GOOGLIES & CHINAMEN
An Occasional Cricketing Journal
Edition 79
July 2009 Caption Competition
Owais Shah: Did you know we hold the Twenty20 record?
Tim Murtagh: For winning at the Rose Bowl?
Owais Shah: No, for losing ten consecutive games afterwards.
Andrew Strauss: How are we doing in the Championship, chaps?
Billy Godleman: We haven’t won a match there either.
Alan Richardson: Come back Ernie, all is forgiven.
David Nash: Don’t worry lads it will all be OK when Gus gets here.
Shaun Udal: But he’s here already.
Dawid Malan: Gus who?
Ed Smith: I don’t know why I am in this picture.
Ed Joyce: Nor me. It must be that the Middlesex web site is as out of date as the rest of the set up.
Vinny Codrington: Stop all this nonsense. The outlook is great. I have a master plan.
Out and about with the Professor
I feel sure you will want to be kept up-to-date on the latest activities of the Phil Sharpe “Former Yorkshire Cricketers Glee Club” of which I seem to have become an associate member.
The latest outing was a lunch at Headingley during the match against Somerset. We all met up in the “Headingley Experience Premier Lounge Suite” (naturally) and after a drink or two sat down to a very pleasant meal. A number of the Good Old Boys were there and I had a bit of a chat with Brian Close, Dickie Bird (who is always at Yorkshire matches) and Mike Cope. “Copey” is now, sadly, blind and so I also got to stroke his new dog of which he is very proud. However most of the time I spoke to Robin Smith (not that Robin Smith, but a former President of Yorkshire) about finance, ground improvements and the dreaded outfield, and to Don Wilson about cricket (or more accurately, about Don Wilson’s cricket).
Robin (we’re good chums now) told me that Yorkshire had recovered from the dark days of near-bankruptcy and would be operating at a profit were it not for debt repayment. The Club still has a large loan from the Leeds City Council but has a lucrative deal with Leeds Met University whereby the University gets the use of Headingley facilities. What for? Well seemingly “hospitality” courses will use some parts of the building (possibly the Premier Lounge Suite), “sports science” will be in the fitness and medical areas, and “media” courses in the new pavilion and media centre. Personally, I think they should use the whole stadium for their degree ceremony – what better than to walk out into the middle and get your degree from Sir Geoffrey?
Don Wilson spent his time “recollecting”. If he does this very often, it must drive people mad, but for me it was a perfect couple of hours of: “what I said to Freddie”, “what Illy’s excuse was for being bowled – (‘e were never out, thou knows)”, and so on and so on. There was a lot of discussion about field placing (why has Third Man gone out of fashion, and how left arm spinners didn’t know how to set fields properly) and which was the best end to bowl at Headingley. Not that Don ever had a choice, in 17 years at Yorkshire he never bowled from the Kirkstall Lane End (“Freddie liked t’ come down t’hill…and there were no arguin’ we that”).
We also got on to the wicket-keeping debate, particularly in view of Foster’s excellent displays in the Twenty/20 and the presence of the soon-to-be-English Kieswetter at the crease.
“We ‘ad same problem. I were in England team in India, (by it were ‘ot). We ‘ad Jimmy Binks, (by he were a good keeper). But when it came t’ Tests they played Jim bloody Parks (couldn’t keep chickens). I were bowling to Manjrekar in one game, (by he were a good player), and he comes up track t’ me and says: “Don have you got a wicket yet?” “No”, I says. “Right ho”, he says and next bloody ball ‘e dances down pitch and lets it go. Four bloody byes!
(I imagine it might be quite difficult to verify this storey …but who would want to ruin an old man’s tale?)
As for the match? Well, there were lots of star players on view and Hoggard had a spectacular spell in the morning taking two wickets in his first over, (Trescothick and Langer) but Kieswetter steadied the ship and, as you will know, Somerset went on to win the game. There was an opportunity to see Munday bowl his leg-breaks again and, as we had seen at Old Trafford, he bowled the most dreadful load of tripe which somehow picked up a couple of wickets in each innings. There was a lot of local interest in Wainwright, a more than useful left-arm spinner (Don approved) and Jonathan Bairstow. The latter is of course the son of David (“ ‘e were an ‘andy keeper an’ all”) and was making his debut, having got his chance because Vaughan had dropped out because, you will be amazed to hear, of a sore knee. He looked pretty self assured. I spent part of the previous day sitting in front of the Bairstow family (the hair gives them away) and they were more nervous than the boy. In the first innings he played quite freely until he tried (and failed) to hit Munday out of the ground, while in the second innings he top-scored with a not out 80-odd. He might be one to watch.
“Our” next home game is not until July (apart from Twenty/20…and who would want to watch that)…so I will keep you posted.
Fixture Madness Matters It is not just the great Jack Morgan and me who think that the arrangement of fixtures this season has reached madness proportions. King Cricket posted this recently
You played cricket last weekend and you liked it. You’re suddenly interested in the sport. You want to know what the professionals are doing. Here’s our cut-out-and-throw-away guide to the clean, simple, straightforward cricketing fixture list this summer.
First of all the County Championship started. This is in two divisions, but many people treat the two equally, because it’s all first-class cricket. Matches are played over four days and start on pretty much any day of the week. Never try and guess when a match starts. You will always be wrong.
In between County Championship fixtures in this early part of the season, counties play the Friends Provident Trophy. This is a 50-over competition with the counties divided into four groups/leagues. The winners of the four groups go through to semi finals which are played a couple of months later when everyone’s forgotten what 50-over cricket is.
At the same time as all this, the Indian Premier League took place in South Africa. This was a 20 over competition and the team that finished fourth won it.
Also at the same time as this, England played a Test series against the West Indies. This tour was a replacement for a Sri Lankan tour which itself was a replacement for a Zimbabwe tour. It was best of two Tests and England won both matches, reclaiming the trophy they’d lost a few weeks earlier in a best of four Test series.
Next, the County Championship was put on hold in favour of the Twenty20 Cup. The counties play group stages, which take the form of three regional leagues. There are matches pretty much every day and every side plays every other side in their league once. Currently everyone’s taken a break and returned to the County Championship for two fixtures.
After two four day matches, it’s back to Twenty20 for the rest of the league phase. The top teams in these leagues will go through to the quarter finals, at which point the tournament becomes a knock-out. This stage of the tournament is played a month later when everyone’s forgotten what 20 over cricket is.
