BECOMING a published author can open many doors – for Corvedale Cricket Club captain Ian Alderson it led to a night on the town with a former England batsman!

Ian Alderson’s tome Corvedale Cricket Captain….Me? has a foreword by 1980s England opener and Ashes winner Bill Athey.

The two shared a mutual friend – farmer Alderson’s vet who used to work with Athey’s wife – but after exchanging emails the ex-Yorkshire and Gloucestershire batsman insisted they met before putting his name to the book.

Alderson said: “He said he liked the book and that he wanted to write the foreword – but not until we had had a few pints together!

“So we did, he thought I was a nice bloke and now he will be coming to the book launch on October 30!”

The launch will take place at The Swan pub in Aston Munslow at 7.30pm on Wednesday the 30th.

Alderson is currently First XI skipper of the Shropshire League side but the book, published by Bromcroft Books, covers the period 2012-17 when he was Second XI skipper.

While the book is ‘part-historical, part-biographical and part-statistical’ there are many amusing anecdotes, including the day when the team began a game with five players after a timing mix-up.

Alderson added: “I had always wanted to write a book, it was just finding something to write about.

“Then my wife bought me a book one Christmas about a cricket captain down London way who was struggling to get a team together. I thought ‘I could write a book about that!’

“There’s a bit of history about the club, a bit of a biography, each season has a chapter, plus I pick out memorable games.

“The club is looking forward to the launch and people are telling me they are bringing others along so I’m hoping it lives up to the billing!"