On a rainy Sunday the away friendly match had been abandoned after 3 overs at Caldy on the Wirral. Since there was no home match at Stretford, a few of us decided to stay for a pint. Others elected to go back to the club. On my return to Stretford, the club house appeared closed but a faint 135 beat per minute drum and bassline suggested signs of life. I cautiously opened the lounge to reveal Mike and his young sons Christopher and Matthew singing and dancing around the pool table to Abba’s Does Your Mother Know using the cues as guitars. I remember questioning myself. “Have I walked into some sort of parallel universe?
In retrospect, it wasn’t a parallel universe it was a perfect moment to sum up Mike. I joined in as if nobody was looking! He was a person filled with joy without a bad word for anyone. A true gentleman. He knew what he liked and was hugely committed to those things. He loved his family. He loved his sport. He loved his music. He loved Man United (I won’t hold that against him). He was a massive real ale fan before it was cool. Most of all, he loved other people doing well. He didn’t mind what you did as long as you did something with 100% effort. He had respect for everyone – he used to greet me with a bow “Lord Sharp, I presume?” …………. I will never know why?!
And so, with great sadness I must announce that Michael Laker died yesterday at the age of 60. He had been diagnosed with dementia; such a cruel disease. He will be massively missed by all at Stretford CC. On behalf of everyone at the club, I offer my sincere condolences. My thoughts go out to Jill, Christopher, Matthew & the Laker family. I feel very privileged that such a great bloke was my friend.
Some of the best times of his life took place at the club a place he always regarded as home. From the first time I met Mike whacking tennis balls in the nets with his sons down at Electric Avenue behind the scoreboard or getting run out by him on my 3rdXI debut it was obvious he was a SCC true blood and a complete one-off.
Everyone at Stretford CC has a favourite Mike Laker story.
Mike was always the type of player to take on advice from others. He had reached 50 runs in a third team match which is both a time for celebration and caution. As a batter, it is always a danger period in your innings after passing a milestone. 50 runs is never enough. You acknowledge the clapping from teammates and spectators and then it’s important to knuckle down to score more runs. Taking this message very literally, Mike removed his batting gloves and pads in the centre of the wicket. He placed them on the ground alongside his trusty Grey Nicholls sleeper. Then, he gave himself a good talking to. “START AGAIN, START AGAIN” he shouted. He was dismissed shortly afterwards.
Stretford always tried to stay ahead of the times with technology. One match, Nige Mitson decided to rig up a stump microphone. Very advanced in the late 80s! Mike was struggling at the crease batting. Mistiming shots, playing and missing, false strokes. I heard it was quite amusing to listen to Mike as he lambasted himself over the stump microphone. He scratched his way through the innings. All of a sudden, the shackles came off and Mike gloriously stroked a drive through to the cover boundary. As soon as the ball hit his bat, Mike shouted joyfully into the microphone. “There we go, ELECTRIC.”
A new nickname was born. Mike embraced it with great pride. He developed a new handshake with his teammates [BUZZZZ BUZZZZ] – if you know you know.
The memory of Electric Mike Laker will always shine bright at Stretford CC.
We will update members with funeral details when known.
We would love to hear any more stories you have or memories of Mike.
stretfordcricketclub.co.uk 