Jer Lane players and officials have been paying tribute to their much-loved president Malcolm Nixon, who died last month aged 79.

The second team staged a minute’s silence before their Gordon Rigg Priestley Shield first round tie with East Bierley and club members have created a memorial garden with a special plaque at the ground he looked after for many years.

Malcolm gave 50 years of service to his beloved club as a player, second team captain, groundsman, and most recently president.

He held the office of chairman from 1984 to 2021 before becoming president.

Malcolm saw the club experience both highs and lows on their journey from the Bradford Central League, through the Halifax League to the Bradford Premier League.

He was a good friend of former Yorkshire captain Phil Carrick and organised a successful benefit match for him at Jer Lane. He also helped organise a similar event for David Bairstow.

But it was the success of his beloved club that dominated his focus.

There were highs such as the Bradford Central League title wins in 1984 and 1988, the Halifax League and Parish Cup double in 2013, followed by the club's rapid surge up the Bradford Premier League.

Malcolm was immensely proud of the way their first and second teams climbed to the respective Premier Divisions in five years.

It was sad that his death came three weeks before Jer Lane’s first team played their first Premier Division game at Methley. 

Malcolm was by nature a quiet man whose actions spoke volumes.

He was a tireless worker both on the ground and off it. He oversaw two extensions to the Jer Lane clubhouse along with the installation of an electronic scoreboard and outdoor nets.

After retiring at the age of 55 as a carton manufacturer at Field Packaging, he devoted many hours to cricket.

As well as looking after the ground at Jer Lane he assisted clubs such as Windhill, Northowram Fields, Bankfoot and Clayton.

Whether it be a senior match or a junior game, Malcolm was there making sure everything was available to the players.

Malcolm’s son is the current Woodlands groundsman James. He played at Jer Lane and learned about preparing pitches from his dad.

“I used to go along to help,” he said. “I guess it is due to him that I grew to enjoy groundsmanship.

“He loved working up at Jer Lane until the job became to demanding for him in recent years and he had to hand over the role.

“He would still go up to the ground and watch all the matches. He loved the players, and they had great respect for him.”

Malcolm also loved to spend time with his family.

His three children James, Joanne and Steph, his eight grandchildren Bradley, Keira, Elise, Jack, Mollie, Ellie, Niamh and Niall and five great grandchildren, Charlie, Dollie, Jorgie, Rudie and Oliver.

His family and his many friends in the cricket community will come together tomorrow for his funeral at Elland Crematorium (12.30pm).

Afterwards, there is a reception at Woodlands.

OBITUARY ON THE BRADFORD PREMIER LEAGUE WEBSITE