Alan Phelan

The Yorkshire Cricket Southern Premier League is saddened to hear of the passing of one of its valued life members, Alan Phelan. 

Alan started his cricket career as a junior at Aston Hall, where he played for over 35 years; later moving on to finish his playing career with Eckington and Stocksbridge Old. An off-spinner, he took well over a thousand wickets in his career. 

 

He was asked to join the management committee of the old South Riding League in the early 1980s, which he continued to serve for over 30 years, during which period it became the SYSCL. As League President for eight years from 2006, Alan is credited with being the driving force behind transforming the League from under-performing over-rans to one of the most powerful and well-organised leagues in Yorkshire. 

 

In particular, his commitment to junior cricket and his insistence that all clubs should have a junior section has resulted in the production of generations of promising young players in South Yorkshire. 

 

League Ambassador Terry Bentham says, “Alan dragged the SYSCL screaming into the 20th century in his role as chairman. Sometimes this was against the wishes of some of the older members on the committee. He continued along the same track when he became its president. It was his idea that we formed a League umpires’ association, of which he also became president. His knowledge on the game was immense; when he got going you had to listen, because you could always learn something. He will be missed by many of us.” 

 

Alan's funeral will take place at 11.45 on Thurday 21st April at Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium, Sheffield S8 0HP. 

 

We send our most sincere condolences to Alan’s family and friends.