Knew Alan years ago. His dad, Jim, played cricket for Guisborough seconds. Alan would come along dressed in whites! Last time I saw him was at Elland Road when he got off the team bus shared a very brief chat. Nice lad.
It is incredible that he was good enough to play top division football for Boro and county cricket for Yorkshire - think how annoying he must have been as a kid in PE!
I think a lot of footballers excelled at other ball sports in their youth and have had to choose between one sport or another. A quick google brings up Gary Neville (aged 17) who hit a 236 partnership with Matthew Hayden, Oxlaide-Chamberlain played wicketkeeper and was offered a trial with Hampshire CCC. At one point Gary Lineker thought he had more chance of making it as a cricketer than a footballer.
The list of those that played both football and cricket is longer than you think but mainly back in the day.