TRIBUTES & OBITUARIES
Craven Herald and Pioneer: 17th October 2016
Former Leeds Utd footballer and professional cricketer Jack Moule dies at age of 95
Jack Moule, of Skipton, who has died aged 95, was one of the region’s most talented sportsmen of his generation.
He passed away peacefully in Airedale General Hospital, Steeton, on Tuesday, surrounded by his family. The fact that he did so on the stroke of six would have amused the former professional cricketer and footballer.
Jack was born on July 4, 1921, in Steeton-with-Eastburn parish, the only son of the late George and Alice Moule, who for many years ran the New Inn in Cononley. In fact, Jack and his wife, Helen, a nurse from Bradley, first lived there after their marriage at Christ Church, Skipton, on June 10, 1950, a union that spanned 66 years.
They remained in Cononley for many years, before moving to Silsden for some 20 years, relocating to Skipton around 25 years ago.
Jack’s sporting career, both as a naturally-gifted cricketer and footballer, was outstanding. Embracing both sports locally initially, he went on to play soccer for Leeds United as a WW2 guest player from 1943-46, scoring seven goals in 21 appearances. His other clubs included Morecambe, Rolls-Royce and Barnoldswick Park Rovers, where he helped them win the West Riding County Cup.
Jack Heald, late editor of the Craven Herald, once described him as “the hardest kicker of a dead ball I have ever seen.” A newspaper report on a Lancashire Combination Cup game for Park Rovers typified his skills when stating: “Moule took the free kick, placed the ball and wiped the toe of his right boot down the ball, found a gap in the defence and sent the ball sizzling into the net with a shot that never left the ground.”
On the cricket field, Jack was an accomplished all-rounder, playing locally in the Aire Wharfe League, before moving up to the Bradford League for a spell with Keighley, later becoming professional with Queensbury CC for 18 years, opening both the batting and bowling – a rare feat in a league of such high standard. With regularity, he hit half centuries and centuries, and grabbed multiple wicket hauls. In the days when 50 runs or six wickets warranted a ground collection, he often earned both. He was regarded as one of the Bradford League’s best all-rounders, regularly finishing high in the batting and bowling averages. In one season, he was the league’s leading batsman with an average of 83.20. Jack also captained at Queensbury and the club rewarded him a benefit match in his 14th professional season, by which time he had hit more than 7,000 runs and taken almost 500 wickets. He was also regularly chosen to play for the Bradford League’s representative team in inter-league competitions. When his professional career ended, the Bradford League paid special tribute to “a great player and grand sportsman .... bringing nothing but honour to the league and credit to himself.” Jack completed his cricketing days with Cononley CC in the Craven & District Cricket League. He also captained the club, playing alongside his two sons Robin and Tim. In the 1970s, the club regularly won both the Premier League and Wynn Cup.
After retiring, Jack umpired at games played by the Sheeptown Cavaliers Cricket Club, a Skipton-based friendly team in which his two sons were closely involved. In his later years, he also had a keen eye at snooker.
In the days when most professional sportsmen also needed to work for a living, Jack was an engineer for much of his working life at both Landis Lund in Eastburn and the former Prince, Smith & Stells in Keighley.
He and his wife also owned and ran a corner shop in Keighley for a time, while Jack also tried his hand at selling insurance and running a milk round in Cononley. His final job was with Yorkshire Water at Silsden Reservoir, where he relished the open air and the many miles he regularly had to walk checking supply lines.
He is survived by his wife, two sons, their wives, two grandchildren and one great granddaughter. The funeral service is at Waltonwrays, Skipton, at 12.30pm on Wednesday, October 26.
http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/14806368.Former_professional_footballer_and_cricketer_Jack_Moule_dies_at_the_age_of_95/?ref=mr&lp=6
Keighley News: 17th October 2016: Alistair Shand
Former professional cricketer and Leeds United footballer dies
A FORMER professional cricketer and footballer has died aged 95.
Jack Moule, who was born in Steeton-with-Eastburn parish, appeared for Leeds United as a guest player from 1943-46 – scoring seven goals in 21 appearances.
And he spent 18 years playing professionally with Queensbury Cricket Club.
Mr Moule's parents ran the New Inn at Cononley, where Jack and his wife Helen – a nurse at the former Victoria Hospital in Keighley – first lived following their marriage in 1950. The couple remained in the village for many years before moving to Silsden, where they spent about two decades. They relocated to Skipton around 25 years ago.
