NELSON wicketkeeper Mike Bradley's new Lancashire League record is definitely something of a family affair.

The Seedhill gloveman became the league's all-time wicketkeeping record holder with 712 victims when he caught Burnley batsman Jonathan Clare on Sunday.

And the man he took the record from? It was none other than his father-in-law Alan Haigh, who he replaced behind the stumps at Nelson.

Bradley made his debut in 1981 for Nelson, who had Kapil Dev as their paid man, in a match at Haslingden, for whom West Indian fast bowler Andy Roberts led the attack In the ensuing 26 years, Bradley has become the mainstay of a successful Nelson side that has won four league championships and two Worsley Cups.

The Seedhill skipper also holds the club's record for most victims in a season with 46 in 2005 - a record he again took from his father-in-law.

And the record-breaking catch, when it came, Bradley reckons was probably the easiest of the lot.

He said: "Craig McMillan got Jon Clare to inside edge the ball onto his pad. The ball lobbed in the air and I only had to move a couple of inches to take it. I couldn't drop it."

And after weeks of waiting, Bradley is delighted and relieved to finally break the record.

He said: "It's a bit of a relief. Getting this last victim has really dragged on over several weeks because of the weather.

"Every time we've got to a game the rain has come to spoil it, so it's been a while in coming.

"But I was delighted to finally reach that milestone because it's such a unique record as my father-in-law held it before me.

"He was a fantastic keeper. He was a far better keeper than me and I have a lot to thank him for.

"When I started, he was at the back end of his career, and he spent hours and hours coaching me and he was always there if I needed some advice "He's given me great support but so has my wife Julie. She's had to give up holidays and also allow me to train twice a week for years and I'm really grateful for her support as well."

In breaking this record, the 44-year-old has shown an outstanding level of commitment, even making flying visits back home from foreign holidays to play and then returning to join up with his family.

He said: "I've done it for the last couple of years. Last season, I came home from Majorca in the middle weekend of the holiday and it rained.

"And exactly the same happened this season. I flew home from Portugal and left the family there to watch it rain. It was pretty frustrating.

"Most players think I'm mad and they might be right!"

And there could be another member of the family ready to step into his place behind the stump as one of his three sons, Russell, is also a promising gloveman.

But with the record now comfortably in his very safe hands, Bradley isn't sure how far he can raise the bar.

He added: "I don't want to set a target. If I was to get to a thousand, I would probably have to play for another 10 years.

"I'm not really thinking about it. I just want to concentrate on staying in the team and winning games of cricket for Nelson than breaking records."