I've decided it may be an idea to include some members individual memories at the end of each weekend blog. Then upon sending some questions to our esteemed Treasurer and long serving member of the club and committee, John has come back with such entertaining and comprehensive answers that I thought it was deserving of a midweek special release. So here we have it, the first in the series of cricketing memories, from John Lawrence, otherwise known as "The ramblings of an old man after 10 weeks of lockdown."
Earliest Cricketing Memory
Being towed about by my old dad on public transport all over Sheffield. He was Captain of English steel’s second team. He couldn’t drive and anyway, not many working class families could afford cars back then so we went everywhere by bus/tram. I reckon by age 10 I could find my way by bus to just about any cricket ground between Roth Phoenix and Hallam.
Fave Ground.
Got to be the old English Steel ( latterly BSC River Don) on Bellhouse Road/Sicey Avenue. Not everyone’s cup of tea but that’s where I learned to play properly after leaving school. Sadly no longer used for cricket.
Best Teammate.
Very difficult to Answer. In my younger days I’ve played with opening batsmen who would make Graaant look like Ben Stokes on Heat and opening bowlers who’d make Mark Johnson look like a batsman’s best friend and respected them all for their approach to the game. In my resurrected career at Coal Aston and bearing in mind the level I’ve played at while here I’ve always liked the way that the immortal Andy Wood played the game.
Best Opponent.
Anyone we’ve just beaten. I can be quite magnanimous in victory.
Best Cricketing Memory
Getting Sir Gary Sobers autograph at Parkhead when I was about 9 years old. Parkhead used to hold a cricket festival week. I think the Windies were playing Yorkshire at the Lane. Best playing memory would be beating Elsecar back in the late 60’s when they were the top team in the old South Riding Council. Just beginning to find my feet in our first team. A quick 20 odd from down the order and 5 dismissals behind the stumps.
Worst Cricketing Memory
In your brilliant series of ‘ looking back ‘ you reported a couple of Sundays ago about a Sunday match away at Cuckney on 29th May 2011. Etched in my memory that game ! Cuckney 325 – 0. Very spirited reply from CACC you said at 218-1. El Tye 127*(possibly his first ton, well done El)
543 runs from 80 overs and only 1 of the openers dismissed. Guess who. ME ! I damaged a finger early on ( broken I think). Every step I took chasing round their pitch was agony. Did a lot of chasing too! Didn’t make a song and dance about the Throbbing finger so when I was offered to open I accepted. Never turn down the chance to open the batting was my motto so out I went. i’ve just worked out that I was 63 years old at the time and you’d think I would have known better. It was agony and I think I got a duck. Changing gear on the way back was a bit painful but ice and 4 pints in The Pond helped. Was up all night peeing but hey-ho.
Funniest moment
At one match I remember from back in the day our opening batsman, married at the time, turned up with a girlfriend. We must have lost the toss because we batted first and said opening batsmen went in. Only been playing a couple of overs when his wife turns up. Girlfriend saw wife and ran into ladies toilet in the clubhouse. Unfortunately for girlfriend she’d been spotted by wife who followed her into toilet. Absolute bedlam for a few minutes and then wife comes out and marches up to the boundary and shouts at top of voice to her husband ‘YOU, OFF’. Needless to say our opener was well aware what was happening and despite both umpires suggesting he leave the field he got his head down and batted through our 46 overs for 10 runs. He was in line to win divisional batting prize but that knock ruined his average. When his opening partner was out he asked him to smuggle his girlfriend away which he did. He apologised to all the batsmen who came in but said there was no way was he getting out. Amazingly we went on to win the game. Doesn’t look as funny in black and white but believe me it was hilarious on the day.
Thank you to John for being our first blog guest, set a very high bar for future interviewees!
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