STEPHEN PARRY is leaving Firwood Bootle.

The Lancashire all-rounder has decided to accept the offer to become professional at Saddleworth League side Bamford Fieldhouse next summer, but he is taking his leave of Wadham Road with the warmest of memories.

“It’s been the best league cricket I’ve played and also the most enjoyable time of my life,” he said.

“I had a great time at Northern but being at Bootle was fantastic.”

The 22-year-old also joined the queue of cricketers wanting to pay tribute to the former Bootle skipper Ian Cockbain.

“It’s a big shame Ian has had to pack up because he was a great captain.” he said.

“He encouraged and backed you because you were on his team, and he certainly got the best out of his players.”

Given that he has enjoyed Liverpool Competition cricket so much, it’s perhaps a surprise that Parry has opted to leave, but he felt that the journey from his Manchester home, on top of his travelling with Lancashire, was becoming a burden, and that he also wanted to take on more cricketing responsibilities.

“Bootle has steered me in the right direction but there are times when everyone has to move on,” he explained.

“Moving to Bamford is a new challenge and I’m looking forward to being the player people turn to and say ‘right, you win us this game’.”

“The club has got a lot of aspirations to win the Lancashire Cup and the National Knock Out. They’re just a club on the up really.”

By taking on the professional’s role Parry is following the example of Karl Brown, who moved from Northern to Milnrow two seasons ago, and the extra playing burden is one which the Lancashire coaches encourage their younger players to experience.

Parry has also just signed a new contract at Old Trafford and was twelfth man for the last two Championship matches.

He will be spending the winter playing for the Sale club in Melbourne.

“It’s been most enjoyable and I’ve learned a lot,” he said, as he reflected on his first year as a professional county cricketer.

“Every year I feel I’m progressing and going in the right direction.” he added.

“You pick up on a load of little things just by being around someone with Stuart Law’s experience.”