Sharks beat Spitfires

Hi everyone !

A warm sunny Friday evening – for once ! – and a game against local rivals the Kent Spitfires brought out a big crowd to the PROBIZ for Sussex v Kent in the 20/20.

It was really good to be joined by “First Time ever watched at Hove” Matthew and Kent Supporters David & Sally.

And by Locals Graham & Matthew & by Nigel who had made the long drive with his son Matthew from the New Forest.

Sussex skipper Michael Yardy once again won the toss and the Sharks racked up another score of over 200, finishing on a mammoth 212 for 6.

Chris Nash hit 54 from only 38 balls before Matt Prior smashed 46 from just 20 deliveries and Murray Goodwin drove home the advantage for the Sharks with an unbeaten 68 from only 31 balls.

In truth the Spitfires never really looked in the hunt and it was a debutant who did the damage. Michael Rippon, who recently signed following a successful trial with the Second Eleven, claimed figures of 4 for 23 on his first outing in Sussex colours.

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Kent limped to 129 all out as they were dismissed in the final over of the day and the Sharks had claimed a thumping 83 run win to move five points clear at the summit of the South Group table.

Hope to see you at a game soon !

Lord  Ric

PS 

There was time for a Pint of Harveys Best at The Palmeira on the way home; no surprise there !!

Sussex Sharks beat Middlesex Panthers

It was tremendous that Neil & Emma were able to join me at Hove for Sussex v Middlesex in the 20/20.

A particular welcome to Emma, who was watching at Hove for the first time.

Their journey from Southampton along the A27 can be tortuous at the best of times, not least on a Friday late afternoon.

“Somebody” really ought to do something about the A27, both the need for a bypass around Arundel & the “missing” bit between Worthing & Shoreham.

On a very blustery, but dry evening Sussex won the toss & batted.

Of the 161 for 4 scored, Luke Wright scored 91 off just 61 balls.

 

Middlesex responded strongly, putting on 62 for the first wicket & looked well-placed to win. But 3 tremendous catches in the deep by Joe Gatting (nephew of the former England Captain, Mike) saw Middlesex fall 21 runs short.

The result keeps Sussex joint top of the South Group.

The inclement weather has meant that my season has been very slow to start; this was only the second game I’ve watched.

I’m looking forward to several games in the next few weeks.

Hope to see you at a game soon !

Lord Ric

Sussex v Uncorns

The morning of the long awaited first Game of the Season was sunny, not a cloud in the sky as Lottie and I  walked across Jubilee Park.

The Actions on Dianne’s List were soon done and by 11.15 I was in the Jag on the way to my beloved Hove.

In just a few weeks’ time it will be the start of my 7th decade of watching cricket from the Cromwell Road end 

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As I sat there watching the cricket, listening - like so many in the smallish crowd -  to Radio 5Live for the scores from the last day of the Premiership, glancing at the Sunday Times and reading  Our Man in Havana, it was a day of so many, many Memories.

As for the cricket, nothing more to tell you than that Sussex 291 for 3 easily beat the Unicorns 147 all out.

In truth, it was one of those days when I wasn't really watching that closely ... ... my mind was "elsewhere."

See you at a Game soon !

Lord Ric

Class is Permanent

Hi everyone!

The wonderful weather of the last few days reminds us that the Cricket Season is fast approaching.

Along with a couple of hundred other Old Boys, sprinkled with a few Ladies, I had lunch today with ‘Lord’ Ted Dexter.

 

Ted, of course, captained England & Sussex in the 1960’s.

He played in 62 Tests, averaging 48.

But Statistics alone only begin to tell you about Ted.

He was playing in the very first game I ever saw at Hove:  Sussex v Yorkshire in May 1960.

He was England captain in 1964 at the Oval when I saw Freddie Trueman become the first ever bowler to take 300 Test wickets.

And on his return to First Class cricket in 1968, I was at the Central Ground, Hastings to see him score 200 & hit Derek Underwood across Queen’s Road into Marks & Spencer.

When I went home with Mum & Dad after that very first game I dreamt that I too would Bat 3 for England & Captain the team.
   Almost 52 years on ... I'm still dreaming !!

After lunch, John Barclay – himself a former Sussex captain & author of Life Beyond the Airing Cupboard, the best cricket book I have ever read   - was the compere.

He gave Ted some gentle questions; tempting half volleys just outside off stump.

Ted turns 77 this May and whilst he looked very little changed from the days of his pomp, his first couple of answers were a bit stuttering.

But whilst Form is Temporary, Class is Permanent & he was soon into his stride, even if - as in all the best anecdotes – some of the facts were not quite what Wisden records.

There were tales of how Ted came to be recruited to Sussex, being managed on England's tour Australia in 1962/63 by the Duke of Norfolk, being struck by lightning whilst commentating on BBC and plenty more.

An hour rushed by and all too soon it was time for a walk round the ground before heading back to Chatsworth Square.

I was very pleased that John Squire was able to join me.

When it comes time for him to give the Eulogy at my Funeral, I know that there will be a story or two about Cricket at Hove.

I hope to see you all at plenty of games this season !!

Lord Ric 

50 years today ... ...

Hi everyone !


It was 50 years ago today that I watched  my first professional football match : 
      Arsenal v Bradford City in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup on Saturday 6 January 1962.


Dad - who was a Spurs supporter  - had got two tickets for us, high up in the West Stand at Highbury, about midway between the half way line and the South stand.

In the team that day were Kelsey, Bacuzzi, McCullough, Clamp, Brown, Snedden, MacLeod, Barnwell, Charles, Eastham and Skirton.

In the picture, Mel Charles, Arsenal's centre-forward (second left) beats Downie, Bradford's goalkeeper and Storton, Bradford's left-back, to score Arsenal's second goal. 
 (The ball is completely covered by Storton.)


Arsenal won 3-0 ... and in the 50 years since then my support for them has never wavered !


That little boy who sat with his Dad that Saturday afternoon long, long ago never dreamt of the joy that The Arsenal would bring him.
It turned out that - just as Spurs' Double-winning captain Danny Blanchflower said - Football is the Glory Game !


Just a few minutes to remind you of the Beautiful Game... Va Va Voom !
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ko5jBnTn9hU
If - unbelievably - you aren't a Gunners Fan, I'm sure you find a goal or two that Thierry scored to enjoy!




My best wishes to you for a very happy 2012.






Come on you Gunners !


Onward, Lord Ric


PS

 My Favourite Player was also playing that Saturday, away to Birmingham City in a 3 - 3 draw.

 His team got to the Cup Final that season & his goal in the third minute helped Spurs to beat Burnley 3 - 1.












As he used to say : " Football ... it's a funny old game !"