Alongside all this, the Twenty20 World Cup is being played. We’re not going to tell you anything about this, because we’re getting bored and there’s still a lot to get through.
In July, County Championship matches are separated by Pro40 matches. The Pro40 is a 40-over competition which is so pointless, it was cancelled last year, but it’s limping on through 2009 presumably thanks to some contractual obligation to sponsors. Next year it’s being replaced by P20 which will be a 20-over league. We’re guessing it’ll be a league with a cup finish as opposed to a cup with a league group stage, but who knows/cares.
Internationally, England play the Ashes, which is something everyone can get their head around. After that massive high point, they’ll then play two Twenty20 internationals against the same opposition and then SEVEN one-day internationals which no-one can possibly care about.
Conclusion: What a fucking shambles. What a real, world-class, title-taking shambles.
Middlesex Matters
The Great Jack Morgan sent me the following update on our favourite county
I went to Richmond for the Cardiff UCCE game, which is nominally a 1st XI fixture, but in fact it is the 2s, but with D Shelley scoring! Cardiff actually won the UCCE Championship in 2007 (coached by Kevin Lyons) despite their lack of first class status, becoming only the third team to win it; the other winners are Loughborough (5 times) and Oxford (twice). JWJC was present and he had heard that Finny was rather flattered by his figures at Chelmsford (so "no" he is not bowling straight and on a length) and that Silvers had bowled better, but was denied even the slimmest slice of luck. Middlesex won the toss and batted first and Robson, London and Simpson disappointed with the bat, but most of those who had been lacking runs were able to get a few: Billy G (107), Scotty (88), Dan Housego (62*) and Kabir Toor (35*) all overcame indifferent starts to play some good shots in a total of 353 for 5 dec. It was no doubt easier than most matches they play, but the Cardiff attack was not rubbish (most of them are county 2s players).
The Cardiff batting was not so strong however, but openers Ryan Bishop (39) who kept wicket in the second innings and Seb Benton (39) who hails from Torquay, but plays for Warwicks 2s, were largely untroubled in a stand of 71 against Danny Evans, Dave Burton (back at the club on some sort of trial basis) and slow left armer Sunil Tailor (ex-academy). The situation changed quickly however when captain Scott brought on off-spinner Adam London and 18 year old pace bowler Tom Hampton. London immediately started turning the ball huge distances, while Hampton (seen last season as no more than a promising medium pacer) now bowled with accuracy, pace and hostility; London took 3 for 26 in 15 overs and Hampton 2 for 12 in 10. Tailor returned to pick up three late wickets (for 45) as the students collapsed to 161 all out, the only resistance coming from Michael Barber (25), who kept wicket in the first innings and has played for Kent 2s and left arm swing bowler Alex Jones (17*), who is on the Glamorgan staff.
Middlesex declined to enforce the follow on and Sam Robson (49), Ben Scott (52*) and Dan Housego (30, cruelly run out by his captain) took Middlesex on to 165-5 at the close and Scotty declared at this score before the start of play on day 3, disappointing those of us who had hoped to see a full day's play. Pace bowlers Evans (2 for 26 in 13 overs) and Burton (3 for 31) were much more impressive than in the first innings and soon reduced the UCCE to 22 for 4. However, Hampton (1 for 8) was under bowled and the spinners (London, Tailor and leg-spinner Kabir Toor with 2 for 83 between them) had less success than in the first innings, which allowed Alex Senn (28) who has played for Kent 2s, Stu Ransley (30) from MCCYCs and last man, seamer Sean Moore (37*), to mount a recovery which took the visitors to 156 for 9. Unfortunately, that was where the innings ended because impressive paceman Tom Allin, another Devonian (Bideford) who has played for Warwicks 2s, had retired from the match through injury; but another useful pace bowler, Stephan Kelly, had been allowed to replace Allin as a bowler, so why was he not allowed to have a bat in an unimportant match? This left Middlesex the winners by 201 runs by 2.20 pm.
I am afraid that I have to criticise severely the scoreboard at Richmond, which was totally inadequate for a first team match. I knew all the Middlesex players, but many spectators would not have done and none of us would surely have known any of the Cardiff players, yet no attempt whatsoever was made to identify the bowlers or the catchers and only unreliable efforts were made to identify the batsmen and to keep the score fairly accurate, while the scorers appeared to miss completely the fact that the Cardiff captain had bowled an over of left arm spin at the end of the Middlesex first innings. My mate Mick, who keeps an accurate scorebook, was giving me a running commentary throughout the match on the inaccuracies of the scoreboard: it was poor stuff. In addition, Mick was so convinced that the scorers had overstated the Middx total (and Billy G's score) by one run that he strode over to challenge the scorers about it at the next opportunity and was told that because the batsmen had gone to the wrong ends after a drinks interval, they had credited Middlesex with an extra (unearned) run! What?
And another thing: the provision of seating was non-existent. As you can imagine, the attendance at this match was very small indeed, but despite the fact that many spectators had brought their own chairs, there was still not enough seating for the few spectators and many had to stand or sit on the grass: it was a disgrace. Oh, and another thing: the publicity for the game was also non-existent. As far as I could see, there was absolutely nothing to indicate that Middlesex were even playing at the ground. The only signs and posters that I saw were publicising the activities of Richmond CC and London Welsh RUFC and several locals wandered in saying "who's this playing here then? I've heard nothing about it". It seems that either Middlesex or Richmond or both just do not give a stuff about bringing Middlesex cricket into the community. There was no charge for admission, of course, but one would have thought that Richmond would have wanted to attract as many people as possible in order to sell a few more pints/ coffees/ snacks/ lunches/ teas/ gin'n'tonics etc and maybe even recruit a few members. But no, it seems that they just want to be struck off the list of Middlesex venues, which would be sad, as it is a pleasant ground (if you can overlook the constant din from the aeroplanes on their way to Heathrow) and especially sad for me as it is the nearest 2nd XI ground for me, following the demise of the excellent Lensbury.
