[Cricket] Official Sussex Village Cricket Thread

[Fignon's Ponytail]

I think Frankie's in better hands than mine now. I'm never going to compete with an England test bowler

 

[amexer]

Ken Mcewen Sussex/Essex South African player once scored I think about 140 in a Worthing Evening league 20 over game

 

[Chicken Run]

Was anyone else like me lucky enough to play with the late West Indian cricketer John Smith, a truly great character and very wise in all things cricket.

 

[madinthehead]

My Dad played for Bolney in the mid eighties. I scored for them and if they were short, I played for them. The pads came up to my chest, but was good fun.

 

[Guinness Boy]

In another charity game we took on Broadwater CC in their cricket week, match started at 11am, we batted first and at lunch were 77/8, but had two proper cricketers at the crease.

At the resumption of play someone turned up at my office without an appointment to arrange a funeral so I had to go across the road, in my absence the 9th wicket partnership put on 161 and my vice captain enjoying the free bar we'd put on forgot to declare at the agreed time.

I came back over the road, getting daggers from Broady Capt Bob Reynolds on boundary, naturally I called my lads in immediately and we set BCC 239 in 38 overs.

We eventually bowled them out in the last over, to record IHSP cricket team's first ever win something I remind Bob of to this day.

Now there's a blast from the past.

Bob was HR Director at a company I worked for and met my wife at. According to her he owes us a case of Champagne. We got married when we were both at the company and Bob did our wedding presentation speech in the middle of a messy divorce. After several "you'll regret it" type quips he apparently bet her a case of Champagne that we wouldn't last 10 years. We've just celebrated our 20th anniversary. A very decent chap who I shared more than a few beers with back in the day. I have also suffered that look.

Bob also captained the work cricket team at that time and I batted middle order and bowled outswinging donkey drops out of the sun. We used to have a match in London against our soliciitors every year with a massive free bar afterwards and everyone went up on a coach. One year I was batting with our Chief Exec and pushed a shot into the covers for an easy two (I was in my twenties, played five a side twice a week and could dance all night at clubs). I made my ground to see my Chief Exec spluttering and breathing out of his backside half way down the track. It was his favourite day of the year and I'd run him out two overs into his innings. Not sure how I still had a job in the morning. Bob gave me the look when I was eventually out.

 

[The Wookiee]

Now there's a blast from the past.

Bob was HR Director at a company I worked for and met my wife at. According to her he owes us a case of Champagne. We got married when we were both at the company and Bob did our wedding presentation speech in the middle of a messy divorce. After several "you'll regret it" type quips he apparently bet her a case of Champagne that we wouldn't last 10 years. We've just celebrated our 20th anniversary. A very decent chap who I shared more than a few beers with back in the day. I have also suffered that look.

Bob also captained the work cricket team at that time and I batted middle order and bowled outswinging donkey drops out of the sun. We used to have a match in London against our soliciitors every year with a massive free bar afterwards and everyone went up on a coach. One year I was batting with our Chief Exec and pushed a shot into the covers for an easy two (I was in my twenties, played five a side twice a week and could dance all night at clubs). I made my ground to see my Chief Exec spluttering and breathing out of his backside half way down the track. It was his favourite day of the year and I'd run him out two overs into his innings. Not sure how I still had a job in the morning. Bob gave me the look when I was eventually out.

I did wonder if that was the same Bob Reynolds!

 

[Guinness Boy]

I did wonder if that was the same Bob Reynolds!

Yes mate. Defo captained Broadwater.

 

[dazzer6666]

I don't smoke anymore so would be regarded as a bit of an ATHLETE at Village level, aside from the fact that I'm now 60 and both my knees have gone...

Based on what I’ve seen at St Andrews with the Thirds, you’re very much still in the ‘could do a job’ category.

 

[R. Slicker]

The village team I played for became a right shambles, so much so, that I ended one summer as No. 8 bat and had to open the next year.
After never reaching 50 before, I actually scored a Century, only to find nobody had brought our score book (it was a home match), so no record of it
To be fair, I walked off at tea on 97 n.o., so the Skipper said we will carry on after, which always go down well with the opposition. Of course we lost.
so if anyone has access to Hove medina's score books of the early 90's. let me know,

 

[Eeyore]

The village team I played for became a right shambles, so much so, that I ended one summer as No. 8 bat and had to open the next year.
After never reaching 50 before, I actually scored a Century, only to find nobody had brought our score book (it was a home match), so no record of it
To be fair, I walked off at tea on 97 n.o., so the Skipper said we will carry on after, which always go down well with the opposition. Of course we lost.
so if anyone has access to Hove medina's score books of the early 90's. let me know,

I don't think Hove Medina exist now so your century is ever buried in the cricket statisticians void.

 

[Eeyore]

Some right splitters on this thread .

My cover drive was a thing of beauty , now copied by players like Joe Root and M S Dhoni , think I played about 5 league games and absolutely hated it, absolute bunch of private school cocks , Sunday friendlies were by comparison a completely different game and a great laugh even in defeat .

