MELLOR COMMITS TO LEEK WITH NEW PLAYER-COACH DEAL

LEEK Cricket Club have confirmed that Alex Mellor has agreed to become player-coach for the next two years.

The Staffordshire wicketkeeperbatsman returned to Highfield as skipper for this summer’s action after spending time on the first-class circuit with Warwickshire.

That had meant his club cricket commitments were in the Birmingham League, but his departure from Edgbaston freed him up to return to his home club. He returned as captain and led the Moorlanders to fourth place in the North Staffs and South Cheshire

League Premier Division in his first season at the helm.

The coronavirus pandemic left the season shortened, but Leek managed to secure seven wins from their 11 outings.

Mellor, aged 29, said: “I’m delighted to be staying at Leek. I have loved being back home playing at Highfield and alongside my mates that I’ve grown up with at the club. “There’s a great feel about the club and moving forward hopefully we can have more success on and off the pitch.”

Leek had endured some testing times on the field in recent years before Mellor returned to the club. Young players, including the likes of Joshua Hudson and Rory Corden, were given their chance to impress in the top flight this summer. And that has left Leek with high hopes that they can build on this summer’s achievements in 2021. Club chairman Brian Mellor added: “Alex instilled a thoroughly professional structure to the playing side of the club both on and off the pitch.

“Practice sessions were taken to a new level together with our matchday preparations.

“He is now looking to develop this further over the next two years to hopefully take the club and its players on to better things as everyone bought in to the new professional methods that were introduced.

“Alex has already started on making preparations for next season and the whole squad is looking forward to working hard on their games during the winter and the start of the league next April.

“We look forward to the 2021 season and hope all of our teams look to continue on their form from this season.”