The Twelfth Man 2014
! 26 The%bare%facts%concerning%the%Market%WeightonH born%Frank%Mitchell%are%relatively%well%documented:% Cambridge%University%and%Yorkshire%cricketer%who% played%Test%cricket%for%England%and%South%Africa,%and% international%rugby%for%England.%But%Tony’s%book% now%offers%a%far%greater%insight%into%the%life%and% deeds%of%a%sportsman,%described%by%no%less%a%judge% than%CB%Fry,%as%“…one%of%the%most%notable%allHround% athletes%of%the%day.”%As%the%author%states%in%Chapter% one,%Mitchell%was%“…an%amateur,%whose%firstHclass% career%spanned%twenty%years,%but%he%was%also%a% soldier,%serving%his%country%in%vastly%different%areas% of%Britain’s%military%world,%and%at%varying%times,%an% administrator,%stockbroker%and%journalist.”%An% ‘Imperial%Cricketer’%indeed%and%this%publication% explores%all%of%the%segments,%good%and%bad,%that% made%up%Mitchell’s%life%with%an%exhaustive%level%of% research%and%diligence%that%is%so%characteristic%of%the% compiler.%% % HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH% M.J.K'SMITH'–'NO'ORDINARY'MAN' ' ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( By(Douglas(Miller.(ACS(Publications(–(£12.00( This%is%a%book%that,%but%for%the%modesty%of%the% sportsman%involved,%should%have%been%written%long% before%now.%‘MJK’%was%not%only%a%cricketer%of%50%Test% caps%(25%as%skipper),%but%he%remains%the%only%man%in% the%past%100%years%to%have%represented%England%at% both%cricket%and%rugby.%% The%task%of%telling%Mike%Smith’s%story%has%fallen%to% the%very%capable%Douglas%Miller%–%already%author%of% two%other%titles%in%this%worthy%ACS%series.%Douglas% and%Mike%were%both%at%Wombwell%in%March%this%year% and%gave%members%not%only%an%enjoyable%evening,% but%also%a%first%hand%insight%into%the%memories%and% reflections%that%have%formed%the%backbone%to%Mike’s% ‘sporting%life’.%It%has%been%a%long%time%in%coming,%yet% worth%the%wait%and%terrific%value%to%boot!% insight%into%the%memories%and%reflections%that%have% formed%the%backbone%to%Mike’s%‘sporting%life’.%It%has% been%a%long%time%in%coming,%yet%worth%the%wait%and% terrific%value%to%boot!% % HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH% THOSE'WERE'THE'DAYS:'A'YORKSHIRE'BOY’S' CRICKET'SCRAPBOOK' By%John%White.%Published%and%available%from% Christopher%Saunders%Publishing%Ltd,%Kingston% House,%High%Street,%Newnham%on%Severn,% Gloucestershire,%GL14%1BB.%Visit%www.cricketH books.com %to%purchase.%£20% It%seems%an%age%ago%now,%but%on%a%rainHsoaked% November%day%in%1992%a%small%party%representing% Wombwell%Cricket%Lovers’%and%Yorkshire%CCC,%in%the% shape%of%Mike%Bore%and%two%young%promising%South% Yorkshire%colts%(Darren%Gough%and%Richard% Kettleborough)%made%the%long%journey%south%to% Harlow,%Essex%having%accepted%an%invitation%from% BarnsleyHborn%(Royston)%viola%professor/teacher% John%White%to%attend%a%‘Yorkshire%Cricket%Day’.%That% day%is%fondly%recalled%in%this%superbly%produced% volume%that%captures%both%the%author’s%fascination% with%and%pride%of%Yorkshire%cricket.%It%started%of% course%in%Royston,%home%to%former%Yorkshire%and% England%captain%Norman%Yardley%and%having% captured%his%local%hero’s%autograph%it%became%a%lifeH long%obsession.%% The%book%is%exactly%what%it%says%‘on%the%tin’,%but%so% much%more.%Fond%recollections%of%Yorkshire%players% and%characters%of%long%ago%are%intermingled%with% newspaper%cuttings,%letters,%scorecards%and%a%vast% array%of%excellent%and%rare%images%of%iconic%and% much%lesser%known%White%Rose%cricketers,%from%the% Club’s%earliest%days%through%to%the%all%conquering% team%of%the%1960s%(a%fine%place%to%stop!).%A%great% deal%of%the%material%is%new%to%the%eye%and%there%is%a% vast%amount%to%be%enjoyed.%The%production%and% quality%is%worthy%of%both%publisher%and%author.% It%was%sad%to%receive%the%news,%in%late%2013,%that% John%had%lost%his%battle%with%cancer.%One%hopes%that% his%family%and%friends%will%take%some%comfort%in% knowing%that%he%was%given%time%to%have%seen%his% memories,%thoughts,%words%and%images%beautifully% bound%together%in%this%book.% Those(Were(the(Days % will%be%a%permanent%tribute%to%a%warm%and% welcoming%gentleman%who%made%us%all%feel%very% special%during%that%day%at%Harlow%over%20%years%ago.%
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