Australian all-rounder Tim Welsford is heading back to Golcar.
The 32-year-old had a successful season with the Swallow Lane club seven years ago – when they fell one win short of landing the Byrom Shield Premiership title.
Coach and captain of Melbourne club Carlton in the Victorian Premier section, Welsford has been snapped up again to spearhead Golcar’s hunt for trophies in the new-look 2015 format.
Skipper Steve Whitwam led his team to a fourth-place top-flight finish last term and a place in the arrowselfdrive Sykes Cup final, where they were beaten by champions Hoylandswaine.
“Tim is a brilliant signing for us,” said Whitwam, who revealed Mick Illingworth is also returning to the club from Slaithwaite.
“He is an opening bowler who, while he may not be lightning quick, is magnificently accurate.
“He can move the ball both ways and land it on a 5p piece, and he’s the best bowler I’ve ever played alongside in the Drakes League.”
That’s high praise indeed from the league’s premier all-rounder of the last decade, and the stats back up the theory.
Welsford picked up 80 wickets in his only Huddersfield season, and they came at an average of 17.76. In addition, he bowled more overs than any of his contemporaries with 412.2.
With the bat, he returned 608 runs from 21 innings, with a best of 107 not out, and averaged 35.76.
“Had we beaten Micklehurst in our final match in 2008 we would have won the league – and that was on the back of what Tim Welsford did for us,” added Whitwam, who is approaching his sixth season at the helm.
“He’s an excellent bowler, more than capable with the bat – he was disappointed with his 600 runs last time – and in addition to being a fantastic player, he’s a really good bloke as well.”
While Illingworth is back from Hill Top, Golcar have lost opening batsman Niall Lockley, who has returned to Elland after scoring 637 runs at 30.33 last year.
“We exceeded my expectations last year because it was the first time in over 15 years that Golcar went without an overseas professional,” said Whitwam, who had 819 runs at 45.50 to add to 36 wickets at 17.94.
“A lot of people put their hands up and performed and we managed to finish fourth and reach the Sykes Cup final, which was great. Hopefully with Tim back, we can go another step further.”
Another addition is Alex Thomas from the north east, an 18-year-old batsman who has played for Durham juniors and is the nephew of former Meltham ace Glenn Collier.
Former Paddock player Mark Turner is to captain Golcar’s second XI.
On the rule changes and new playing regulations being introduced in the Drakes – there are bonus points, fielding restrictions and bowler limits – Whitwam added: “I’m all in favour of it – we should have done it years ago.”
