, a fast rookie by the name of Dave Bennett. This was the lad who went on to become a fine all rounder for Offerton later in his career. The events that were to follow must have played on Bennett's mind for years to come and he must have seriously considered whether or not to carry on bowling at all.

Andrew Marsden's personal tally was 48 as the bearded Bennett roared in to Handforth. He delivered a misdirected bouncer to Jim which was helped on it’s way over the ropes and the railway lines beyond. This was to happen on another five occasions. The faster and shorter he bowled, the further Jim hit him.

Marsden was on 49 when Jim reached his 50. It was savage but controlled a master class in how to play fast bowling and one which I shall never forget.