Bedford’s cricket community have been remembering Neil Stanley after the former Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire batsman passed away today (7 August) aged 56.
From the playing fields of Bedford Modern School to the first-class arena with Northamptonshire, and back again, Stanley enjoyed a career with many clubs and counties with many of the game’s local talismen paying tribute.
“Everyone at Wantage Road has been saddened by the death of former Northamptonshire batsman Neil Stanley at the age of 56”, said Northamptonshire County Cricket Club in a statement released this morning.
“Neil passed away at Cynthia Spencer Hospice in Northampton in the early hours of this morning. NCCC – and everyone connected with cricket in the county – offers sincerest condolences to Neil’s family and his many friends.”
Born in Bedford on 16th May 1968, Stanley quickly made his mark on the cricket pitches of Bedford Modern School, with former coach, Andy Curtis remembering him as a talented young man.
Speaking on ‘X’, Curtis said, “Very sad news. A really talented cricketer whom I first coached at BMS from the age of eight and whose school career blossomed as a free scoring opening batsman for the next ten years.”
He first burst on to the radar of Northamptonshire when he made an unbeaten 158 for the County Colts side against Horton House, and with the county certain they had spotted a rare talent, he was quickly on the books at Wantage Road.
Stanley would go on to represent England Under-19s at the first ever Under 19 World Cup in Australia, alongside future England captains in Mike Atherton and Nasser Hussain before making his full Northamptonshire debut in 1988.
A serious back injury caused Neil to miss the entirety of the 1990 season, but a career-best innings of 132 against Lancashire followed before he left the county in 1993 after 21 appearances and a shade over a thousand first-class runs.
Stanley would go on to be a leading player at club level, including a stint with Bedford Town in the early 2000’s, as well as continuing to play Minor Counties cricket for Bedfordshire.
One of Bedfordshire Cricket’s stalwarts, Ian Smith remembers Neil as, “just a lovely guy”.
“[He was] one of the best bats I ever saw play for Bedfordshire and I particularly remember one hundred he hit against Cambridgeshire at March Town Cricket Club.
“I first saw him play for Bromham Nomads against Ampthill Town. My sympathy to his family and friends.”
Neil is survived by his wife Mel. All of our thoughts at Bedford Independent are with Neil’s family and friends at this difficult time.
