Wicketkeeper Tommy Hodson has been behind the stumps for 60 years – but he’s not planning to hang up his gloves just yet.
Tommy, from Handforth, took up cricket as a 10-year-old in 1949 after catching the bug while watching his father.
Since then, he has gone on to play for the Marylebone Cricket Club, the world’s most famous cricket club, a staggering 529 times since making his debut against Sedbergh CC in 1979 – a feat he is confident will never be surpassed.
Tommy, 70, said: "My father played for Woodford Cricket Club and I would regularly go down and watch him play.
"That’s really where my interest came from.
"I would take his kit and use a lamp post as the wicket.
"He would tell me not to damage his bat because they cost £4.50 which was a lot of money.
"I have to pay £200 for my bats now.
"I thought I’ve peaked lots of times over the years but I keep going and I’ve got no plans to retire just yet.
I’ve had injuries to my spine, hip and eyes but I feel fairly fit at the moment so I expect I’ll be going for a little while longer yet."
And the secret to a long and successful career? An understanding wife and boss says Tommy.
"I think the main thing is being self-employed," he added. "I’ve been able to find the time to play in the games whereas other, less fortunate people, can’t just leave work in the middle of the day to play a game of cricket.
"That’s why I don’t expect the record to be broken any time soon because cricket is a very time-consuming game."
"My wife Lynne puts up with it," he added.
"She comes to support me but I think a gin and tonic always helps."
