The funeral of former Lancashire cricketer, Geoff Clayton will take place at St Thomas Church, Delph on Monday 15th October at 12noon, followed by a committal at Hollinwood Crematoria at 1.30pm.
Mossley born Geoff passed away last month, aged 80, at the Holland Close sheltered housing facility in Delph.
He made his first-class debut in 1957 playing for the Combined Services against Worcestershire, making his first appearance for the Red Rose county in 1959.
Geoff, a right-handed batsman and excellent wicketkeeper, was awarded his county cap in 1960.
He wasn’t retained by the Old Trafford club after the 1964 campaign and joined Somerset with whom he was also awarded a county cap in 1965.
In just his fourth match he compiled a maiden century as night watchman against Middlesex. His innings of 106 was the highest score of his decade long first-class career.
The following season Geoff claimed 84 victims to become the leading wicketkeeper in the English game.
He also appeared in the 1967 Gillette Cup final at Lords against a Kent side featuring cricket legend, Colin Cowdrey, future England skipper Mike Denness and other internationals, Alan Knott, Brian Luckhurst and Derek Underwood.
Kent won by 32 runs with Geoff making just eight before being dismissed by Underwood.
A few weeks later he played his final game for Somerset and didn’t appear in the first-class arena again having scored 6154 runs in 274 matches.
Among the tributes paid was a tweet from Lancashire CCC saying: “Very sad to hear the passing of former Lancashire wicket keeper Geoff Clayton earlier in the week. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.”
