Standing (L-R) K S?(Yorkshire), J Pickavant (umpire), W Athey (Yorkshire), S Dennis (Yorkshire), G Copley, A Ramay, D Griffiths, J Love (Yorkshire), J Bullman, Peter Smith, D Hanson, N. Draper, A Radcliffe, A Sidebottom (Yorkshire), P Carrick (Yorkshire), T Bishop (Southgate, umpire).
Seated (L-R): D Bairstow (Yorkshire), C Randall, G Boycott (Yorkshire), I Holland, R Lumb (Yorkshire), D Murley, D Hickman, G Stevenson (Yorkshire)
The season has been overshadowed by the death of Jimmy Shields. The debt the Club owes him is incalculable. He was a member for over 25 years and for much of that time he spent many hours tending the ground and keeping the pavilion in good order. Much of what the Club is today is due to his untiring efforts and good advice.
On the playing side, I believe we are ‘on the up’. Although the results are not as good as they should be, the signs are there that we have some good young players beginning to come through and next Season there will be plenty of competition for places in the 1st XI.
The Colts week in August was a great success and much credit is due to Arnie Hubbard for his hard work.
The Yorkshire match was also most successful and a good day was had by all. Next year, on Friday August 20th, we have arranged a similar match for David Bairstow’s benefit.
Once the season was over, work began on the main square, to get rid of the ‘ridges’ that have gradually appeared over the years since 1937 when we moved to Cobden Hill. We are very appreciative of Paul Roxan’s and Peter Thornhill’s work and it is their just reward that they have won that most prized trophy, the President’s Award; they took over from Jim and have laboured long and hard to keep up the high standard.
Holland, after totalling 85 wickets in 1986, took 88 in 1987 when Moray Forbes, maturing as a fast-medium seam bowler from the youth system, took 85. Former Old Finchleians left-arm seamer Steve Bettridge claimed 50 wickets.
In a 1987 club home game against Totteridge, trainee barrister Radcliffe hit 104 not out and put on 187 for the first wicket with Richard Baker, the old Cambridge Blue wicketkeeper. Radcliffe had been part of the club’s last-wicket record, also against Totteridge, 16 years previously.
The third team, led by the cheery veteran John Clark, won nine of their 10 league matches to finish top of the third-team table, which denied Bishop’s Stortford a clean sweep of titles.
Roger Morgan, troubled by a sore back, persuaded Mark Blundell to take over for 1988 and Radlett finished a creditable fifth, leapfrogging North Mymms by beating them in the final game.
Forbes, selected for Hertfordshire, broke the league record in 1988 with 54 wickets, though his drinks industry job reduced his availability after that.
A total of 25 matches were won, beating the club record set in 1973. Robinson finished with 1,333 runs to squeeze past Geoff Dawson’s record set in 1975. Nine league games were won, three more than ever before.
Dave Holden, a former Bradford League seamer of the distant past, was tempted to try some serious cricket again after participating in a Friday evening social match against the club for Porters Park Golf Club. Quickly promoted to the first team, he took a hat-trick against Sawbridgeworth at Cobden Hill. Four years later the Yorkshireman took another hat-trick against ‘Sawbo’, this time for the seconds.
Blundell was leading a strong side with no realistic expectations. After all, Radlett had never won the Herts league title, but that was to change dramatically in 1989. Ian Edwards, a resident Australian seam bowler, formerly at Guildford, moved to the village, and two new league batsmen, Ian Simpkin and Martin Rose, added further depth alongside the brilliant Aldenham schoolboy Scott Moffat, a future Middlesex professional.
Radlett proceeded to win five Herts League titles in nine seasons, the Home Counties East crown in 2006 and 2013, four Herts Cup finals and the Evening Standard Trophy in 2003. Winning a wider competition as strong as the 50-overs Trophy was an achievement many old-timers at the club had assumed could never happen. David Hanson was the only man to play in all 11 successes.
