EXPERIENCED RASHID MAKES MOVE TO BECOME BURSLEM PLAYER-COACH

CRICKET: Burslem have signed Shaun Rashid as their new playercoach for the 2023 season.

The Festival Heights club were relegated from the North Staffs and South Cheshire League Premier Division in the summer - and are putting plans in place to launch an immediate promotion push.

And that has seen them sign Rashid from Longton to fill two roles at the club.

Rashid is no stranger to Burslem having played for the club in the 2006 campaign, as well as playing for Staffordshire.

The 45-year-old, who also played minor counties cricket for Bedfordshire, has spent spells in these parts with Alsager, Cheadle and Audley.

He spent three stints with Longton - as a sub pro in 2005 and then as a permanent player in 2007 before returning to Ripon Road in 2020.

However, he has now opted to take on a new challenge with Burslem next summer.

Rashid has enjoyed a glittering career in club cricket which has seen him take hundreds of wickets with his right-arm pace, as well as being a fine performer on the minor counties circuit.

Burslem endured a tough season in 2022, which saw them finish bottom of the table. They still had a chance of survival on the final day, but their defeat at Meakins, coupled with Cheadle’s victory over Stone SP, sent them down. Burslem will be hoping that Rashid’s experience can help them to bounce back at the first attempt, although they will be missing the services of Zen Malik after the Staffordshire batsman opted to stay in the Premier Division with Leek.

· PORTHILL Park have recruited young left-arm spinner Jack Kesteven from Sandbach. Kesteven’s move to the Old County Ground brings and end to his playing association with the Cheshire club. Kesteven progressed through the Sandbach junior set-up to become a key figure in the first team, helping them to rise up to NSSCL Division One. Also a member of Cheshire’s Academy, Kesteven picked up 48 wickets last season as Sandbach cemented their place in the second tier - the first time they had been at that level. However, he has now opted to move to Porthill, who picked up their fifth Premier title in seven seasons in 2022. Kesteven adds another slow bowling option to the champions’ attack after overseas star Sachithra Perera committed to a second season with the club. Porthill Park are under new leadership in 2023 after Louis Allison took over the captaincy from John Hancock.