Alan Burridge

Alan James Burridge (born 8 October 1936) is an English former sportsman and administrator.

SOCCER. Apart from Soccer with Gateshead AFC he represented Durham County FA, the FA Amateur X1 and was in the Olympic Squad during his 'prime' years at Soccer.

CRICKET At his main Sport of Cricket, he was a hard hitting left hand batsman for Wearmouth CC, Horden CC as Professional, Enfield CC, Penrith CC as Professional, Sunderland CC and Watford Town CC.

'Budgie' played for the formidable Durham CCC from 1967–71 and in 95 matches scoring 3745 runs including 3 Centuries and 22 Fifties. He was awarded the Gillette "Man of the Match Medal" for his 94 against Oxfordshire County Cricket Club, the victory of which -in the words of celebrated Cricket Writer Jack Bannister,'Did more for the County's coffers 'than any Match in its History'. He played one First-class Match for the Minor Counties XI against the West Indies Touring Team in 1973 and many domestic One-Day cricket games for the Minor Counties Cricket XI against the First Class Counties in the Benson & Hedges Cricket Competition Cup, during which time in 1973 he was awarded the "Man of the Match Gold Award" for his powerful 76 runs in a closely fought match against Derbyshire CCC.

In his 'Professional Life' after qualifying as a School Teacher he taught for three years firstly at the excellent Enfield Grammar School and later as a Lecturer at the Sunderland Polytechnic-now University, before entering into the 'new' field of Recreation Management, Managing Sports Centres at Newark and Lincoln before securing a Chief Officers Post at Watford Borough Council. Later apart from a short time as Secretary of Middlesex County Cricket Club, he was appointed as a Regional Officer in Sport England's London and South East Region advising Local Authorities and Sports Clubs on the development and improvement of Sports Facilities.

His final Post in Local Government was as Chief Officer and Head of a newly established Leisure Services Directorate with Barnet Borough Council after which time in 1996 he established the very successful Leisure Consultancy-Springwood Leisure, providing advice and Funding on the Design and Development of new and existing Sports Centres.

After two years as Liaison Officer for the BBCs Match of the Day, he bought a Property in South Africa's Cape Province and in Retirement spends the English Winters in 'the South African sunshine'