Alf Howarth

The son of a Stockport plumber, Alf Howarth was a well-known wicketkeeper with Stockport Cricket Club and was also secretary of the town’s cricket league. In addition, Howarth was one of the area’s leading lacrosse referees and judges.

A railway clerk by profession, Howarth refereed the match that saw the Northern Counties, thrashed 12-4 by the touring Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (USA) at Belle Vue, Manchester, in 1948. Ten days later, Howarth was in charge again when the Americans played the All-England team in the “Olympic” match at Wembley Stadium. Two years later, Howarth was again in charge when England played the visiting Yale University team. Howarth died at his Stockport home in 1954 by gassing himself while his mind was disturbed through depression because of ill-health.