Gideon's reflections on training bring it all back for me. I retired over 20 years ago after playing for 37 years in the Ferntree Gully comp. In the early days getting to training early meant carrying and pegging the mats down, trundling a bloody great box full of frayed and tattered gear from the rooms onto the ground, and putting a flimsy makeshift net across the middle of the pitch to allow back to back batting with bowling from both ends. Over the years permanently laid synthetic pitches, off-ground training nets and players bringing their own gear lessened the drudgery but the fun was always there, even when you were ordered to run extra laps for minor fielding indiscretions. And of course the bar was always open the minute the last bloke had had his hit. Great memories.
Lovely stuff Gideon, really capturing what this means to us morals. I've only started playing club cricket in the UK at 48. I wonder why I never did. I'm my first season I played three times. I took a couple of wickets, I batted once, got out for 4, stumped off a twelve year old in a 5ths game. Of course I was gutted. But bloody hell I love everything about it.
Gideon's reflections on training bring it all back for me. I retired over 20 years ago after playing for 37 years in the Ferntree Gully comp. In the early days getting to training early meant carrying and pegging the mats down, trundling a bloody great box full of frayed and tattered gear from the rooms onto the ground, and putting a flimsy makeshift net across the middle of the pitch to allow back to back batting with bowling from both ends. Over the years permanently laid synthetic pitches, off-ground training nets and players bringing their own gear lessened the drudgery but the fun was always there, even when you were ordered to run extra laps for minor fielding indiscretions. And of course the bar was always open the minute the last bloke had had his hit. Great memories.
Nothing like fast bowlers barreling in off 18 yards in failing light on dodgy turf training pitches. Love it!
Lovely stuff Gideon, really capturing what this means to us morals. I've only started playing club cricket in the UK at 48. I wonder why I never did. I'm my first season I played three times. I took a couple of wickets, I batted once, got out for 4, stumped off a twelve year old in a 5ths game. Of course I was gutted. But bloody hell I love everything about it.
Lovely reflections. Perfectly captures the unique feeling of clubland.