The Twelfth Man 2016

8 On a fine, sunny morning (8 October), Brian Sanderson picked me up on Denby Dale Road and we headed for Doncaster and after a series of mobile calls to guide us to the home of Michael Cowan, in a suburb of Doncaster near to the Racecourse. Brian Workman had arrived from Sheffield without any problem and after a welcome cup of coffee provided by Sheila, who also took the mandatory photographs of Michael and ‘we three’ settled down to a fascinating and far reaching conversation. At this stage, I must note that I had met Michael many years ago, when as Chairman of Yorkshire Copper Works I had the honour of making the reply speech, to thank him for travelling to Wakefield to speak and present prizes. In those happy, un-commercial days, it seemed as though famous players were happy to help local clubs, Herbert Sutcliffe, Rachael Heyhoe-Flint, Ron Burnet, Bill Sutcliffe, Brian Sellers, Bill Bowes and many others, came along every year with never a mention of a fee. In fact the only expense in a decade was a cheque for three guineas for petrol from Wolverhampton! When I told my lovely, young wife who the speaker for 15 December 1972 was, she told me “I know Michael, we used to travel to School together. Michael got the train from Doncaster, he was a pupil at St Michael’s Catholic Boys”, while Kathleen caught the same train at Wakefield, heading for Notre Dame Girls. Other passengers on the train were the Henigan sisters. Mary, who later married Michael Parkinson, was in the same form as Kathleen McCarthy, my wife. At the end of formal events after Michael had delivered a brilliant, witty speech, I found both Kathleen and Michael missing! I found them downstairs in the bar of Woolpacks Hotel, no doubt reminiscing about their schooldays. (at least I hope that’s what they were speaking about !) Back to 2014 in Doncaster, the two Brian’s and I really enjoyed a fascinating few hours, the time just flew by and Mike showed an amazing memory of events as Brian Sanderson produced scorecards, going back to Michael’s early days and gradually coming up to the time when injury forced his career to an all too-early conclusion. While at St Michael’s College, he had practised cricket without getting into the first eleven, but his love of the game developed, so when he left MIKE COWAN Speaking to a great bowler and Wombwell Patron by Norman Hazell MBE Mike Cowan with Fred Trueman