If anything is certain in this world, County all-rounder's dual sporting feat will never be repeated...

THIS year marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most remarkable achievements in sport. Chris Balderstone's exploits at Queen's Park on September 15 and 16, 1975 are without parallel and, if anything is certain in this world, they will never be repeated.

- 

In the modern age the basic details are almost unbelievable. Balderstone scored 116 in Leicestershire's second innings of a County Championship match against Derbyshire and, during the knock, he played a Football League match. Yes, you did read that correctly.

Balderstone was a gifted all-round sportsman who, along with several others at that time, spent his summers engaged in first-class cricket and his winters plying his trade in league football. But his experiences in 1975 are unmatched.

As a foretaste of what was to come, he was in the Carlisle United lineup for the final game of the old Division One season on Saturday, April 26 at the Baseball Ground, Derby.

The match was a goalless draw although the result was in some ways irrelevant. Carlisle were already booked for relegation at the end of their only season in the top flight and Derby County, managed by Dave Mackay, had already made sure of the league title.

Four days after that game Balderstone was in the Leicestershire side for their first Championship match of the season at Bristol.

As a cricketer, Balderstone was an elegant right-handed batsman and the slowest of slow left-arm spinners who flighted the ball generously. He made his debut for his native Yorkshire in 1961 but his career blossomed when he joined Leicestershire in 1971.

Four years later the Foxes were in a force in the land.

Balderstone established himself at No.3 and was one of a quartet of spinners in the attack. Leicestershire won the Benson & Hedges Cup, beat the Australians in a three-day tour match and, going into the final game of the season at Queen's Park, were top of the County Championship table.

The match began on Saturday, September 13 and Lancashire, who were playing Sussex at Hove, were the only side who could overhaul Leicestershire. However, there was a complication.