The spirit within the club at the time was energised by the presence of wives and girlfriends. The WAGS would not necessarily watch, but as a group they might sit in the sun with their bottles of wine talking about anything, even the cricket. Familiar names such as Randall, Draper and Hickman had moved on for various reasons, but Blundell’s men won titles and broke records.
Winter is behind us – and few will regret its passing – and we can look forward to the spring and summer.
The Club is in good heart. Much has already been done. Our new 1st XI captain, Roger Morgan, has been particularly busy. He has formed a most energetic Cricket Committee and has had several meetings. Separate notices have been sent to all players telling them the plans for the new season. The winter nets at Haberdashers have been well supported.
Goff Green, the new Chairman of the House Committee, aided by John Clark, has spent several weekends in the Pavilion working in freezing temperatures. The result is new lighting, and a safe electrical system.
With much sadness I have to report the deaths of four members: Norah Dexter, Cyril Peters, Reverend Kenneth Blackburn, and Bruce Hensleigh.
The Fixture Card lists all the events for the coming season, but let me pick out three.
The “First Ball Cocktail Party” is on Saturday 19th April, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
League results dropped back for three years to 10th in 1985 – Holland’s last year in charge – ninth in 1986 and 14th in 1987 while Morgan took over for two seasons. It was in 1985 that Edney encouraged an ex team-mate at Brondesbury to try his luck in Hertfordshire. His name was Mark Blundell, who went on to take the club to a new level of excellence as a future captain and chairman.
The start of the 1985 season was cold, and a club match against Old Finchleians at Cobden Hill in April was abandoned in a snow blizzard. New arrivals included Haberdashers schoolmaster Andy Jarman, a useful all-rounder, and Tony Johnson, a future chairman and president.
A rare incident occurred in June, perhaps unique, when a St Margaretsbury batsman was timed out on appeal by the fielding side in a Herts Cup first round tie. Bad sportsmanship by the captain Roger Morgan and his Radlett team? Not really in view of the facts. The home side started the game without their best batsman, due to arrive late from work, but the innings collapsed and St Margaretsbury found themselves 55 for seven after barely an hour, still with 10 men. The batsmen resorted to desperate time-wasting, such as extended mid-pitch chats and, infuriatingly for Radlett, frequent adjustment of the sightscreens. A car roared into the car park and a figure was seen dashing through the dust into the home changing room, but almost immediately a run-out took the score to 73-9. Morgan had had enough and asked the umpires to put the clock on the new batsmen. The latecomer, half dressed, almost made it to the boundary’s edge, but not quite. Radlett went on to win by nine wickets.
Plans were laid to tour New Zealand to celebrate the centenary year of 1984, but this was adjusted to Scotland for cost reasons. In the league Radlett moved up to a surprise third place. By a happy coincidence the side was strengthened with an influx, most notably the arrival of David Robinson, who hit 12 fifties and a century in all games while amassing 1,185 at 47.40. Roger Morgan, from Hampstead, and Martin Edney, from Brondesbury, were other significant batting recruits, both Radlett residents. With Hickman in his best form, the batting suddenly became formidable. Carr played only four matches.
Robinson, an accountant from St Albans, was directed to Radlett in a chance meeting with Peter Hinstridge, and seldom can there have been a more significant encounter. Though Hinstridge served the club superbly as swing bowler, umpire and treasurer for many years, his biggest impact on results was introducing ‘Robbo’, who moved from Sandridge to Radlett a couple of years later.
Robinson, Morgan, all-rounder Blundell, Edney, Hickman, wicketkeeper David Hanson and the emerging Andy Radcliffe formed a sound batting backbone.
The accurate, durable Holland continued to trouble the best batsmen and was unlucky never to have played minor county cricket. The left-armer was not much faster than medium, but he swung the ball late and sharply.
One of the few 1986 highlights was a first victory over St Albans for 15 years.
The firsts lost a record 21 matches – five wickets fell in one over against Stanmore.
It was frustrating for Roland Wild, son of Victor; he averaged over 50 and scored more than 1,000 runs.