WORTHING GENTLEMEN C.C. - HOW IT ALL BEGAN...
True beginnings are always difficult to pin down. Various claims have been made (and then disowned during one of the Gents’ many losing streaks). A bunch of school friends from the 60’s (mostly the old Technical High, but some like me from the Boys’ High down the road) had remained in contact. Several had already moved to London, but met up from time to time. A favourite meeting point during the 70’s was a flat near the Goring seafront. On occasion when the weather was good impromptu cricket games were played on the grass there. After a while we even started using a hard ball!
Then one day someone suggested hiring a pitch and organising a real game. This seemed like a good idea (!?) and so a game was arranged at Durrington Recreational Ground on August Bank Holiday Sunday in 1980. This was the first of our (in)famous “all-comers” games, and we ended up with 13 or so a side with both sexes playing. It was a fine day, with lots of sun and spectators (and some beer!). I remember it well - and not just because I was on the winning side and I got seven wickets - the only time. It was a close game with many amusing incidents (we call them “Tizer moments” now - don’t ask). Afterwards in the pub, someone, I think it was John Butcher - an umpire and father of Neil (one of our alleged batsmen) said we had enough players to make a team. By then all sound judgement had vanished and we decided to take on the world!
One of the difficult decisions was, who should be wicketkeeper? Steve Hodder or Marion (later to be) Agnew . It was a choice between the athleticism, or the pretty legs. The legs won (which is why we chose Steve….).
So 1981 dawned with a fixture list of sorts, starting with another “all-comers” game. The first game of the season was against the MCC (no not that one). We were whacked, beaten, slaughtered. The second game was against a work side from Kensington. We were bowled out for 31. Imagine the changing room at half time. “Whose *!?£ing idea was this?” was a common question being hurled around. Well readers we went out and when it was about 20-6 it dawned on us collectively we could win - and we did. And a more improbable victory you can never imagine!
The rest is history. During the first season the “originals” were made up of the school friends, unsuspecting flatmates and siblings and anyone else who didn’t know when to say “no”. Over the years (and we would all have laughed then if anyone had suggested the side would still be playing 30 years later) many players came and went. And that is my abiding memory overall - the many friends I played with and against whom I otherwise would not have met. We have always tried to play the game in the right spirit and have sought out like minded sides who play for fun and who enjoy playing against us. We have never had an official motto (the mascot was Archibald Arsoline - again don’t ask!) but it would probably be “To lose with grace”. God knows, we have had enough experience!
Long may it all continue.
Tim Everett July 2001
True beginnings are always difficult to pin down. Various claims have been made (and then disowned during one of the Gents’ many losing streaks). A bunch of school friends from the 60’s (mostly the old Technical High, but some like me from the Boys’ High down the road) had remained in contact. Several had already moved to London, but met up from time to time. A favourite meeting point during the 70’s was a flat near the Goring seafront. On occasion when the weather was good impromptu cricket games were played on the grass there. After a while we even started using a hard ball!
Then one day someone suggested hiring a pitch and organising a real game. This seemed like a good idea (!?) and so a game was arranged at Durrington Recreational Ground on August Bank Holiday Sunday in 1980. This was the first of our (in)famous “all-comers” games, and we ended up with 13 or so a side with both sexes playing. It was a fine day, with lots of sun and spectators (and some beer!). I remember it well - and not just because I was on the winning side and I got seven wickets - the only time. It was a close game with many amusing incidents (we call them “Tizer moments” now - don’t ask). Afterwards in the pub, someone, I think it was John Butcher - an umpire and father of Neil (one of our alleged batsmen) said we had enough players to make a team. By then all sound judgement had vanished and we decided to take on the world!
One of the difficult decisions was, who should be wicketkeeper? Steve Hodder or Marion (later to be) Agnew . It was a choice between the athleticism, or the pretty legs. The legs won (which is why we chose Steve….).
So 1981 dawned with a fixture list of sorts, starting with another “all-comers” game. The first game of the season was against the MCC (no not that one). We were whacked, beaten, slaughtered. The second game was against a work side from Kensington. We were bowled out for 31. Imagine the changing room at half time. “Whose *!?£ing idea was this?” was a common question being hurled around. Well readers we went out and when it was about 20-6 it dawned on us collectively we could win - and we did. And a more improbable victory you can never imagine!
The rest is history. During the first season the “originals” were made up of the school friends, unsuspecting flatmates and siblings and anyone else who didn’t know when to say “no”. Over the years (and we would all have laughed then if anyone had suggested the side would still be playing 30 years later) many players came and went. And that is my abiding memory overall - the many friends I played with and against whom I otherwise would not have met. We have always tried to play the game in the right spirit and have sought out like minded sides who play for fun and who enjoy playing against us. We have never had an official motto (the mascot was Archibald Arsoline - again don’t ask!) but it would probably be “To lose with grace”. God knows, we have had enough experience!
Long may it all continue.
Tim Everett July 2001