Revealed: how the Ben Stokes cricket story began in Cumbria

As tributes poured in for Lindsay, the former Wigan Warriors chairman following his death at the age of 81, ex-Workington MP Tony Cunningham has spoken of how he and a colleague worked with Lindsay so that the family of the then-schoolboy cricketer Ben Stokes could stay in England.

'The story could have ended very differently'

It was 2003 and 12-year-old Ben was at the beginning of his cricketing career. The New Zealand born youngster now captains England - and is widely regarded as possibly the world’s best cricketer.

But had it not been for behind-the-scenes efforts involving the former MP, his colleagues and Lindsay, the story could have ended very differently.

Ben Stokes was the son of an English mother while his father was the talented rugby player turned coach Ged Stokes. In 2003, he came to England as coach of New Zealand’s second team.

While in Cumbria with his family, Ged Stokes decided he wanted to coach Workington Town, but landing the job depended on getting a work permit.

“Ged came over with the New Zealand A-team [New Zealand’s second team] for a tour and to play Whitehaven," Tony explained.

"Immigration rules at the time said that to get a permit you had to demonstrate that you were 'decidedly better' than any British candidate would be.

“Ged’s problem was that he was the New Zealand A-team coach, so when the Workington job of coach came up, he wanted to apply for it but he needed a permit.”

Respected: Ged Stokes brought his family to Cumbria, and helped write a new chapter in cricketing history.

Tony recalled Ged and his wife calling to see him, allowing their son Ben to stay in the car as they discussed the permit issue.

“Ged came to my office in Workington at Derwent Howe with his wife and his son, who stayed in the car. Ged sat down and explained that he wanted to stay in the area and he needed this paperwork.

“Ged was hugely respected: honest, decent, straightforward. He was a tough guy but he cared deeply for his family. That shone through.

“He said to me: ‘If we can get all this sorted out, Ben’s going to play cricket for England one day. He was so confident about that. I walked Ged and his wife out of my office and back to the car.

“Ged then said to Ben to come and meet Mr Cunningham and we shook hands. But he seemed to be a shy teenager.”

'The rest is history'

At that stage, said Tony, there was a real possibility that the Stokes family would have to return to New Zealand.

But after that meeting, Tony, himself a former rugby referee and coach, who sat on the House of Commons all-party rugby league group, worked with his personal assistant Jeannette Smith to complete the paperwork.

But Ged Stokes’ status as a national second team coach meant it was entirely possible the Home Office would reject his work permit application.

Passionate: Ged Stokes helped change the course of English cricketing history, with a little help from others who shared his passion for sport.

So Tony turned for help to Maurice Lindsay – already a respected figure in the world of rugby.

“Ged wasn’t world-famous at the time," said Tony. "He was a rugby league coach, but he was also a man who was passionate about his family and convinced that his son had great things in front of him.”

“I’d already written to Maurice Lindsay about the situation with Ged Stokes and he was due to speak at an all-party meeting.

“I remember him coming to the House of Commons Lobby. I met him there in the Central Lobby and as I took him to the meeting, I mentioned the situation with Ged Stokes and his family.

“I asked to write a letter in support of Ged’s application to the Home Office and he agreed to do it. After that, the work permit came through reasonably quickly and it enable Ged to stay here and coach in west Cumbria.

“The rest, as they say, is history.”

'He’s a leader - someone you can build a team around'

Looking back on those events, Tony said: “Ged and the family moved to Cockermouth and Ben threw himself into his cricket, eventually going to Durham, scoring hundreds, and taking wickets.

Support: Former Workington MP Tony Cunningham enlisted the help of rugby giant Maurice Lindsay when Ged Stokes asked for help.

“He’s certainly one of the best cricketers in the world at the moment. Not only is he a great batsman and bowler but he’s a superb fielder as well. He’s also a leader, someone you can build a team round.

“He’s driven.

“The irony of it is that Ben’s first series as England captain will be this summer against New Zealand – and if things had worked out differently, he could have been their captain.”

Ged Stokes, who coached both Whitehaven and Workington, and who was also a respected New Zealand international, passed away in December 2020.

Innovator: Maurice Lindsay helped ensure Ben Stokes and his family could stay in Cumbria.

Maurice Lindsay died this week. He was a former RFL chief executive, and a key figure in the formation of the rugby Super League.

"Maurice Lindsay will be remembered as one of the most significant leaders in the sport's history," said Ralph Rimmer, the current RFL chief executive.