Easter Monday – As I write, I’m plagued by jaw bone discomfort – A self inflicted facial injury, the consequence of my long-term grinding habit. As the act of grating the jaw makes me gurn, it’s a tick I thankfully only carry out in the privacy of my own home. Gratifyingly, I don’t undertake this aesthetically displeasing practice in, say, my local supermarket. There’s little doubt my gross routine of […]
Last year I wrote a trilogy of unreliable junior cricket memories while playing for Gateshead Fell Cricket Club (GFCC) in the late 1970’s, early 1980’s. This trinity of yarns were based on fact supplemented by several fictional elements, as is my literary want. GFCC Juniors – Class of ’80 Tales from ‘The Fell’ Scorebox – Part 1 Tales from ‘The Fell’ Scorebox – Part 2 Recently I was encouraged to […]
It’s nearly 10 years since I hung up my cricket boots. A decision born from my bowling being hampered from a bicep tear the previous season, which along with a nagging knee problem was diminishing my matchday fulfilment. Consequently, ceasing playing the game ex-Yorkshire batsman Geoff Boycott calls ‘crickit’ wasn’t a difficult decision to reach. Over the previous 30 years I’d participated with as much enthusiasm as I could muster for clubs in Gateshead, Great Missenden and Leeds. If […]
As a part of cricket playing recollections in my teens/early twenties at Gateshead Fell, today I’m moved to pen vague memories from club cricket tearooms. A domain that for generations has been predominantly the domicile of cricketer’s wives, mums and girlfriends. Warm-hearted volunteers giving up their summer Saturday afternoons, ensuring the teams/crowd are provided with sustenance, a warm smile and the occasional rollocking for the unhygienic prodding of cheese mix sandwiches. During thirty years of playing local club cricket, the quality […]
During yesterdays nostalgic musings which broached the subject of cricket scoreboards, recollections of working in a local club’s scorebox in my early teens manifested themselves in my random mind. Joining Gateshead Fell cricket club as a junior player in 1976 took my life on a much needed new path. My recently acquired joys of puberty, along with the end of a phase of my development that I truly loved, hit me badly. As my voice dropped […]
This is my first blog for a few days as I’ve been away in the north east of England. To clarify, it’s not the case you’re not allowed to write blogs in the area; so there’s no need to try send me up there permanently. I’m alluding to the fact I have been otherwise engaged, so I’ve not had the opportunity to pen a narrative. I journeyed north on Sunday. I’d just […]
