How long have you been playing at Earlswood?
I first joined as a junior around the age of 8 (so this season could have been classed as my 30th season), but to be honest I have been at the club since I was baby as Dad is almost part of the furniture.

I took a sabbatical of nearly 8 years or so while I was living just outside London and have to confess I did play for another club. It was a great club that had a lot of similar features to Earlswood, which I suppose is why I enjoyed it there. They, however, did not have a strong junior section and sadly folded last season. It is something that we as a club must cherish but not take for granted. It is the reason Earlswood is such a great place to come and play cricket. Without the help and dedication of so many people this club would not be in the position it is today. I know it has become a bit of a monster, but we cannot rest on our laurels and must keep growing, improving and investing in the club.

What do enjoy most about playing at Earlswood?
It has been said numerous times, it is that family feel where everyone is welcome. You can’t beat it, it’s contagious and is the reason why even in these strangest of times we have still been able to be a community.

It is also the little things like calling the league teams, seniors, rather than men’s teams, showing that we are fully inclusive and that if you are good enough, no matter who you are, you will get a shot in the league.

There is nothing better than seeing the club packed and in all its glory over a summer weekend from junior training on a Friday evening where people are relaxing with a G&T or a beer while the juniors are enjoying playing cricket with their friends. Friendships are formed and remain for life, and it all starts with the juniors.

Thank you to John Snipe for the starting the legacy all because he was set a challenge by the local priest to get local children off the streets and doing something fun. Thank you to all those volunteers in the future that will pick up the baton and continue what has been started. It has been a pleasure to play a small part in helping build the club to what it is today, which is a big club, with a big heart in our shed in our field.

Highest score for Earlswood?
103 not out against Broadway, a great day at Bidford as Rumbush was under construction. I had to fill in as skipper for GFB, he had something more important to do on a Saturday. We had a very good young side plus a couple of elder statesmen, just take a look at the scorecard! We put 300+ in 45 overs, bowled them all out for under a hundred, maximum points, job done!
103 not out v Broadway, 25/06/2016

Best bowling figures for Earlswood?
Bowling! I don't bowl, although I have a tendency to have a couple of bunnies when bowling in the nets. One of those moments included getting Colby so many times in one session that he was ready to explode at the other end, after the third time I got him he smashed the stumps over, but then had to put them all back ready to face the next pie. I would say I'm much more comfortable being behind the stumps, but that might be stretching it, as far too many of you have seen me hobble to the clubhouse after a game so that’s not entirely truthful either.

Best moment in cricket so far?
There are too many to remember them all, Earlswood has been a massive part of my life for so long. The highlights include;

Being part of the u15s team that won the first junior trophy for club.

Scoring my first 100 on a Sunday with both my Dad and younger brother in the team, it included carrying my bat for the innings, a special moment as a 15 year old.

Sharing a 170 odd partnership with James Guest to beat Fladbury by 7 wickets chasing over 200. I only scored 49, James got a 116, but then I ran him out because he was a bit slow!

Being part of the team that won the Sunday league a few seasons ago, a great season played with so many mates.

Seeing Joe Bussey return to form after having the yips, I think he played 2 games in the 3s, got a hatful of wickets and within a couple of weeks was back in the 1s causing havoc in the Warwickshire League.

Helping run the Lashings event for the 2 years that we did it. It was a mammoth task that would not have been possible without the help of so many people but showed what a spectacle the club can put on. It was great to see the ground looking so good and lots of people enjoying the entertainment we provided. I would, however, say spending a week sleeping in the clubhouse making sure everything ran smoothly, together with teaching and mowing the grass in the dark the night before or the morning of the event tends to fry your brain and you certainly need a break after.

Finally being able to now play cricket with my sons like my Dad did with his. This season was potentially where Josh, Noah and I could all play in the same team. Hopefully that dream will be realised sooner rather than later. We may invite Dad to umpire that game and get my brother down from Yorkshire to enjoy the day further. Adding Murph as well to team would just mess with the scorer's head though.

Favourite away ground?
Playing in the Cotswold Hills league you are truly spoilt on occasions. A few that I enjoy playing at include Broadway, Elmley Castle, Winchcombe, Norton Lindsey, Rowington and Exhall.

You need to take a road trip but must take three team-mates. Who gets the call?
There are too many I would be happy to share a car with. We need a bigger car! As long as the dressing room jokers are in there you would have a barrel of laughs. Must haves would also be Dave Snipe, Ken Rae and my old man for some nostalgia and some wonderful club history.

Who would be banned from touching the car stereo?
No-one, it is just background noise with all stories from the past. Although I would say no youth should be anywhere near the stereo as the music these days is just bloody awful.

Who is a Captain in the making?
There are a lot coming through, Louis Green has done a great job with his age group and has huge potential, but so have so many. I would say with all great Captains, they learn from the experience in the club and by taking a huge interest in the sport. They pick up little nuggets from different people, get the most out of their team and learn about the opposition. So I guess that any youngster that is prepared to put some time into learning the game has a great shot. Mike Brearley isn't described as England’s best captain for no reason.

Who is the dressing room joker?
There have been a few through the years, Micky Wale, Nigel Snipe, Colin Murphy and George Calkeld. But my favourite has to be Nigel, his little bag of tricks always used to put the cat amongst the pigeons and would have the dressing room in hysterics. A little side note, Micky Weir could be put in this category, but for all the wrong reasons.

