Hectic pace for Gleeson with Blackpool, Northants and the LCB

He has a heavy workload, not only playing for the Stanley Park club, but appearing for Northamptonshire’s first and second XIs, as well as doing valuable grassroots work in a development role with the Lancashire Cricket Board.

There is no doubt what has been the highlight thus far for Gleeson; he trapped the England cricket captain Alastair Cook, caught behind while bowling for Northants against Essex.

Gleeson said: “I bowled one going across him; the ball, swung and left him and he was caught behind.

“He had played a couple of similar shots before, one off a no-ball and another which went to hand, but was dropped.

“Cook didn’t say anything to me afterwards, but you could see that he was very unhappy with himself.”

Gleeson has a retainer with Northants; he could have a match for them in the second team next week and there is a chance of another first team appearance for the county against Kent next weekend.

He will be in the Blackpool side that takes on Kendal in the Northern League at Stanley Park tomorrow.

Gleeson is looking for a top four finish at least for Blackpool as well as picking up a trophy along the way.

The long-term future for Blackpool looks promising with the youth policy bearing fruit and Gleeson points to the fact there are several bright prospects at the club, among them Jamie Thomsson, Declan Fisher, Ben Howarth, Chris Baines and Josh Boyne.

Blackpool spent a frustrating, cricket-free Bank Holiday Monday when their match with Chorley was washed out.

Two days before that they had beaten reigning champions Morecambe, with professional Daryl Mitchell making an immediate impact.

Gleeson said: “You can’t ask for much better than a ‘five-for’ with the ball and 98 not out.

“It was unfortunate that he missed the first couple of matches, but he has slotted in really well already.”

D-DAY is looming for a decision by any Northern Premier League clubs to quit the competition and link up with the Lancashire League, instead.

Clubs wanting to leave have to give a decision by the deadline, set for June 30.