I saw the whole of the 2nd XI Championship match between Surrey and Middlesex played in the stunning surroundings of Charterhouse, way up high on the North Downs above Godalming. The estate is a mass of cricket pitches set on a wooded hill and interspersed with distinguished school buildings designed to complement each other architecturally. After parking the car, I must have found ten cricket grounds before finally locating the first eleven pitch and the Peter May pavilion. Among the Charterhouse cricket coaches are Martin Bicknell and Richard (RV) Lewis (ex-Hants). The Surrey team included two Test players in Alex Tudor and Malinga Bandara and their coaches included Test men Bicknell, Graham Thorpe and Ian Salisbury, while Richard Johnson was also spotted apparently receiving tuition from Salisbury on how to operate the video camera and ex-England coach Mickey Stewart also put in an appearance. The Middlesex pace bowlers were listed as Dave Burton, Tyron Henderson, Danny Evans and captain Alan Richardson, a much stronger contingent than expected, however, Danny had to pull out before the start following an injury in the warm-up (more ammunition for your campaign to abolish the pre-match football and rugby games which are now so popular) and could be out for six weeks with ligament problems, Burt had to miss the third day as he was called up for first team squad duty at Bristol (and unexpectedly ended up starring in the match), while the Blacksmith and Richo were at less than full fitness.
Nevertheless, Middlesex started off well and soon reduced Surrey (whose captain, Chris Murtagh, had elected to bat) to 106 for 5, the main run scorer at the top of the order was James Benning (58) who then ran himself out and tried to blame his innocent partner. However, a strong looking lower half of the order (Laurie Evans 72, Stewart Walters 56, Bandara 58, Tudor 28 and Simon King 30) took advantage of the inexperienced quartet of Middlesex spinners and more than trebled the total to 330 all out. Richardson was the best of the Middlesex bowlers and took 2 for 10 in the nine overs to which he rationed himself. Middlesex made an unimpressive start to their reply, but Billy Godleman looked solid and when he was joined by Dawid Malan, the left-handers embarked on a stand of 165 before Bill was dismissed for 124. Dawid then got good support from Ben Scott (46) in a stand of 84 before the former fell for 125 and Middlesex declared on 350 for 6. I felt it was an odd sort of declaration, a lead of 20 was not enough to allow Middlesex to throw everything at Surrey as a big lead would have done and nor did it encourage Surrey to set Middlesex a target as declaring behind would have done. Personally, I thought Middlesex should have batted on and gone for the innings victory (and this course would also have insured against defeat) as there was still plenty of batting left to construct a big lead: Luc Durandt (a 19 year old batsman born in Jo'burg, who played once for Kent 2s last season and who replaced Evans in the Middlesex team) was at the crease and competent batters Adam London, Kabir Toor and John Simpson were still to come in.
When Surrey batted again, Middlesex again had the top five out cheaply (for 71) despite 39 from Walters, but another recovery was this time led by Benning (82) and supported by Evans (39) and Tudor (39), who exploited the weakened pace attack and the apprentice spinners to take the total on to 234 all out. Richardson (2 more cheap wickets) was again the pick of the attack, while Malan was probably the best of the spinners with 4 wickets in the match. Middlesex were left with an unlikely target of 215 in 35 overs, but made a dreadful start and were confronting defeat when they fell to 73 for 6, with possibly only 9 wickets to fall (in Burton's absence). They did not deserve to lose however and sensible batting from John Simpson (26*) and, especially, Kabir Toor (45*) made sure that they did not with an unbroken stand of 71, the visitors finishing on 144 for 6. Seamer Tim Linley, with five wickets in the match, was the best of the Surrey bowlers. Alex Tudor made an unusual contribution to the match: he batted (quite well) in both innings at no 9, but did not bowl or (except for two overs) field in the Middlesex first innings; but in the Middlesex second innings, he opened the bowling at a brisk pace and took the wicket of Scott. On the last day, injured bowlers Tim Murtagh of Middlesex and Jimmy Ormond of Surrey (bringing the number of Test players on view up to eight) were seen exercising and bowling in the nets as they tried to regain fitness. Overall the match was unexceptional, but it will always remain in the memory because of the glorious setting.
Bacup Matters
I recently received a package in the mail from a retired clergyman, Anthony Roberts, who had met the Professor in Sri Lanka. In his communication he complained of the Professor’s lack of historical knowledge of Lancashire League cricket. He added:
“As a Bacupian born and bred I am proud of my cricketing heritage. Its heyday was in the fifties when Everton Weekes was the professional and my uncle was the captain. In seven seasons between 1949 and 1958 Weekes scored 9019 in 150 innings averaging 97.7. Games were played on Saturdays between 2pm and 7pm, with no time or over limits on the batting side. If the opposition won the toss they invariably batted first against Bacup, leaving us as short a time as possible to get the runs. If Everton got in it seemed no target was beyond him.”
Its so difficult being retired Matters
The Great Jack Morgan concluded his most recent missive to me with the following
I have delayed sending you this as I had hoped to bring you news of the big clash between Bucks and Lincs at Tring (which I know you were eagerly awaiting), but it now looks as if I will not be attending after all due to i) ordinary weather forecasts (though the actual weather has been OK); ii) competing attractions on the television; iii) lack of handiness of Tring; and iv) most importantly, severe problems on the M25, which have to be negotiated in order to get to Tring. These problems may also hinder my attempts to get to Radlett for upcoming matches. I have also been waiting for the second innings bowling figures from Charterhouse to appear on the website: they are still not there, so I'm sending this anyway as I know how anxious you will be if you do not hear from me!
South Hampstead Matters
Following the publication of an undated team photo from the early sixties in the last edition I got home one night to find a message on my answer phone from non other than the President of South Hampstead, Don Wallis. The tone was as uncompromising as ever and the gist of the message was that the picture had been taken at Milverton Road on a Saturday at the end of the season. I was grateful for this contribution but I was already in receipt of the following email from Bill Hart:
“The picture from Carole Perham (presumably Carole Simpson as was), is from Sept 24th 1961 v Barclays Bank at their Ealing ground, instead of Norbury. The result was a win for South Hampstead with 151 for 9 declared, against 71 all out. That was Terry & Len's first season, and was the year before Nienow & myself arrived. As you suggested perusal of Allan's transcription of 1961 (the first one which we carried out), provided the answer.”
On the Couch with the Professor
The Professor sent Douglas Miller and me the following
I doubt if either of you were tempted to watch anything so plebeian as the Twenty/20 finals. They were both quite reasonable games although, as is so often the case with finals, the better matches were the semi-finals. It was good to see Clare Taylor confirm her place as probably the best ever woman to play the game, and the mad Afridi come back into some semblance of form.
During the men's final commentary was provided, inter alia, by one Ian Chappell. I had never thought of him as a deep insightful thinker before but towards the end he commented on the change in the backing-up law. At the time Shoaib Malik was sprinting down the track and making his ground easily at the striker's end secure in the knowledge that the bowler could not run him out at his end.
