Image taken by:

Staffordshire are mourning Andy Carr, their former head coach and player, who has died aged 51 after a brave battle with cancer.

Carr guided Staffordshire to the National Counties T20 title in 2023 and to a share of the NCCA Cluberly Championship last year when they were joint champions with Berkshire after the rain-affected final at West Bromwich Dartmouth ended in a draw.

Although Carr made his Second XI debut for Staffordshire in 2004 he was 44 when he received an unexpected call-up to make his senior bow in a Championship match against Cambridgeshire at Checkley, his home club, in 2018. Carr kept his place for the next match, a draw with Norfolk at Manor Park, and played in two T20 matches against Northumberland at Rolleston in 2019.

Having played for Checkley – where his father and grandfather were club stalwarts - for 20 years, Carr moved into coaching, working with Derbyshire’s Second XI and taking charge of Staffordshire’s Under-18s team before being appointed the county’s head coach. He formed a successful partnership with captain James Kettleborough, the former Northamptonshire and Glamorgan batter, who now plays for Checkley.

Carr’s illness severely restricted his availability after the first month of the season but he was present for part of their Championship opener against Bedfordshire in July at his home club. Carr announced that he would be stepping down from his Staffordshire post only last week.

“As important as Andy’s success on the field of play was, arguably his greatest legacy, in my opinion, is the pride and passion he instilled into the players in playing for ‘The Knot’,” said Staffordshire’s Head of operations Martin Williams.

“This was undoubtedly achieved by gaining the utmost respect of all those players and coaches he worked alongside.

“Andy held the position with great humility and I suspect underestimated the depth and warmth of feeling people had for him.”

Checkley observed a minute’s silence for Andy Carr before their final North Staffordshire and South Cheshire Premier League match against Hem Heath at Four Trees.