Chris Balderstone. On this day 1975

[The Red Baron]

http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/chris-balderstone-plays-first-class-cricket-and-the-football-league-on-the-same-day-283355

A bit more detail. Stan Anderson went to collect him along with someone to drive the car. Even then they were nearly late as they got stuck in traffic near Belle Vue. A helpful policeman made sure they got there in time.

My dad attended both games and went back on the Tuesday to Chesterfield to see Chris complete his ton and help Leicestershire to seal the County Championship. I only saw the Rovers v Brentford game which ended 1-1.

[drfchound]

TRB, it was a good mate of mine, Phil Day from Armthorpe, was the driver that day.
He told me afterwards that he had been reported for speeding several times but his boss( a former Rovers Director) had had a word with the Police and they had turned a blind eye to it.

[Bezza]

saw that game, Chris was a class midfielder,played for us at the end of his career didn`t have any pace but had a great football brain

[ravenrover]

As I remember the car journey was filmed, an  open  top triumph stag I think, and shown on tv

[drfchound]

It was a stag and I think it was green.

[BobG]

I saw that game too. And oddly enough, I'd watched him in Calisle's midfield not that long before when they visited Highfield Road. He played well that day in a competitive First Division match so I was quite excited when he arrived at Belle Vue. He was a sumptuous player. Way beyond our league really. He had an awesomely good game for the Rovers at White Hart Lane not that long afterwards too. Only need to say two words about that though: Pat Jennings.

He died quite young didn't he?

Cheers

BobG

[Bezza]

i went to Tottenham for that game as well , think it was a last 16 or last 8 league cup game played in mid week .Spurs sold the Rovers fans tickets scattered around the ground so we couldn`t make a good atmosphere ,after a bright start to the game we ended up losing 7-3 i think. but again Chris Balderstone showed his class.

[RoversDave]

It was 7-2 Pat Jennings made 2 world class saves from Chris Balderstone while we were still in with a chance.

[BobG]

Martin Chivers and John Duncan both went berserk in the second half. 30 yard guided missiles flying into our net from all angles. And, of course, poor old Dennis and Les Chappell with the softest of own goals to start the rot when we were competing well at 2-2. I've still got the following days Evening Standard somewhere. It's back page headline was 'Lucky Spurs, Lucky' - after a 7-2 victory!

Bob

[ravenrover]

It was a stag and I think it was green.

we couldn't afford colour telly