No idea who Frankie is banging on about

The exploding chair [MENTION=616]Guinness Boy[/MENTION] , will never be forgotten by anyone who witnessed it , top quality candid camera stuff .

I'm a fan. I remember watching you SCYTH a quick 25 at the end of an innings.

 

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

Play at Roffey CC. Great club with a brilliant ethos.

 

[dazzer6666]

Some right splitters on this thread .

My cover drive was a thing of beauty , now copied by players like Joe Root and M S Dhoni , think I played about 5 league games and absolutely hated it, absolute bunch of private school cocks , Sunday friendlies were by comparison a completely different game and a great laugh even in defeat .

No idea who Frankie is banging on about

The exploding chair [MENTION=616]Guinness Boy[/MENTION] , will never be forgotten by anyone who witnessed it , top quality candid camera stuff .

100% this. League cricket seems to have turned largely to shit. Too many have adopted a win at all costs attitude that extends to fairly aggressive sledging at every opportunity......when I saw a 40+ man (and decent cricketer) give a ‘send off’ full of expletives to a (small) 14 year old no. 10 that had just been dismissed in his first league game, the game had gone for me.

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

Retired 3 years ago after almost 50 years of senior cricket [jug avoidance].
So many great memories over all those years and in true "only in cricket" I have some specials.

One Sunday afternoon at Stanmer House the police turned up asking for one of our players who just happened to be umpiring at the time.
"He needs to come with us" said plod.
"Oh" says I, "can it wait until the end of the over?"
"No" says plod and walks on to the pitch to make his arrest.

Helicopter stops play - twice.
Again, playing at Stanmer House on the weekend of the Brighton music festival that used to be held there.
During play a helicopter comes in low and makes it clear he wants to land on the outfield - the only flat space away from trees is inside the rope.
We all stand aghast, pilot lands and trots over to us and says he's been booked by the show organisers to do an aerial view / circuit with them onboard.
So we waited a few minutes and this chap came over: "Sorry to disrupt your game lads. We'll be off now but back in 20 minutes. There's a case of beers in it for your trouble."
I said "there's 22 of us so best make it 2 cases!"
"No problem" says the chap - jumps in the helicopter with the pilot and a couple of chums.
15 mins later some bloke rocks up with 2 cases of beer.
Few mins later, chopper returns - play stops - chopper lands - organiser chums climb out - chopper flies off.
Beers all round - cheers ...

So many more that I couldn't remember ...

Oh, I ran out Carl Hopkinson when he was playing for Barcombe aged 14 - I called yes and he hesitated.
Who'd of thought that within 10 years he'd score a ton against the touring Australians playing for Sussex.

 

[Gwylan]

One Sunday afternoon at Stanmer House the police turned up asking for one of our players who just happened to be umpiring at the time.

I'm glad someone else remembers playing at Stanmer House. I remember playing there in the late 70s but when you look at the area now, it's hard to imagine there was a pitch there. We had tea in the house itself IIRC

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

I'm glad someone else remembers playing at Stanmer House. I remember playing there in the late 70s but when you look at the area now, it's hard to imagine there was a pitch there. We had tea in the house itself IIRC

One of the nicest venues, with the most awful facilities - I played there in the 80's - there was no access to the house then - we changed in a porta-cabin round the back of the stable-yard and tea was taken alfresco ...

The track was a green, low and slow - anyone quick would still struggle to get the ball above knee-high - shocking - could have been such a super ground with investment.

 

[Chicken Run]

Official Sussex Villiage Cricket Thread

Does anyone remember playing at the Isle of Thorns nr Ashdown Forest, iirc it was an old Sussex University site, played there a lot in the 80’s against Sussex Ukrainians (is that right?) and last played there the day before the 91 play off final.

When my dads team played there there was a big outdoor pool complex us kids would use.

 

[East Staffs Gull]

I'm glad someone else remembers playing at Stanmer House. I remember playing there in the late 70s but when you look at the area now, it's hard to imagine there was a pitch there. We had tea in the house itself IIRC

Scored my only ton there in 1978. The changing rooms were up some stairs and above the stables. Tea was taken al fresco. Such a shame that it is no longer used.

 

[Perry Milkins]

Ah Derek Randall, why does this story not amaze me?

remember going to the Saffrons to watch Sussex against Notts. Was a cloudy bleak morning but dry enough.

We were there dead early when Randall popped out to start his warm up. Called us over to bowl to him and then to place one stump in the out field and throw to him. He took that stump 4 times out of 5. Then Barry Stead came out out and bawled him out in front of us for not waiting for the team!

 

[Perry Milkins]

Played for a wandering team called Croydon Cavaliers. Favourite fixtures was at Surbiton Tamals. For those who know me I love Indian Food and we used to get treated to the most delicious Samosas etc.

One fine day between innings we were sat scoffing our grub when the Tamals all disappeared leaving plenty on their table. Like a plague of ravenous locusts we descended on their table and demolished it...only to see the boys re-appear as they had just been out to have a team photo taken...it was a brilliant moment as they saw the funny side of things and ordered more in from their obedient wives!!