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Posted:
Friday 29th August 2008
Source: Stephen Birley
As the Club stands on the threshold of a fantastic season it�s a
good time to reflect on just how Bradninch 1st XI managed to
make a grand arrival at the top table of Devon County League
cricket.
Chairman Derrick Foan deserves accolades aplenty for
masterminding a vision that he and the likes of Paul Nott, Joel
Murphy, Gary Newall, Chris Acton et al have harboured for some
time. Success is not something you gain by luck it is a
combination of hard work across the club.
The fact that next season Bradninch will play at the County
Ground in Exeter as a PREMIER DIVISION team, contesting top
flight points, is testimony to the hours of hard work that has
gone in this glorious season and indeed past campaigns, but
throughout recent decades while the club has developed into a
unit that can now consider itself amongst the elite in Devon
County Cricket.
Still actively involved today with the club is one such
individual, rightly regarded as a living legend � Edward
Andress. He has been instrumental in ensuring the wellbeing and
very existence at times of the Cricket Club bar, something that
may well in the years to come prove to be a vital source of
revenue to sustain cricket at the highest level. Edward was in
his time one of the most deadly bowlers in the local game. He
could fair hit the ball a distance too, a couple of almighty
sixes at Dawlish spring to mind.
The Chairman�s brother, Mike Foan, for so many years quite
simply THE groundsman who did so much for the cause. Mike may
well now be deeply entrenched in the wellbeing of Cheriton
Fitzpaine Cricket Club but by association, he remains very much
a part of what has happened here this season through historical
links.
Freeman and French the company who so generously sponsored the
Twenty20 competition this season are another example of two
former Bradninch stalwarts who have never let their association
with the club fade.
John Freeman was very much part of those formative years when
the old club with that huge beam and the old tin baths for
washing in, was central to everything that BCC stood for.
Del French became a huge part of the club on and off the pitch.
George Retter who can still be seen in the town � those of us
old enough to remember the days of Retter, Wingrove, Bance,
Newall and so many more individuals who were the driving force
and indeed inspiration behind so much of the work done on and
off the pitch in the 70�s and 80�s.
Jonathan McKinnel and former Gloucestershire professional, Jim
Foat � the pair still to this day hold a record for the Devon
League C Division Devon 4th wicket partnership (remember that
one?) at home to Kingsbridge in the 1985 season when the two
stroked their way to a 229 run partnership that still stands
proudly on the Devon League record boards.
Derrick Foan can probably and quite rightly claim to be the
longest serving current player. Derrick is now playing into his
fifth decade of service to the cause, but let�s also celebrate
Simon Bailey�s service over three full decades. Andy Nicholls
who continues to be a seriously accurate bowler, he too has put
season upon season in for the cause.
Whole families have played their part - The Nott family � now
there�s a name synonymous with all things BCC � Annie and Roy, a
canny spinner in his day and a meticulous groundsman like his
father Sid, have the club etched into their family fabric and
today son (Paul Nott), son in law (Chris Acton) and grandson
(Eliot Acton) all grace the 1st XI.
The Newalls � Terry and son golfing prodigy Gary, stalwart club
members and fine exponents of the craft of opening the innings.
The Actons � where would the club be without the on and off the
pitch duty to the cause by the Acton clan? Robert and Ross (not
forgetting Carol and her teas). The Kents, Les (still as regular
a turner out as you want him to be � the epitome of a cricketing
grandfather and Bernadette who has given so much to the club in
terms of administration and more recently unstinting duty with
the score book.
In recent seasons the Hardy clan have come to the fore, Pete
Hardy, that all round sportsman and generally nice guy who not
only takes great pride in the continued development of his son
(Dan) but who also turns out whenever creaking bones allow!
There�s the Dean pairing of Chris (Senior) without whom the
administrative side of the club would be found wanting. He has
brought an air of organisation and a professional image to the
club whilst his son (Nick) continues to look like he could be an
integral part of the place for years to come. The Chappells who
have given us Gary � who gives his beloved Grandmother (Mrs
Goff), so much pleasure from the boundary, and his father Phil
who made the switch from Kentisbeare for Sundays a few years ago
and has quickly established himself as a vital cog in all things
playing.
Other names that spring to mind that are etched into the
historical fabric over some thirty or so years of all things BCC
� Rob �Hooch� Gitshum, anybody who has ever witnessed the guy�s
incredible yard of whatever � well, that is something to behold!
Jonathan �Joff� Wykes and not forgetting his father, Bob - a
figurehead of the club and a very keen follower of the side on
match days. Richard Money � who served us so well as a player
and who is still to be found at the club on match days now. Mark
Burdis � now US based, what a player he was in his time with the
club. More recently we have the wonderfully talented Tim Piper
who resisted overtures to play in the Premier Division a few
seasons ago determined to help Kensham Park towards Premier
Ground status!
Our overseas lads - especially Gem Coetzee, Sean Nowak, Ryan
Butterworth and of course this year�s hero, Adrian �Rocky�
Ezquerro.
Let�s not forget the legion of tea ladies � amongst them the
Chairman�s fair lady � Anne, and tea men! The ground staff
especially in recent seasons, and even more so this year.
Especially when it is about to be revealed that this August has
been the wettest on record. Spare a thought for this year�s
groundsman in chief � Ryan Butterworth, who has battled the
elements with aplomb to get wickets ready for action.
Let�s not forget too, the invaluable work that Mark Stanbury
does for the club developing the next generation. Previously the
club Secretary, Mark has received high acclaim in Youth Cricket
management and is a proud flyer of the BCC flag on the county
youth circuit.
Then there�s those off the pitch who continue to support the
cause � Kevin �Eddie� Dolling, Alan and Julie Dowrick, Terry
Newall, Richard Money and Ken �Joe� Salter � all of whom can be
seen following the fortunes of the team in this most glorious of
glorious campaigns.
And last but MOST CERTAINLY NOT LEAST � there is the current
crop of players who have played week in and week out for the
1st, 2nd, Midweek, Sunday 1st, Sunday 2nd and Twenty20 XI�s �
(players too numerous to mention but you ALL know who you are) �
THANK YOU FOR HELPING PLAY YOUR PART IN PUTTING BRADNINCH CC
WHERE IT IS ABOUT TO GO!
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