As well as playing for Leeds United, Mr Moule had spells with Morecambe, Rolls-Royce and Barnoldswick Park Rovers, with whom he won the West Riding County Cup.
On the cricket field, he was an accomplished all-rounder. He progressed from the Aire Wharfe to the Bradford league for a spell with Keighley before joining the professional ranks at Queensbury, achieving the rare feat of opening both the batting and bowling. "He hit half centuries and centuries with regularity and grabbed multiple wicket hauls," said his son, Robin. "In the days when 50 runs or six wickets warranted a ground collection, he often earned both. He was regarded as one of the Bradford league's best all-rounders, regularly finishing high in the batting and bowling averages. In one season, he was the league's leading batsman with an average of 83.20. Jack also captained at Queensbury and the club rewarded him with a benefit match in his 14th professional season, by which time he had hit more than 7,000 runs and taken almost 500 wickets."
Mr Moule completed his playing career with Cononley CC in the Craven & District Cricket League. He captained the club and played alongside Robin and his other son, Tim. Following his retirement from playing, he umpired at games played by the Skipton-based Sheeptown Cavaliers Cricket Club, with which his sons were closely involved.
His working life outside sport was mostly spent in engineering, at Landis Lund in Eastburn and the former Prince, Smith & Stells in Keighley. He and his wife also owned and ran a corner shop in Keighley for a while and Mr Moule tried his hand at selling insurance and running a milk round in Cononley. His final job was with Yorkshire Water at Silsden Reservoir.
Mr Moule is survived by his wife, two sons, their wives, two grandchildren and one great granddaughter. The funeral service is at Waltonwrays, Skipton, at 12.30pm on Wednesday October 26.
http://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/14806322.Former_professional_cricketer_and_Leeds_United_footballer_dies/
Bradford Telegraph and Argus: 17th October 2016: Alistair Shand
Former professional cricketer and Leeds United footballer dies
A FORMER professional cricketer and footballer has died aged 95.
Jack Moule, who was born in Steeton-with-Eastburn parish, appeared for Leeds United as a guest player from 1943-46 – scoring seven goals in 21 appearances.
And he spent 18 years playing professionally with Queensbury Cricket Club.
Mr Moule's parents ran the New Inn at Cononley, where Jack and his wife Helen – a nurse at the former Victoria Hospital in Keighley – first lived following their marriage in 1950. The couple remained in the village for many years before moving to Silsden, where they spent about two decades. They relocated to Skipton around 25 years ago.
As well as playing for Leeds United, Mr Moule had spells with Morecambe, Rolls-Royce and Barnoldswick Park Rovers, with whom he won the West Riding County Cup.
On the cricket field, he was an accomplished all-rounder. He progressed from the Aire Wharfe to the Bradford league for a spell with Keighley before joining the professional ranks at Queensbury, achieving the rare feat of opening both the batting and bowling. "He hit half centuries and centuries with regularity and grabbed multiple wicket hauls," said his son, Robin. "In the days when 50 runs or six wickets warranted a ground collection, he often earned both. He was regarded as one of the Bradford league's best all-rounders, regularly finishing high in the batting and bowling averages. In one season, he was the league's leading batsman with an average of 83.20. Jack also captained at Queensbury and the club rewarded him with a benefit match in his 14th professional season, by which time he had hit more than 7,000 runs and taken almost 500 wickets."
Mr Moule completed his playing career with Cononley CC in the Craven & District Cricket League. He captained the club and played alongside Robin and his other son, Tim. Following his retirement from playing, he umpired at games played by the Skipton-based Sheeptown Cavaliers Cricket Club, with which his sons were closely involved.
His working life outside sport was mostly spent in engineering, at Landis Lund in Eastburn and the former Prince, Smith & Stells in Keighley. He and his wife also owned and ran a corner shop in Keighley for a while and Mr Moule tried his hand at selling insurance and running a milk round in Cononley. His final job was with Yorkshire Water at Silsden Reservoir.
Mr Moule is survived by his wife, two sons, their wives, two grandchildren and one great granddaughter. The funeral service is at Waltonwrays, Skipton, at 12.30pm on Wednesday October 26.
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/14806322.Former_professional_cricketer_and_Leeds_United_footballer_dies/
(photo and obituaries courtesy of Mrs Jacqui Moule)