Winston Place - Youth and Early Career

Youth and Early Career

Winston Place was born in Rawtenstall; was orphaned at the age of 5 and was raised by his aunt. He represented Rawtenstall's cricket team in the Lancashire League. At the age of 15, Place began opening the batting for his club side. The club's professional player, Sydney Barnes, recommended Place to Lancashire County Cricket Club. Place served an apprenticeship as an engineer before serving an apprenticeship at Lancashire in 1936.

The Lancashire batting line up of the time was a strong one, and Place had limited opportunities to break into the first team. He managed to made his debut in 1937, scoring his maiden century in his first season against Nottinghamshire. He finished with 563 runs from 14 matches at an average of 29.63. He enjoyed playing for Lancashire; on the last day of his first season, when asked by other cricketers in the Lancashire team how he would be spending his holiday, he replied "this is the last day of my holiday". Between 1937 and 1939, Place was unable to secure a permanent place in Lancashire's team and in three seasons he managed 1,277 runs in 33 matches at an average of 29.02 with two centuries. In 1939, when opening with Cyril Washbrook as a replacement for the injured Eddie Paynter, Place scored 164 against the touring West Indies team. In 1939, Place was awarded his cap by Lancashire.

The outbreak of the Second World War prevented Place from playing first-class cricket until 1946, he was able to play charity matches and represented Horwich in the Bolton Cricket League. During the war, worked as an engineer in Accrington. He was married in 1940.