Glen Chapple
A fiercely loyal Lancashire cricketer whose remarkable all-round career spanned 25 years, embodying the heart of county cricket.
Born 1974 (age 52)·English cricketer·Birthday: January 23·Generation X
Biography
Glen Chapple is the definition of a county stalwart. For a quarter of a century, his right-arm seam bowling and gritty lower-order batting were the engine room of Lancashire cricket. While a single ODI cap for England in 2006 was his only international recognition, his legacy is woven into the fabric of Old Trafford. He was a player of immense durability and competitive fire, leading the side as captain and later steering it as head coach. His career is a testament to the value of consistency and loyalty in the professional era, a player who, season after season, delivered for the Red Rose. The record books remember him for a blistering century, but teammates and fans remember him as the unwavering heartbeat of the team.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Glen was born in 1974, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Glen Was Born
The biggest hits of 1974
#1 Movie
The Towering Inferno
Best Picture
The Godfather Part II
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Glen's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1974Born
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1979Started school
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1987Became a teenager
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Could drive
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1992Could vote
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Turned 21
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2004Turned 30
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 40
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 50
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 52 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored the joint-fastest first-class century in history, reaching 100 off just 27 balls for Lancashire against Glamorgan in 1993.
- Took over 900 first-class wickets and scored more than 9,000 first-class runs in a career spanning from 1992 to 2017.
- Captained Lancashire County Cricket Club from 2009 to 2016.
- Played a pivotal role in Lancashire's County Championship victory in 2011, taking 57 wickets at an average of 22.52.
Did You Know?
He shares the record for the fastest first-class century (27 balls) with Mark Pettini.
He bowled the first ball in a competitive match at the redeveloped Old Trafford cricket ground in 2011.
He served as Lancashire's head coach immediately following his retirement as a player in 2017.
His son, Harrison Chapple, is also a professional cricketer who has played for Lancashire.
“You bowl to your field, you bat for your team; that's county cricket.”
