Manchester Evening News
22 September 2011

Former Manchester Grammar pupil Mark Chilton has decided to go out at the top and retire from county cricket following Lancashire’s LV= County Championship victory.

The former Red Rose skipper, who was out of contract at the end of the season, scored over 14,000 runs in 14 years at the club.

Twice he led them to within a whisker of the County Championship, losing out by just 25 agonising runs at The Oval in 2007.

“It has been an honour and a privilege to have represented my county for so many years,” said 34-year-old Chilton.

“It has been a tough decision to retire from the game I love so much but I believe the time is right for me to begin a new chapter in my life.

“I have many great memories from my time in cricket, but being involved in the County Championship-winning side this year was without doubt the greatest experience of my professional career.”



And although he will no longer be part of it, Chilton believes the squad will bring plenty more silverware back to Old Trafford over the next few years.

“Under (coach) Peter Moores and (captain) Glen Chapple an awful lot of good things are happening at this club, and winning the Championship is proof of that.

“When you get a win you start to build that belief, hopefully the team will push on from this because there is an awful lot of young talent in this squad.

“I think you will see this team go from strength to strength.”



Mark during the Summer Term coaching our Junior School boys

As a former Manchester Grammar School pupil Chilton followed in the footsteps of England openers Michael Atherton and John Crawley when he joined Old Trafford as a 20-year-old in 1997 after  studying at Durham University.

He was awarded his county cap in 2002 and then took over as skipper in 2005 following the retirement of Warren Hegg.

Having led the side to promotion back to Division One of the County Championship and to the final of the Twenty20 Cup in his first year in charge, Chilton then took them close to winning the title both in 2006 and 2007, as well as to a Lord’s final.

However, his form with the bat suffered, and he stepped down at the end of the 2007 campaign. But, being Lancashire through and through, he was determined to rediscover his form and help contribute to the team despite suffering from back problems.

After a difficult 2008, he spent the winter playing in Melbourne and fought his way back into the Red Rose first-team with a string of good knocks in the middle order. And he was rewarded by being voted Lancashire’s Player of the Year in 2009.

Mark with MGS young star Ben Hodha, Captain of last year's national champion U13 side

Chilton, who has scored 26 centuries and 60 half-centuries for Lancashire, was awarded a benefit this year in honour of his loyal service to the club both on and off the field.

“Mark has made a significant contribution to the county since making his debut in 1997,” said cricket director Mike Watkinson.

“As well as the volume of runs he scored, he captained the side excellently for three seasons and was a major influence on the spirit and fight in the squad.

“But his influence on the club goes way beyond what most people see. To be a major part of the championship-winning squad is a fitting end to an outstanding career.”

Chilton made a good start to this summer’s campaign. He shared a 180-run stand with Karl Brown in the opening match of the season against Sussex at Aigburth and captained the team in Chapple’s absence in Championship matches.

However, he didn’t play one-day cricket and was left out of three of the final four Championship matches as the Red Rose battled for their first outright title in 77 years.
But coach Peter Moores was keen to point out the role he has had in influencing the club’s younger players.

“Mark’s impact on the success of the team since I’ve arrived at the club has been significant,” said coach Peter Moores.

“His influence both on and off the field has been fantastic and his quality as a player is without question. His values have been an example to all.”