The Sage of Oz declared that the whole thing was ridiculous and: "Whoever thought up the change in the Law should be shot" - a pithy and not too pusillanimous pronouncement on the issue.
What was actually happening was that on several occasions Malik was four or five paces down the track by the time the ball was actually played. Moreover he was moving at speed. This is plainly ridiculous.
To make his ground the batsman has to run 58 feet. In Malik's case, this was reduced to something approaching 43 feet. Let's make some estimates: Olympic sprinters can do 328 feet in a little over nine and a half seconds. (9.69 is the record) and that is from a standing (or rather crouching) start. That means 43 feet is covered in 1.27 seconds. We are talking about Shoaib Malik here, not Usain Bolt, so let's double it - 2.54. Wearing pads is an encumbrance - even modern light-weight ones so let's round it up to 3 seconds.
So, the fielding side has about three seconds to receive the ball, gather it, take aim and run out the backing up batsman at the 'keepers end. Try it. I think it is almost impossible unless the fielder is very close which, in Twenty/20, is a rarity. And it doesn't stop there. A single hit down the ground becomes an easy two if the baking-up batsman can do the first run in three seconds - indeed there were several occasions in the game when Malik was running in the same direction as Afridi and likely to lap him. The same is true, less commonly, of a three. It is, in truth, a ridiculous law and needs to be changed back immediately. I think public execution for those who perpetrated the change and continue to support it is an example of Antipodean over statement, and transportation no longer holds the terrors that it did, but how about a short spell in a medieval pillory as a means of extracting atonement?
Douglas replied as follows:
Well are we the only two who have defended the so called change in the backing up Law?
But first, let me assure you that I was at Lord's for every match played in the Twenty20 World Cup - and certainly would not have missed the women's final, even if England had not been in it. The poor turnout of MCC members was shameful, especially for the opening night. Now to nitpick, Clare Taylor has retired from international cricket, at which she was once our opening bowler. Claire Taylor is the girl you are after. (This used to be one of my clever Dick questions, the spelling of the name, when both were in the team together.)
To revert to the so called Law change, here is the relevant section of Law 42:
15. Bowler attempting to run out non-striker before delivery
The bowler is permitted, before entering his delivery stride, to attempt to run out the non-striker. The ball shall not count in the over.
The umpire shall call and signal Dead ball as soon as possible if the bowler fails in the attempt to run out the non-striker.
Now all that has happened is that it has been made impossible for a bowler to catch a batsman all unaware and whip off the bails instead of delivering the ball. I submit that, at almost any stage of a game, it would have been possible for a bowler to have done this. The practice of giving a warning has always been pure convention: it has never had force of law to implement it. Hence the amendment to the Laws, an amendment that came from a panel of individuals drawn from world cricket with playing and umpiring experience at the very highest level. The Laws were approved by MCC, but it was an international panel that advised and drafted all the changes.
I would not wish to see this Law changed at any price. However, it opens the question of what action, if any, should be taken against those who now gallop down the pitch before the ball is delivered. I experienced an extreme example of this with a boy from Berkhamsted School. My colleague warned him not to do it. My own attitude remains that the fielding side has its opportunity to take action - run him out (with or without warning). I would be quite sympathetic to a bowler who dispensed with any warning in extreme circumstances. I think this could be a fair quid pro quo with the new law.
However, there may also be a case for empowering umpires to stop a batsman from leaving his crease before the ball is delivered. It's a bit difficult as one's eyes are on the bowler's feet at the crucial moment (and later as well, at the expense of watching properly for lbw etc. if he shows a tendency to run onto the protected area). It would not be easy to watch the non-striker at the same time. And what penalty should be imposed if the non-striker transgresses? A warning then penalty runs? I would not be too strongly opposed to this.
Middlesex League Matters
Ian Rocker Robinson has been keeping me up to date with the weekly results in the Middlesex League. In the Premier League Ealing are top with five wins out of eight matches. Hampstead, Finchley and Teddington each have four wins. Shepherds Bush have one win and they are only one point ahead of the relegation zone. It seems in this league that if you win the toss you bat as long as you can. Last Saturday Brondesbury made 279 for 6 from 66 overs. And then bowled just 41 overs at Ealing who finished on 174 for 8. Shepherds Bush made 272 for 7 from 63 overs and then bowled just 37 at Eastcote who finished on 84 for 6. These games may have been interrupted by rain when the extraordinary stats of this match are reviewed. Teddington made 267 for 7 from 64 overs and then bowled 72 overs at Richmond who finished on 200 for 8. 132 overs is a staggering number to be bowled in a one day game.
In the next division Southgate are the frontrunners with six wins. They are pursued by North Middlesex, Twickenham, Acton and Brentham who all have achieved four wins. Sadly, South Hampstead are in the relegation zone with North London and they have just one win each. In this division there appears to be a 55 over limit for the side batting first. Presumably these are half day games. The scores are eye watering reading for those who played over thirty years ago. North Middlesex 255 for 8, North London 274 for 7, Twickenham 271 for 9 and Uxbridge 234 for 8.
There must be plenty of readers who are well versed in the league rules, or are they laws? No doubt someone else can explain the high scoring. Bob Peach has always maintains that it is down to indifferent bowling. I suspect that even he would have found it daunting bowling on a hard covered wicket against someone batting with half a tree and whose heroes regularly hit the ball into the next county.
Rangers Matters
I thought that readers would be interested to hear that I am now on the schedule to be the Rangers manager. I am slotted in to take over in early December, which is in four managers’ time. I am expected to throw a wobbly and be fired before Christmas but it will have been an interesting experience if not a unique one for the CV. Any readers who would also like to have a go should contact Bernie Eccleston direct. He will be happy to accommodate you as the competition is getting thinner by the month since there are fewer guys around who haven’t already done it.
Old Danes Gathering
The Old Danes Gathering will take place this year on Friday 31st July at Shepherds Bush CC from 2pm. All Old Danes and friends will be welcome. I am circulating a list of attendees and apologies on a regular basis. If you are planning to attend please advise me accordingly and I will add you to it. The Gathering will run on into the evening and so those who are only able to come after work can be accommodated. Wives and partners will be most welcome if this helps your arrangements to attend.
Football Matters
A lot of people wonder what footballers get up to in the off season. Kelvin West, who you all know is now based in Greece, spotted Andrew Baker’s star midfield player on an airfield trying to start her own plane. Being the perfect gent that he is he offered to assist the young lady and he tells me that he got her started without any trouble.
