Burnley street to be named after cricketing legend Jimmy Anderson

BURNLEY Council is to press ahead with naming a street after cricketing legend James Anderson after his retirement from the the international game.

And the authority is to consider what other steps it can take to honour the world-famous sporting star.

The authority’s recreation boss Cllr Jack Launer even suggested naming a stand at Burnley FC’s Turf Moor ground after him when the issue was discussed at the borough’s full council meeting on Wednesday night,

In October 2020 a similar meeting unanimously passed a motion proposed by then Mayor Lord Wajid Khan which recognised his outstanding achievement in of taking 600 international Test match wickets.

Now following Mr Anderson’s retirement from Test cricket after the Lord’s Test against the West Indies earlier this month aged 41 with 704 under his belt borough leader Cllr Afrasiab Anwar said the street naming would take place soon.

Cllr Launer told the meeting: “I would like to put on record my thanks to Jimmy Anderson.

“What a career. I don’t know what we’re going to do in Burnley to honour him and I hope he comes back and teaches our kids how to bowl.

“I hope we do more than name a street after him.

“I hope we name a stand at Turf Moor potentially after him – or name a cricket field stand.”

Tory group deputy leader Cllr Jamie McGowan said: “I just think we should be incredibly proud of what Jimmy Anderson has done in terms of his sporting achievements and his career.

“Obviously as a Burnley lad I do think that he should be recognised.

“I would like to see the ball rolling on actually coming up with some sort of recognition for him whether it’s renaming Belvedere Road to the Jimmy Anderson Way or something like that.”

Labour deputy leader Cllr Sue Graham said: “About Jimmy Anderson, we’ve already awarded him the Freemanship of the town and we did agree some time ago to name a street after him but that’s never happened.”

Cllr Launer said: “I can just say there is a street being named after Jimmy and I don’t think that’s enough but we can work on stuff for decades to come because he is one of the most famous sports people in the world.”

Cllr Anwar said: “Some time ago there was a decision made that we would do something to recognise the achievements of Jimmy Anderson.

“We’re in the process of naming a street after him.

“I think the reason for that delay was that he was still playing.

“Shortly we will be able to make an announcement but it is recognised that he has achieved and that also he has made Burnley proud.”

The former St Theodore’s RC High School pupil played for Burnley Cricket Club and quickly moved on to playing for Lancashire and then for England.