Who can't step away from the mirror?
Anyone that brings a toiletries bag separate to their cricket bag is always going to spend some time in front of the mirror and there have been a few over the years that done that. In the past Dave Snipe always looked good after a game, although some might call for the third umpire when he had his mullet. In recent times Chris Harrison seems to have taken on the mantra.

Worst time-keeper?
Nick Perrin, it's not called Perrin time for any other reason.

Who's the most dedicated trainer who puts you all to shame?
Elliot Weir, I wish I could go back to those days where I could run around all day. Happy for the captain to put me where the action was so I could throw myself around and have a bullet arm. Treasure it Elliot it disappears when you get older. Special mention to Micky practising his shadow batting and mental imagery before the game shows he’s still got it.

Who has the worst potty mouth?
Geoff used to be horrendous, but seems to have finally come out of adolescence in his 30s, it had to happen at some point. So now I don't think there is really anyone, it is either that or I have become so numb to hearing so much foul language from teenagers in secondary school education that I don't notice it.

Who is Mr Smooooth?
Chief without a doubt. I'm so glad he joined the Earlswood clan. He definitely brings a touch of class.

Who is least likely to help put the rope out?
On match day, that is going to be Dave and I, only because we've taken it in so many times. It is actually very funny watching people try to put it out, most of them still have no clue how to do it quickly and efficiently. But hey it's a good warm up for those in the 1s and 2s. Dave and I seem to get it in quicker, which by the way is much harder as much of the Sunday team will testify.

Who do you need to be ahead of the tea queue to ensure you get some food?
If it is an Earlswood tea, then no-one, there is always plenty to go round and shows what an amazing job the likes of Sally and Karen have done up to now.

Best away ground tea?
Now I would say that I am a bit of connoisseur of a cricket tea and have a vast experience of tasting cricket teas the length and breadth of the midlands. Up there is certainly Norton Lindsey and sorry to say, so is one of our biggest rivals, Bretforton, often chips are included which is always a winner. Exhall used to have a great tea but has slipped down the pecking order in recent seasons.

Funniest thing seen on a cricket pitch?
Nigel streaking around the tree at the end of season, people honestly didn’t know where to look.

Nigel and the legendary lime green mankini.

One of my favourites involves me back when I was playing in the Sunday team as a teenager. I can’t remember who was bowling as things are a little bit hazy. But anyway, the batsmen chipped the ball into the air, I was stood at mid off and Bryan Smith was standing at mid on. Now I was much quicker in those days so thought that Bryn had no chance in making it. I made my move towards the ball and took the catch one handed. Up to now there is nothing untoward, however, I have failed to mention I had been lying unconscious next to Bryn and Micky Baker had managed to run (run I hear you say, now Micky didn’t move for anything) and was standing over us both asking if we were both ok. The ball was firmly stuck in my hand and was never grounded, the poor batsman had to trudge off in disbelief at the fact the ball never left my hand. The true moral of the story is make sure you call for the ball, as I am sure Bryn was concussed for about a week.

Finally Josh Craven earning his senior stripes at I think Elmley Castle, Colin Murphy was on top form and Josh was in bits while we were fielding. We had posted a good total so we were all in a good mood. But Colin being only Colin told one of infamous jokes and when the penny finally dropped for Josh he was literally in pieces. The thing is I don’t even think it was one of Colin’s best.

Best cricketer you have played with?
There are been a few down the years.

Bowlers:
Alf Rose, a true gentleman and an absolute legend of the club. If you haven’t seen the news article in the clubhouse please take a read. You will see why he was a great cricketer and I only saw him play at the end of his career.
Barrie Yates, often bowled with a 7/2 field
Harry Brooks, great left arm over that had great pace and control.

Batsmen:
Will Windeatt, very destructive, could always take a game away from the opposition.
Matt Edwards, just look at the stats!
Craig Everett, only saw him bat once in the league, but that was all you needed to see. Norton Lindsey did not know where to put the fielders, and to be honest wouldn’t have made a difference if they had 15 fielders.

Keepers:
John Snipe, would stand up to everything.
George Calkeld, most natural keeper I have seen. Makes me look pedestrian behind the stumps and who knows how many batsmen he has talked out.

All-rounders:
Marvin Rice, one of the best innings I have seen from the side lines. The 2s had finished early, everyone had arrived back at the club to see this South African scaring half of the Earlswood first team with shear pace, keeper pretty much on the boundary. Marvin goes in and makes it look easy. Pure class.
Twiggy, if you needed someone to get you out of a hole, either with bat or ball, Twiggy was your man.
Dave Snipe, great Captain, great pull shot in his day and could bowl a bit as well.
Tariq Mohammed, so much time when batting, annoying as hell to face when bowling.

Grumpiest team-mate on the pitch?
Dave Snipe, especially when a plum LBW was not given, come to think of it Ian Hughes follows a very similar trend. Callum Hassett is well up there, especially when he had to bowl on a Sunday. Marvin Rice if you ever miss fielded or dropped a catch, also often seen berating poor umpiring decisions. Final mention has to go to Colby, although it shouldn’t come as a surprise as when Colby was a junior, the dressing room door had done nothing wrong but ended up with a hole in it.

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