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An Occasional Cricketing Journal
Edition 79
July 2009 Caption Competition
Owais Shah: Did you know we hold the Twenty20 record?
Tim Murtagh: For winning at the Rose Bowl?
Owais Shah: No, for losing ten consecutive games afterwards.
Andrew Strauss: How are we doing in the Championship, chaps?
Billy Godleman: We haven’t won a match there either.
Alan Richardson: Come back Ernie, all is forgiven.
David Nash: Don’t worry lads it will all be OK when Gus gets here.
Shaun Udal: But he’s here already.
Dawid Malan: Gus who?
Ed Smith: I don’t know why I am in this picture.
Ed Joyce: Nor me. It must be that the Middlesex web site is as out of date as the rest of the set up.
Vinny Codrington: Stop all this nonsense. The outlook is great. I have a master plan.
Out and about with the Professor
I feel sure you will want to be kept up-to-date on the latest activities of the Phil Sharpe “Former Yorkshire Cricketers Glee Club” of which I seem to have become an associate member.
The latest outing was a lunch at Headingley during the match against Somerset. We all met up in the “Headingley Experience Premier Lounge Suite” (naturally) and after a drink or two sat down to a very pleasant meal. A number of the Good Old Boys were there and I had a bit of a chat with Brian Close, Dickie Bird (who is always at Yorkshire matches) and Mike Cope. “Copey” is now, sadly, blind and so I also got to stroke his new dog of which he is very proud. However most of the time I spoke to Robin Smith (not that Robin Smith, but a former President of Yorkshire) about finance, ground improvements and the dreaded outfield, and to Don Wilson about cricket (or more accurately, about Don Wilson’s cricket).
Robin (we’re good chums now) told me that Yorkshire had recovered from the dark days of near-bankruptcy and would be operating at a profit were it not for debt repayment. The Club still has a large loan from the Leeds City Council but has a lucrative deal with Leeds Met University whereby the University gets the use of Headingley facilities. What for? Well seemingly “hospitality” courses will use some parts of the building (possibly the Premier Lounge Suite), “sports science” will be in the fitness and medical areas, and “media” courses in the new pavilion and media centre. Personally, I think they should use the whole stadium for their degree ceremony – what better than to walk out into the middle and get your degree from Sir Geoffrey?
Don Wilson spent his time “recollecting”. If he does this very often, it must drive people mad, but for me it was a perfect couple of hours of: “what I said to Freddie”, “what Illy’s excuse was for being bowled – (‘e were never out, thou knows)”, and so on and so on. There was a lot of discussion about field placing (why has Third Man gone out of fashion, and how left arm spinners didn’t know how to set fields properly) and which was the best end to bowl at Headingley. Not that Don ever had a choice, in 17 years at Yorkshire he never bowled from the Kirkstall Lane End (“Freddie liked t’ come down t’hill…and there were no arguin’ we that”).
We also got on to the wicket-keeping debate, particularly in view of Foster’s excellent displays in the Twenty/20 and the presence of the soon-to-be-English Kieswetter at the crease.
“We ‘ad same problem. I were in England team in India, (by it were ‘ot). We ‘ad Jimmy Binks, (by he were a good keeper). But when it came t’ Tests they played Jim bloody Parks (couldn’t keep chickens). I were bowling to Manjrekar in one game, (by he were a good player), and he comes up track t’ me and says: “Don have you got a wicket yet?” “No”, I says. “Right ho”, he says and next bloody ball ‘e dances down pitch and lets it go. Four bloody byes!
(I imagine it might be quite difficult to verify this storey …but who would want to ruin an old man’s tale?)
As for the match? Well, there were lots of star players on view and Hoggard had a spectacular spell in the morning taking two wickets in his first over, (Trescothick and Langer) but Kieswetter steadied the ship and, as you will know, Somerset went on to win the game. There was an opportunity to see Munday bowl his leg-breaks again and, as we had seen at Old Trafford, he bowled the most dreadful load of tripe which somehow picked up a couple of wickets in each innings. There was a lot of local interest in Wainwright, a more than useful left-arm spinner (Don approved) and Jonathan Bairstow. The latter is of course the son of David (“ ‘e were an ‘andy keeper an’ all”) and was making his debut, having got his chance because Vaughan had dropped out because, you will be amazed to hear, of a sore knee. He looked pretty self assured. I spent part of the previous day sitting in front of the Bairstow family (the hair gives them away) and they were more nervous than the boy. In the first innings he played quite freely until he tried (and failed) to hit Munday out of the ground, while in the second innings he top-scored with a not out 80-odd. He might be one to watch.
“Our” next home game is not until July (apart from Twenty/20…and who would want to watch that)…so I will keep you posted.
Fixture Madness Matters It is not just the great Jack Morgan and me who think that the arrangement of fixtures this season has reached madness proportions. King Cricket posted this recently
You played cricket last weekend and you liked it. You’re suddenly interested in the sport. You want to know what the professionals are doing. Here’s our cut-out-and-throw-away guide to the clean, simple, straightforward cricketing fixture list this summer.
First of all the County Championship started. This is in two divisions, but many people treat the two equally, because it’s all first-class cricket. Matches are played over four days and start on pretty much any day of the week. Never try and guess when a match starts. You will always be wrong.
In between County Championship fixtures in this early part of the season, counties play the Friends Provident Trophy. This is a 50-over competition with the counties divided into four groups/leagues. The winners of the four groups go through to semi finals which are played a couple of months later when everyone’s forgotten what 50-over cricket is.
At the same time as all this, the Indian Premier League took place in South Africa. This was a 20 over competition and the team that finished fourth won it.
Also at the same time as this, England played a Test series against the West Indies. This tour was a replacement for a Sri Lankan tour which itself was a replacement for a Zimbabwe tour. It was best of two Tests and England won both matches, reclaiming the trophy they’d lost a few weeks earlier in a best of four Test series.
Next, the County Championship was put on hold in favour of the Twenty20 Cup. The counties play group stages, which take the form of three regional leagues. There are matches pretty much every day and every side plays every other side in their league once. Currently everyone’s taken a break and returned to the County Championship for two fixtures.
After two four day matches, it’s back to Twenty20 for the rest of the league phase. The top teams in these leagues will go through to the quarter finals, at which point the tournament becomes a knock-out. This stage of the tournament is played a month later when everyone’s forgotten what 20 over cricket is.
