Over the sea to Chesterfield
by Mike Taylor, 17th June 2003

Although Chesterfield have decided not to have an overseas player this year, they do have a player from over the seas. What's more, for each game he commutes across the ocean - or at least across the Irish Sea.

Ricky Kniveton is a talented 15-year-old from Port St. Mary on the Isle of Man. He is also the Chesterfield Second Eleven wicket-keeper in Division 3 North of the County League.

Typically, after school on a Friday, Ricky and father Colin take the evening ferry to Heysham or Liverpool. Either way, there is then a night drive to Chesterfield. With luck, Ricky manages a few hours’ sleep at his aunt’s house before a much shorter journey to the day’s game.

This nomadic life style is largely due to the family connection with Chesterfield, as Colin explains. “My Mum’s family live in the town and as a boy I spent many days at Queen’s Park watching Derbyshire and Chesterfield. It was always my dream to play on the ground.”

On holiday in Chesterfield last year, Colin made enquiries about son Ricky joining practice sessions with the club. “It just went on from there,” Colin recalls, “and I must thank Steve McCarroll who has been instrumental in helping Ricky to settle in so quickly at the club.”

As a promising young sportsman, Ricky qualifies for support from the Sports Aid Foundation which is run by the Isle of Man Government’s Sports Council. This financial assistance enables Ricky to travel off the island and benefit from better facilities and a higher standard of cricket. It’s a great help, as Colin acknowledges, although considerable demands are still placed on the whole family.

But it’s all worth it when Ricky keeps developing and his progress in Derbyshire’s County League has been noted back home where he has been selected for the Isle of Man senior team to play in the annual fixture against the MCC.

A Sting in the Tail update later in the season will cover Ricky’s progress with the Isle of Man and with their Under-15s where he will be captaining the side for a tournament in Lancashire.

Before that, and all being well, plenty of sea miles, runs and victims as Ricky makes the round trips to Chesterfield’s Queen’s Park and the other grounds in Three North of the County League.