Mike Savage, Chair of the Lincoln & District Cricket League and stalwart of Old Lincolnians CC, passed away at 3.05am on Thursday 17th July 2025 at the age of 76, just seven weeks short of his 77th birthday.
Mike was a dedicated cricketer, footballer and a gentleman.
Mike played for Old Lincolnians CC as a wily left arm spinner and lower order batter. As well as playing and taking hundreds (if not thousands) of wickets, he was also hugely influential off the field.
Mike was Secretary, Fixture Secretary, Treasurer, Safeguarding Officer, Groundsman, Tour Co-Ordinator and also scored for the club. Many players will have great memories of the annual Old Lincs tour to Skegness at the start of August, which saw the club play against five local sides and also have some great social entertainment in the evenings.
The games were normally very competitive, played in good spirits and gave players an opportunity to enjoy themselves away from the pressures of work. The tour was set up many years ago and ‘Sav’ went to virtually every tour, with more than 60 Skegness tours now completed. Unfortunately, one year an opposition team pulled out the night before the game. Mike told the group not to worry and arranged train tickets to go to Wainfleet to the brewery for a tour. A large party travelled there the next day, but unfortunately Wainfleet Brewery was shut on Tuesdays!
Lots of players also went on the overseas tours in October that Mike used to organise to places such as Cyprus, Malta, Majorca, Ibiza and Benidorm. A mixture of matches and sightseeing occurred, players and tour party members enjoying a relaxing week playing against different teams and players. In October 2011 the tour did not happen as ‘Sav’ was away ‘Down Under’ representing England in the Over 60s matches against the Aussies!
Mike and his late twin brother Dave carried out huge work in the cricketing communities of Lincolnshire. Dave and Mike worked hard on the ground together, ran the Old Lincs Youth Teams and were hugely influential in the structure of the club and making cricket accessible to everyone.
As well as being a huge organiser in a variety of committee positions at Old Lincolnians, Mike also organised the annual dinner and presentation night, the Christmas meal and was also in charge of the tote for the Race Nights that were held twice a year. Those Race Nights were hugely popular and were held at the Lincoln Moorland Railway Sports and Social Club, a club for which Mike served as Treasurer as well as carrying out many other behind-the-scenes jobs at the club.
As well as holding administrative positions at club level, Mike was heavily involved in local cricket league administration. Mike was almost addicted to organising, and was Chair of the Lincoln & District League, Secretary of the Lincoln Indoor League, an active committee member of the Lincoln Midweek Outdoor League as well as a Player and Team Manager/Co Ordinator for the Lincolnshire Seniors set-up (Over 50s, 60s & 70s).
Mike was until a few years ago also Secretary of the Lincolnshire County Cricket League and also Treasurer of the Lincoln Youth League. He loved the game, putting his heart and soul into everything to make sure that everything was professionally co-ordinated and communicated to all clubs.
Mike also liked his football. Mike and Dave ran the George and Dragon Football Club and were managers for the team. Mike also liked watching football and was a season ticket holder at Sincil Bank watching the Lincoln City FC. Mike lived just around the corner on Scorer Street, and it was an easy 10 second walk to the ground from his house. Mike went to many away matches across the country and only missed a home/away match when it clashed with cricket or when he was overseas supporting the England Cricket team!
Away from sport, Mike was a governor at Lincoln Christ Hospital School and was an old boy of the school when it was called The Lincoln School. Mike was also part of the Old Boys Committee.
Mike enjoyed travelling and would regularly travel overseas to watch England play cricket, sometimes seeing every ball of a Test Series. He would also go on tour every year to the Isle of Wight. The Isle of Wight tour was particularly successful for him in 2022 as he took a hat-trick in one of the matches he played.
In October 2013 Lincs Cricket and the ECB awarded Mike with a Natwest OSCA (Outstanding Service to Cricket Award) in the category of Lifetime Achiever for all he had contributed to cricket in the county. Mike was very touched by this award and enjoyed his day out at Lord’s, celebrating with other winners from across the country.
Mike showed his commitment to the game by flying out that evening to be involved with cricket overseas! Mike was also nominated for Lincolnshire Sports Personality of the Year in 2013.
Everybody connected to cricket in Lincolnshire is extremely grateful for what Mike has achieved in shaping and co-ordinating our great game.
There is only one Mike Savage, a man who looked after many, many people and possibly others more than himself.
Thank you, Mike, for everything that you have done for us.