Alongside all this, the Twenty20 World Cup is being played. We’re not going to tell you anything about this, because we’re getting bored and there’s still a lot to get through.
In July, County Championship matches are separated by Pro40 matches. The Pro40 is a 40-over competition which is so pointless, it was cancelled last year, but it’s limping on through 2009 presumably thanks to some contractual obligation to sponsors. Next year it’s being replaced by P20 which will be a 20-over league. We’re guessing it’ll be a league with a cup finish as opposed to a cup with a league group stage, but who knows/cares.
Internationally, England play the Ashes, which is something everyone can get their head around. After that massive high point, they’ll then play two Twenty20 internationals against the same opposition and then SEVEN one-day internationals which no-one can possibly care about.
Conclusion: What a fucking shambles. What a real, world-class, title-taking shambles.
Middlesex Matters
The Great Jack Morgan sent me the following update on our favourite county
I went to Richmond for the Cardiff UCCE game, which is nominally a 1st XI fixture, but in fact it is the 2s, but with D Shelley scoring! Cardiff actually won the UCCE Championship in 2007 (coached by Kevin Lyons) despite their lack of first class status, becoming only the third team to win it; the other winners are Loughborough (5 times) and Oxford (twice). JWJC was present and he had heard that Finny was rather flattered by his figures at Chelmsford (so "no" he is not bowling straight and on a length) and that Silvers had bowled better, but was denied even the slimmest slice of luck. Middlesex won the toss and batted first and Robson, London and Simpson disappointed with the bat, but most of those who had been lacking runs were able to get a few: Billy G (107), Scotty (88), Dan Housego (62*) and Kabir Toor (35*) all overcame indifferent starts to play some good shots in a total of 353 for 5 dec. It was no doubt easier than most matches they play, but the Cardiff attack was not rubbish (most of them are county 2s players).
The Cardiff batting was not so strong however, but openers Ryan Bishop (39) who kept wicket in the second innings and Seb Benton (39) who hails from Torquay, but plays for Warwicks 2s, were largely untroubled in a stand of 71 against Danny Evans, Dave Burton (back at the club on some sort of trial basis) and slow left armer Sunil Tailor (ex-academy). The situation changed quickly however when captain Scott brought on off-spinner Adam London and 18 year old pace bowler Tom Hampton. London immediately started turning the ball huge distances, while Hampton (seen last season as no more than a promising medium pacer) now bowled with accuracy, pace and hostility; London took 3 for 26 in 15 overs and Hampton 2 for 12 in 10. Tailor returned to pick up three late wickets (for 45) as the students collapsed to 161 all out, the only resistance coming from Michael Barber (25), who kept wicket in the first innings and has played for Kent 2s and left arm swing bowler Alex Jones (17*), who is on the Glamorgan staff.
Middlesex declined to enforce the follow on and Sam Robson (49), Ben Scott (52*) and Dan Housego (30, cruelly run out by his captain) took Middlesex on to 165-5 at the close and Scotty declared at this score before the start of play on day 3, disappointing those of us who had hoped to see a full day's play. Pace bowlers Evans (2 for 26 in 13 overs) and Burton (3 for 31) were much more impressive than in the first innings and soon reduced the UCCE to 22 for 4. However, Hampton (1 for 8) was under bowled and the spinners (London, Tailor and leg-spinner Kabir Toor with 2 for 83 between them) had less success than in the first innings, which allowed Alex Senn (28) who has played for Kent 2s, Stu Ransley (30) from MCCYCs and last man, seamer Sean Moore (37*), to mount a recovery which took the visitors to 156 for 9. Unfortunately, that was where the innings ended because impressive paceman Tom Allin, another Devonian (Bideford) who has played for Warwicks 2s, had retired from the match through injury; but another useful pace bowler, Stephan Kelly, had been allowed to replace Allin as a bowler, so why was he not allowed to have a bat in an unimportant match? This left Middlesex the winners by 201 runs by 2.20 pm.
I am afraid that I have to criticise severely the scoreboard at Richmond, which was totally inadequate for a first team match. I knew all the Middlesex players, but many spectators would not have done and none of us would surely have known any of the Cardiff players, yet no attempt whatsoever was made to identify the bowlers or the catchers and only unreliable efforts were made to identify the batsmen and to keep the score fairly accurate, while the scorers appeared to miss completely the fact that the Cardiff captain had bowled an over of left arm spin at the end of the Middlesex first innings. My mate Mick, who keeps an accurate scorebook, was giving me a running commentary throughout the match on the inaccuracies of the scoreboard: it was poor stuff. In addition, Mick was so convinced that the scorers had overstated the Middx total (and Billy G's score) by one run that he strode over to challenge the scorers about it at the next opportunity and was told that because the batsmen had gone to the wrong ends after a drinks interval, they had credited Middlesex with an extra (unearned) run! What?
And another thing: the provision of seating was non-existent. As you can imagine, the attendance at this match was very small indeed, but despite the fact that many spectators had brought their own chairs, there was still not enough seating for the few spectators and many had to stand or sit on the grass: it was a disgrace. Oh, and another thing: the publicity for the game was also non-existent. As far as I could see, there was absolutely nothing to indicate that Middlesex were even playing at the ground. The only signs and posters that I saw were publicising the activities of Richmond CC and London Welsh RUFC and several locals wandered in saying "who's this playing here then? I've heard nothing about it". It seems that either Middlesex or Richmond or both just do not give a stuff about bringing Middlesex cricket into the community. There was no charge for admission, of course, but one would have thought that Richmond would have wanted to attract as many people as possible in order to sell a few more pints/ coffees/ snacks/ lunches/ teas/ gin'n'tonics etc and maybe even recruit a few members. But no, it seems that they just want to be struck off the list of Middlesex venues, which would be sad, as it is a pleasant ground (if you can overlook the constant din from the aeroplanes on their way to Heathrow) and especially sad for me as it is the nearest 2nd XI ground for me, following the demise of the excellent Lensbury.
