Duncan Fearnley
@duncan_fearnley
WORCESTER, Worcestershire Sporting Goods ManufacturingOverview
About Duncan Fearnley
Fearnley Cricket traces its roots back to 1955 when a budding young cricketer, Duncan Fearnley began his trade as an apprentice with Senior Counties Bat Makers in Yorkshire.
In 1955 Fearnley had just played for England Schoolboys and hoped for a career in professional cricket, but during the winter months had to supplement his income.
Fearnley’s main aim was to play professional cricket and though a phenomenal schoolboy cricketer could not make it into his Home County’s 1st XI only managing to play for Yorkshire IIs.
He sought trials elsewhere to fulfil his ambition and in 1960 he was given the opportunity he had craved at Worcestershire.
After 8 years playing professionally at Worcestershire winning 2 Championships. This was the start of the Duncan Fearnley brand as we know it today.
Cricket bats have always been Fearnley’s roots and Fearnley first revolutionised the trade by introducing the first logo into the game. The Black Wickets Device soon became synonymous with cricket which at the time was groundbreaking. Other brands followed suit; the days of ink stamped bats were almost over.
During the early years Fearnley got many of his ex-playing colleagues and opponents to use his products introducing new forms of sponsorship he built the brand around these friends. John Snow was the first to use the Duncan Fearnley bat in an International with the likes of Basil D’Oliveira and Dennis Amiss close behind.
During the 70’s the Black Wickets logo was starting to get more globally recognised and with more exposure Fearnley developed the brand overseas with the likes of Graeme Pollock, Bevan Congdon, Graeme Yallop, Clive Lloyd and Sunil Gavaskar starting to use the products.
Probably one of Fearnley’s shrewdest moves was to sign a young Ian Botham fresh from the MCC Young Cricketers. Shortly after the signing, Botham made the England Team and throughout his record-breaking career became synonymous with the Fearnley brand with both of them growing in stature.
In 1955 Fearnley had just played for England Schoolboys and hoped for a career in professional cricket, but during the winter months had to supplement his income.
Fearnley’s main aim was to play professional cricket and though a phenomenal schoolboy cricketer could not make it into his Home County’s 1st XI only managing to play for Yorkshire IIs.
He sought trials elsewhere to fulfil his ambition and in 1960 he was given the opportunity he had craved at Worcestershire.
After 8 years playing professionally at Worcestershire winning 2 Championships. This was the start of the Duncan Fearnley brand as we know it today.
Cricket bats have always been Fearnley’s roots and Fearnley first revolutionised the trade by introducing the first logo into the game. The Black Wickets Device soon became synonymous with cricket which at the time was groundbreaking. Other brands followed suit; the days of ink stamped bats were almost over.
During the early years Fearnley got many of his ex-playing colleagues and opponents to use his products introducing new forms of sponsorship he built the brand around these friends. John Snow was the first to use the Duncan Fearnley bat in an International with the likes of Basil D’Oliveira and Dennis Amiss close behind.
During the 70’s the Black Wickets logo was starting to get more globally recognised and with more exposure Fearnley developed the brand overseas with the likes of Graeme Pollock, Bevan Congdon, Graeme Yallop, Clive Lloyd and Sunil Gavaskar starting to use the products.
Probably one of Fearnley’s shrewdest moves was to sign a young Ian Botham fresh from the MCC Young Cricketers. Shortly after the signing, Botham made the England Team and throughout his record-breaking career became synonymous with the Fearnley brand with both of them growing in stature.