Paul Langley, who spent his formative cricket days playing for Gosport Borough in the Southern League, is set to play his England debut in a Fifties International match against Wales at Radlett on Saturday.
Langley, now 55, learned his trade as a batsman/wicket-keeper at Privett Park for ten years alongside the likes of Worcestershire & England seamer Phil Newport, Alan Wassell, Peter Farley and Mike Swain before moving to Yorkshire in 1986.
He now skippers the Yorkshire Over-50s county side, beaten finalists in last season’s ECB County Championships.
After leaving Gosport, he played Yorkshire League cricket for several seasons for Castleford and later in 2009 opened the batting for Streethouse in the Village Cup final at Lord’s and hit 68 as his side lost by six runs to the East Sussex club Glynde & Beddingham.
Langley, whose late father Ken was a regular choice wicket-keeper for the Royal Navy and the Combined Services before becoming a lead NCA coach, played cricket alongside his brothers Shaun and Gareth (now in Sydney) locally.
He was also a talented rugby player in his younger days, playing stand-off for Gosport & Fareham before switching codes and playing rugby league as a full-back for Castleford and later Bramley.
Langley, now 55, learned his trade as a batsman/wicket-keeper at Privett Park for ten years alongside the likes of Worcestershire & England seamer Phil Newport, Alan Wassell, Peter Farley and Mike Swain before moving to Yorkshire in 1986.
He now skippers the Yorkshire Over-50s county side, beaten finalists in last season’s ECB County Championships.
After leaving Gosport, he played Yorkshire League cricket for several seasons for Castleford and later in 2009 opened the batting for Streethouse in the Village Cup final at Lord’s and hit 68 as his side lost by six runs to the East Sussex club Glynde & Beddingham.
Langley, whose late father Ken was a regular choice wicket-keeper for the Royal Navy and the Combined Services before becoming a lead NCA coach, played cricket alongside his brothers Shaun and Gareth (now in Sydney) locally.
He was also a talented rugby player in his younger days, playing stand-off for Gosport & Fareham before switching codes and playing rugby league as a full-back for Castleford and later Bramley.
GOSPORT BOROUGH EIGHTIES STYLE
Seated (from left): Ray Porter, Jim Stares, Mick Swain, Roger Cawte, Alan Wassell. Standing: Geoff Wheeler, John Wassell, Tony Stares, Phil Newport, Paul Langley, Terry Lewis. The News.
Seated (from left): Ray Porter, Jim Stares, Mick Swain, Roger Cawte, Alan Wassell. Standing: Geoff Wheeler, John Wassell, Tony Stares, Phil Newport, Paul Langley, Terry Lewis. The News.