I saw the whole of the 2nd XI Championship match between Surrey and Middlesex played in the stunning surroundings of Charterhouse, way up high on the North Downs above Godalming. The estate is a mass of cricket pitches set on a wooded hill and interspersed with distinguished school buildings designed to complement each other architecturally. After parking the car, I must have found ten cricket grounds before finally locating the first eleven pitch and the Peter May pavilion. Among the Charterhouse cricket coaches are Martin Bicknell and Richard (RV) Lewis (ex-Hants). The Surrey team included two Test players in Alex Tudor and Malinga Bandara and their coaches included Test men Bicknell, Graham Thorpe and Ian Salisbury, while Richard Johnson was also spotted apparently receiving tuition from Salisbury on how to operate the video camera and ex-England coach Mickey Stewart also put in an appearance. The Middlesex pace bowlers were listed as Dave Burton, Tyron Henderson, Danny Evans and captain Alan Richardson, a much stronger contingent than expected, however, Danny had to pull out before the start following an injury in the warm-up (more ammunition for your campaign to abolish the pre-match football and rugby games which are now so popular) and could be out for six weeks with ligament problems, Burt had to miss the third day as he was called up for first team squad duty at Bristol (and unexpectedly ended up starring in the match), while the Blacksmith and Richo were at less than full fitness.
Nevertheless, Middlesex started off well and soon reduced Surrey (whose captain, Chris Murtagh, had elected to bat) to 106 for 5, the main run scorer at the top of the order was James Benning (58) who then ran himself out and tried to blame his innocent partner. However, a strong looking lower half of the order (Laurie Evans 72, Stewart Walters 56, Bandara 58, Tudor 28 and Simon King 30) took advantage of the inexperienced quartet of Middlesex spinners and more than trebled the total to 330 all out. Richardson was the best of the Middlesex bowlers and took 2 for 10 in the nine overs to which he rationed himself. Middlesex made an unimpressive start to their reply, but Billy Godleman looked solid and when he was joined by Dawid Malan, the left-handers embarked on a stand of 165 before Bill was dismissed for 124. Dawid then got good support from Ben Scott (46) in a stand of 84 before the former fell for 125 and Middlesex declared on 350 for 6. I felt it was an odd sort of declaration, a lead of 20 was not enough to allow Middlesex to throw everything at Surrey as a big lead would have done and nor did it encourage Surrey to set Middlesex a target as declaring behind would have done. Personally, I thought Middlesex should have batted on and gone for the innings victory (and this course would also have insured against defeat) as there was still plenty of batting left to construct a big lead: Luc Durandt (a 19 year old batsman born in Jo'burg, who played once for Kent 2s last season and who replaced Evans in the Middlesex team) was at the crease and competent batters Adam London, Kabir Toor and John Simpson were still to come in.
When Surrey batted again, Middlesex again had the top five out cheaply (for 71) despite 39 from Walters, but another recovery was this time led by Benning (82) and supported by Evans (39) and Tudor (39), who exploited the weakened pace attack and the apprentice spinners to take the total on to 234 all out. Richardson (2 more cheap wickets) was again the pick of the attack, while Malan was probably the best of the spinners with 4 wickets in the match. Middlesex were left with an unlikely target of 215 in 35 overs, but made a dreadful start and were confronting defeat when they fell to 73 for 6, with possibly only 9 wickets to fall (in Burton's absence). They did not deserve to lose however and sensible batting from John Simpson (26*) and, especially, Kabir Toor (45*) made sure that they did not with an unbroken stand of 71, the visitors finishing on 144 for 6. Seamer Tim Linley, with five wickets in the match, was the best of the Surrey bowlers. Alex Tudor made an unusual contribution to the match: he batted (quite well) in both innings at no 9, but did not bowl or (except for two overs) field in the Middlesex first innings; but in the Middlesex second innings, he opened the bowling at a brisk pace and took the wicket of Scott. On the last day, injured bowlers Tim Murtagh of Middlesex and Jimmy Ormond of Surrey (bringing the number of Test players on view up to eight) were seen exercising and bowling in the nets as they tried to regain fitness. Overall the match was unexceptional, but it will always remain in the memory because of the glorious setting.
Bacup Matters
I recently received a package in the mail from a retired clergyman, Anthony Roberts, who had met the Professor in Sri Lanka. In his communication he complained of the Professor’s lack of historical knowledge of Lancashire League cricket. He added:
“As a Bacupian born and bred I am proud of my cricketing heritage. Its heyday was in the fifties when Everton Weekes was the professional and my uncle was the captain. In seven seasons between 1949 and 1958 Weekes scored 9019 in 150 innings averaging 97.7. Games were played on Saturdays between 2pm and 7pm, with no time or over limits on the batting side. If the opposition won the toss they invariably batted first against Bacup, leaving us as short a time as possible to get the runs. If Everton got in it seemed no target was beyond him.”
Its so difficult being retired Matters
The Great Jack Morgan concluded his most recent missive to me with the following
I have delayed sending you this as I had hoped to bring you news of the big clash between Bucks and Lincs at Tring (which I know you were eagerly awaiting), but it now looks as if I will not be attending after all due to i) ordinary weather forecasts (though the actual weather has been OK); ii) competing attractions on the television; iii) lack of handiness of Tring; and iv) most importantly, severe problems on the M25, which have to be negotiated in order to get to Tring. These problems may also hinder my attempts to get to Radlett for upcoming matches. I have also been waiting for the second innings bowling figures from Charterhouse to appear on the website: they are still not there, so I'm sending this anyway as I know how anxious you will be if you do not hear from me!
South Hampstead Matters
Following the publication of an undated team photo from the early sixties in the last edition I got home one night to find a message on my answer phone from non other than the President of South Hampstead, Don Wallis. The tone was as uncompromising as ever and the gist of the message was that the picture had been taken at Milverton Road on a Saturday at the end of the season. I was grateful for this contribution but I was already in receipt of the following email from Bill Hart:
“The picture from Carole Perham (presumably Carole Simpson as was), is from Sept 24th 1961 v Barclays Bank at their Ealing ground, instead of Norbury. The result was a win for South Hampstead with 151 for 9 declared, against 71 all out. That was Terry & Len's first season, and was the year before Nienow & myself arrived. As you suggested perusal of Allan's transcription of 1961 (the first one which we carried out), provided the answer.”
On the Couch with the Professor
The Professor sent Douglas Miller and me the following
I doubt if either of you were tempted to watch anything so plebeian as the Twenty/20 finals. They were both quite reasonable games although, as is so often the case with finals, the better matches were the semi-finals. It was good to see Clare Taylor confirm her place as probably the best ever woman to play the game, and the mad Afridi come back into some semblance of form.
During the men's final commentary was provided, inter alia, by one Ian Chappell. I had never thought of him as a deep insightful thinker before but towards the end he commented on the change in the backing-up law. At the time Shoaib Malik was sprinting down the track and making his ground easily at the striker's end secure in the knowledge that the bowler could not run him out at his end.
