NOT for the first time, former Bradford City footballer Billy Clarke has showed his prowess with a cricket bat, and cricket correspondent Bill Marshall was there to view the action.

He scored 25 not out, including a sweetly-timed six to midwicket, for a Bradford City Legends XI in a floodlit match at Wagon Lane against hosts Bradford & Bingley Cricket Club to raise money for former City player Allan Gilliver’s two nominated charities (Anchor and Guiseley Sporting Memories).

Forward Gilliver, 80, who went on to be groundsman at Valley Parade and so much more, is suffering from dementia, believed to be caused by heading footballs and is currently in a care home.

Bingley batted first and made 217-2, with Ed Brown scoring 38 retired, Jacob Slator 33, Jack Sharp 36 retired, Reece Cockshott 28 retired, Adam Dean 24 not out and Archie Barraclough 22 not out.

Among the wicket-takers was Andy Kiwomya, who trapped James Swallow lbw for 13, while ex-keeper Paul Tomlinson pulled off a leg-side stumping.

City relied with 168-6, with Bingley players Lachlan Doidge (29no) and Billy Whitford (21no) helping them out before Gary Jones (21no) and Clark made runs.

The result was immaterial, however, with Mark Gilliver - Allan’s son who arranged the match - saying at its conclusion: “Can I say thank you to all of the City and Bingley players for coming down, to the spectators for turning up and to Bingley for letting us use their ground and facilities.

“Dementia is a terrible disease which probably affects the family more than the person who has dementia.”

Plans are already afoot to stage a footballing derby next season - on a Sunday afternoon at the same venue - between a Bradford City Legends XI and a Leeds United Legends XI.