Week 2

Milverton – Home

My first game of the season as umpire, how excited was I, having missed the previous week due to duck race commitments. And with great disappointment the game was called off at about 11am, after a horrendous down poor making the ground completely unplayable.

 

The text message from Carl meant I had to find something do Saturday afternoon, and by looking at social media a lot of games succumbed to the weather, so I couldn’t even find a game to watch or even help officiate. And to make things worse there isn’t any kid’s cricket on Sunday to officiate.

I suppose cancelling the game was no great surprise, but it gave me chance to reflect on some infamous cancellations Over Stowey have been involved in. A couple of games (or non games) spring to mind quite easily.

The penultimate match of the summer in 1998, and the 2^nd XI, under the captaincy of Mike Fowler, had a chance in winning Division Four of the West Somerset League. A win in this match, away to Corfe, would set thing up nicely for the final game of the season.

Corfe played their home games at Blackbrook in Taunton, and with the football season already in full swing the playing area had been transformed into football pitches and the cricket square had been completely immersed in the penalty area of one of the football pitches.

So the pitch was completely unplayable, with the council taking full blame from both sides, secretly Stowey were onto a winner as maximum points would be awarded to Stowey as Corfe couldn’t fulfil this fixture. The game was thus called off at about 3pm, so what to do for the afternoon, shopping in Taunton perhaps? Not on your nelly, straight down to nearest pub for a pint, perhaps two and then go back to Stowey.

Well two lead to another, then on to a different pub, then a couple more would be consumed, and before you knew it, it was about 5pm. Time to get back to Stowey, the only sensible people were the drivers, and arriving back the ground the 1^st XI game was still on, in which some barracking from us 2^nd XI players ensued. This did not go down to well, especially with the opposition, as Stowey ran out winners.

Back up the Social Club after more ale was consumed, and some players left early, couldn’t understand why, but they did.

Later that week, I found out that at least one player, who shall remain nameless, told his wife that they had played and won, in which she enquired in why his kit was still folded up neatly the way she packed it - now that is a bit embarrassing.

Another occasion was a 1^st XI match away at Stoodleigh. Now for those who do not know where Stoodleigh is, well it is near Tiverton, meaning a 60 minute drive to their ground. When we left Stowey it was sunny, by the time we arrived at Stoodleigh it was throwing it down, and the game was off. At least we didn’t have to put up with low-flying bi-planes that afternoon.

This was the era before mobile phones, so they couldn’t get hold of us to say don’t bother travelling as we had already left. How many pubs between Stoodleigh and Stowey if you go via Raleigh’s Cross,? Well quite a few and I think we tried nearly all of them out, even stopping at Stogumber CC and having a pint in their bar, which went down quite well. I believe we stayed in Carew Arms at Crowcombe for quite a period, even having a skittle, which was quite amusing to say the least.

 

So looks as if I have to wait until week three for my first umpiring duties of the season, and it is FA Cup Final day, I wonder if George Pike will be playing next Saturday?

Time for some Thatchers me thinks.....!