The Sage of Oz declared that the whole thing was ridiculous and: "Whoever thought up the change in the Law should be shot" - a pithy and not too pusillanimous pronouncement on the issue.
What was actually happening was that on several occasions Malik was four or five paces down the track by the time the ball was actually played. Moreover he was moving at speed. This is plainly ridiculous.
To make his ground the batsman has to run 58 feet. In Malik's case, this was reduced to something approaching 43 feet. Let's make some estimates: Olympic sprinters can do 328 feet in a little over nine and a half seconds. (9.69 is the record) and that is from a standing (or rather crouching) start. That means 43 feet is covered in 1.27 seconds. We are talking about Shoaib Malik here, not Usain Bolt, so let's double it - 2.54. Wearing pads is an encumbrance - even modern light-weight ones so let's round it up to 3 seconds.
So, the fielding side has about three seconds to receive the ball, gather it, take aim and run out the backing up batsman at the 'keepers end. Try it. I think it is almost impossible unless the fielder is very close which, in Twenty/20, is a rarity. And it doesn't stop there. A single hit down the ground becomes an easy two if the baking-up batsman can do the first run in three seconds - indeed there were several occasions in the game when Malik was running in the same direction as Afridi and likely to lap him. The same is true, less commonly, of a three. It is, in truth, a ridiculous law and needs to be changed back immediately. I think public execution for those who perpetrated the change and continue to support it is an example of Antipodean over statement, and transportation no longer holds the terrors that it did, but how about a short spell in a medieval pillory as a means of extracting atonement?
Douglas replied as follows:
Well are we the only two who have defended the so called change in the backing up Law?
But first, let me assure you that I was at Lord's for every match played in the Twenty20 World Cup - and certainly would not have missed the women's final, even if England had not been in it. The poor turnout of MCC members was shameful, especially for the opening night. Now to nitpick, Clare Taylor has retired from international cricket, at which she was once our opening bowler. Claire Taylor is the girl you are after. (This used to be one of my clever Dick questions, the spelling of the name, when both were in the team together.)
To revert to the so called Law change, here is the relevant section of Law 42:
15. Bowler attempting to run out non-striker before delivery
The bowler is permitted, before entering his delivery stride, to attempt to run out the non-striker. The ball shall not count in the over.
The umpire shall call and signal Dead ball as soon as possible if the bowler fails in the attempt to run out the non-striker.
Now all that has happened is that it has been made impossible for a bowler to catch a batsman all unaware and whip off the bails instead of delivering the ball. I submit that, at almost any stage of a game, it would have been possible for a bowler to have done this. The practice of giving a warning has always been pure convention: it has never had force of law to implement it. Hence the amendment to the Laws, an amendment that came from a panel of individuals drawn from world cricket with playing and umpiring experience at the very highest level. The Laws were approved by MCC, but it was an international panel that advised and drafted all the changes.
I would not wish to see this Law changed at any price. However, it opens the question of what action, if any, should be taken against those who now gallop down the pitch before the ball is delivered. I experienced an extreme example of this with a boy from Berkhamsted School. My colleague warned him not to do it. My own attitude remains that the fielding side has its opportunity to take action - run him out (with or without warning). I would be quite sympathetic to a bowler who dispensed with any warning in extreme circumstances. I think this could be a fair quid pro quo with the new law.
However, there may also be a case for empowering umpires to stop a batsman from leaving his crease before the ball is delivered. It's a bit difficult as one's eyes are on the bowler's feet at the crucial moment (and later as well, at the expense of watching properly for lbw etc. if he shows a tendency to run onto the protected area). It would not be easy to watch the non-striker at the same time. And what penalty should be imposed if the non-striker transgresses? A warning then penalty runs? I would not be too strongly opposed to this.
Middlesex League Matters
Ian Rocker Robinson has been keeping me up to date with the weekly results in the Middlesex League. In the Premier League Ealing are top with five wins out of eight matches. Hampstead, Finchley and Teddington each have four wins. Shepherds Bush have one win and they are only one point ahead of the relegation zone. It seems in this league that if you win the toss you bat as long as you can. Last Saturday Brondesbury made 279 for 6 from 66 overs. And then bowled just 41 overs at Ealing who finished on 174 for 8. Shepherds Bush made 272 for 7 from 63 overs and then bowled just 37 at Eastcote who finished on 84 for 6. These games may have been interrupted by rain when the extraordinary stats of this match are reviewed. Teddington made 267 for 7 from 64 overs and then bowled 72 overs at Richmond who finished on 200 for 8. 132 overs is a staggering number to be bowled in a one day game.
In the next division Southgate are the frontrunners with six wins. They are pursued by North Middlesex, Twickenham, Acton and Brentham who all have achieved four wins. Sadly, South Hampstead are in the relegation zone with North London and they have just one win each. In this division there appears to be a 55 over limit for the side batting first. Presumably these are half day games. The scores are eye watering reading for those who played over thirty years ago. North Middlesex 255 for 8, North London 274 for 7, Twickenham 271 for 9 and Uxbridge 234 for 8.
There must be plenty of readers who are well versed in the league rules, or are they laws? No doubt someone else can explain the high scoring. Bob Peach has always maintains that it is down to indifferent bowling. I suspect that even he would have found it daunting bowling on a hard covered wicket against someone batting with half a tree and whose heroes regularly hit the ball into the next county.
Rangers Matters
I thought that readers would be interested to hear that I am now on the schedule to be the Rangers manager. I am slotted in to take over in early December, which is in four managers’ time. I am expected to throw a wobbly and be fired before Christmas but it will have been an interesting experience if not a unique one for the CV. Any readers who would also like to have a go should contact Bernie Eccleston direct. He will be happy to accommodate you as the competition is getting thinner by the month since there are fewer guys around who haven’t already done it.
Old Danes Gathering
The Old Danes Gathering will take place this year on Friday 31st July at Shepherds Bush CC from 2pm. All Old Danes and friends will be welcome. I am circulating a list of attendees and apologies on a regular basis. If you are planning to attend please advise me accordingly and I will add you to it. The Gathering will run on into the evening and so those who are only able to come after work can be accommodated. Wives and partners will be most welcome if this helps your arrangements to attend.
Football Matters
A lot of people wonder what footballers get up to in the off season. Kelvin West, who you all know is now based in Greece, spotted Andrew Baker’s star midfield player on an airfield trying to start her own plane. Being the perfect gent that he is he offered to assist the young lady and he tells me that he got her started without any trouble.
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