October marks Black History Month, where Worcestershire County Cricket Club will be proudly recognising some of the great names to have represented the county in its grand 160-year history.
A whole host of prestigious names have represented the Pears during that time, with some famous faces helping shape the club’s path through the years, who will be celebrated over the course of October.
Hartley Wilden Kenroy ‘Ken’ Lobban
Born in May 1922, Ken Lobban served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War before he was demobilised in the Midlands and employed as a steelworker at Brierley Hill.
Before cricket, Lobban, undertook 14 professional bouts as a boxer and was a sparring partner for world champion, Randolph Turpin.
He came to the notice of Worcestershire with a magnificent fast bowling return of 6-2-9-7 in a Birmingham League match for Kidderminster in May 1952.
He made his county debut just two months later at the age of 30 against Sussex, was offered professional terms and played a total of 17 matches in the following two seasons.
Lobban was the first black player of African-Caribbean descent to play first-class cricket for the club when he debuted for the club.
Ronald George Alphonso ‘Ron’ Headley
Born in Kingston, Jamaica in June 1939, Ron Headley played over 400 first class matches for Worcestershire in an illustrious 16-year career with the club.
Scoring 32 centuries and winning three county championship winners medals, in 1971 he skippered the county and starred in the dramatic run chase against Warwickshire at Dudley that clinched the John Player League.
He played two tests for the West Indies in 1973 as a replacement for the injured, Steve Camacho.
Vanburn Alonzo Holder
Playing for Barbados Colts against MCC in December, 1967, Vanburn Holder bowled Basil D’Oliveira for 0.
Less than five months later he made his Worcestershire debut. A great career followed with Holder taking over 800 wickets in the next 13 seasons, including playing a major role in the 1974 County Championship triumph.
He represented the West Indies in 40 tests and 12 one day internationals. A second cricket career as a first-class umpire followed.
A popular figure around the city, Holder has stayed in Worcester in retirement and is one of Worcestershire’s Honorary Vice-Presidents.
Ivan Nicholas Johnson
It was as a prolific run scorer for Malvern College that Bahamian, Ivan Johnson, came to the attention of Worcestershire in 1972.
Aged 18, he made his first-class debut becoming a regular member of both the one day and county championship sides as a spin bowling all-rounder.
In a low scoring Benson & Hedges Cup semi-final against Lancashire in 1973 he scored 24 vital runs as Worcestershire won the closest of games.
Aged just 21 however, Johnson decided to quit cricket for a career in journalism.
A highly successful career followed in London, Australia and back home in Nassau where he launched his own newspaper, The Punch, which wasn’t afraid to ruffle the feathers of prominent political figures.
Hartley Leroy Alleyne
A fine overseas replacement for Vanburn Holder, Hartley Alleyne made 77 appearances for Worcestershire across both formats.
The final two wickets of his career best 8-43 against Middlesex at Lord’s in July, 1981 were with the last two balls of the first innings, then with the first ball of the second he bowled Graham Barlow to complete a unique hat trick.
But during his fourth over he fell heavily and only played occasionally afterwards, much to the disappointment of supporters at New Road.
He later played for Kent, Buckinghamshire and in South Africa and has gone onto coach cricket in several public schools.
