Sheffield Cricket Lovers' Society Year Book 2022

mischievous deity, never more so than when S/He gave me such love for sport but absolutely no ability to play it. I was the opening batsman (sorry MCC but I’m far too long in the tooth to change) in Division K of the She eld League in the team that was bowled out for eleven. I got my one run. Furthermore, whilst keeping wicket and standing up to the ferocious slow-medium pace of Dave ‘Boy’ Newett, I took the ball with my le eye socket. Whilst proud that no bye was conceded, it was four days before the swelling subsided su ciently to extract the contact lens (a glass one too, as they were in those days). Enough of my playing days. What have been my best and worst experiences as a supporter? at’s easy! Best by far was Scarborough on 18 August 2001. We were County Champions for the rst time in my 10,653 days supporting the club. Yes, I was at Chelmsford in 1983 when Ray Illingworth raised the John Player Special League trophy. Being rained o le us level on points with Somerset, and Champions by virtue of winning two more away games than Somerset managed, so not very satisfying on several levels. I had a ticket for the 1987 Benson & Hedges Cup nal against Northamptonshire, but contracted glandular fever (proper man- u) three days before, and was so ill I couldn’t even drag myself downstairs to watch the game on television. So the 2001 County Championship title was really my rst, and you never forget your rst time! I easily recall the elation as David Byas settled under Simon Jones’ skyer o Darren Lehmann as the rain closed in (curiously Lehmann took two more wickets than he scored runs, even more strange considering Yorkshire’s 580-9). Standing in front of the pavilion in the pouring rain with my daughter on my shoulders as the players celebrated on the balcony was one of the happiest days of my life. With my choice of sporting loves it was a strange feeling, supporting the best team in the country. I’d done the hard yards, I deserved that feeling. It was better than beating Australia! I will carry that feeling with me to my grave. e worst day? Oh, so many to choose from, but the clear winner, as much for the decision making as the misery, was the Headingley Test of 1981. Yes, that one. Robert (le ) at Lord’s on Yorkshire’s big day