Michael A. Potter Media
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In his younger days Potter was a keen all round sportsman; his achievements are listed below.
Rugby League
During Michael A Potter high school years at the William Beaumont School, He captained the school’s rugby league team and then went on to regularly represent Warrington his home town at under 15s level as a scrum half/stand-off. He also won 3 county caps representing Lancashire U15s on three occasions. Potter retired from rugby league in 1975 at the age of 15 when he decided to focus on his football career.
Football
As a young footballer of promise Michael A Potter represented his junior school Our Lady’s RC Primary and at the age of 11 was selected to represent the Warrington Juniors team. In 1974 Potter signed for the Bolton Wanderers Football Club who were then competing in the English Football League Division 1. During the next three years he played for the club representing the Reserve Team (Central League), ‘B’ Team (Lancashire League), Youth Team (English FA Youth Cup), and Clifton Palace (Junior Team). He played over 120 games as a Centre Forward and Winger and scored 53 goals.
When he left Bolton Wanderers in 1977, Potter returned to play in the local junior leagues for his team Helsmoore Wanderers. In the 1976/77 season he scored a record 76 goals; 15 of these goals were scored in one match in a 27-0 win against RCCYC. This proved to be a world record for an amateur footballer and thus his name appeared in the 1977 edition of the Guinness Book of Records as a record-breaker. That same season Potter was awarded League player of the season and went on to win four county caps representing Cheshire County Football Association at U17 level, playing against Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Merseyside, and Yorkshire. He scored 5 goals in the 4 games playing for Cheshire.
From 1978 Potter continued his football career as a semi-professional footballer playing for Chester F.C. (English League, Division 3), Runcorn F.C. (Northern Premier League/West Cheshire League), St Helens Town A.F.C. (North West Counties League, Division 1), Warrington Town F.C. North West Counties League), and Heysham F.C. (North Lancashire League). He retired from football in 1987 aged 28 years. Potter has since reconnected with the Bolton Wanderers F.C. and is now a Committee Member of the Bolton Wanderers Former Players Association.
Rugby Union
After retiring from football in 1987 Potter played Rugby Union as a fly-half/winger. He represented Warrington RUFC and also Vale of Lune RUFC. He retired from Rugby Union in 1993, aged 34 years.
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Cricket
Potter was a very keen league cricketer, playing his first club/league cricket game in 1970 at just 11 years of age. He represented the following Cricket Clubs as an all-rounder over a career which spanned 36 years: Winwick CC Appleton CC, Grappenhall CC, Trimpell CC, Toft CC, Cholmondeley CC.
The highlight of his cricket career was playing at Toft CC, 1989-2002. Potter played in Toft CC 1st XI winning side that won the Cheshire County League Boddingtons Cup final against Heaton Mersey in 1991. His career statistics were as follows:
Batting: 100 + runs in innings - scored 0
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50 + runs in innings - scored 102
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Highest individual score - 99 runs v Canon Frome, 1988
Bowling: 6 wickets in a match - 201 times
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Best performance – 8 wickets for 35 runs - Toft v Sale, Cheshire County League, 1991.
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Potter retired from English club cricket in 2006 aged 46 years.
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Skiing
Potter became a qualified English Ski Council „Candidate Club Coach in 1982. In 1983 he set up his own part-time skiing school called „Ski Sunday where he coached newcomers to the sport to help pre-pare themselves for their skiing holidays. He retired from ski coaching in 1995.