Sports fans gathered at Seaton Carew to witness a unique slice of international sporting history as a former England, Leeds United and Everton football goalkeeper took part in an international cricket match.

Nigel Martyn, 59, swapped his football gloves for wicketkeeping gloves last Friday as he took centre stage for the England Lions over-60s cricket team at Hornby Park, in Elizabeth Way, Seaton Carew, in what has been described as “a fantastic day of cricket”.

This game against the Scotland Seniors was a warm-up match ahead of this summer’s International Masters Cricket Over-60s World Cup in Canada.

The England Lions won the match by 145 runs as Nigel Martyn, Colin Cliff, Raja Hayat, Paul McKeown and Ian Woodall all made their Lions debuts.

Nigel Martyn swapped his football gloves for wicketkeeping gloves on Friday, May 15, as he took centre stage for the England Lions over-60s cricket team at Hornby Park.

placeholder image — Nigel Martyn swapped his football gloves for wicketkeeping gloves on Friday, May 15, as he took centre stage for the England Lions over-60s cricket team at Hornby Park.

Speaking at the event, Nigel said: "The bowling and batting is certainly a very good standard and the guys on the field are remarkably fit for people in their late fifties, early sixties.”

Nigel played for his National and Premiership League teams throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, racking up 23 caps for the Three Lions.

He was a key member of the England squad at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups before he decided to retire from the sport in 2006.

Paul Frankland, Seaton Carew’s Hornby Park treasurer, said: “What a fantastic day of cricket at Hornby Park.

Nigel played for his National and Premiership League teams throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, racking up 23 caps for the Three Lions.

"A strong England Lions team produced a challenging target of 220 off 45 overs for Scotland to chase.

"The England bowlers dominated Scotland to win by 145 runs.

"Nigel Martyn, making his second international debut for England, didn’t contribute with the bat but was outstanding behind the stumps, including an impressive leg side stumping.”

Paul Bradley, England’s over-60s head of internationals for the seniors county cricket championship, said: "This is a repeat visit to Seaton Carew because of the fantastic hospitality shown to us on our previous Lions game.

"They went out of their way to look after us and it was out of this world.

"The comments that came back to us from both the Lions and Scotland was that it was incredible and added to an enjoyable day.”