He played for just one season – 1962 – captaining the team as an amateur in the year before the players and gentlemen distinction was formally abolished.

A fine all-round sportsman at Repton, Joe Blackledge joined the Army and played much cricket for it in Germany.

On leaving the Army, he captained Lancashire's second XI and was a successful batsman for Chorley in the Northern League.

[1] The Lancashire team he led in 1962 was one of the weakest in the club's long history and finished second from bottom in the table, losing 16 matches and winning only two.

He was the uncle of the former England rugby union captain Bill Beaumont, who took over the family textile business from him.