OUR FIFTIETH YEAR (1975-1984) by Hector Mullens

The decade leading up to our fiftieth anniversary was overshadowed by the untimely and tragic death in 1979 of Kevin Laroche who was killed in a train accident while out celebrating his twenty­ fifth birthday. There is not anybody who does not think Kevin was the best player the Club has ever had. In his last season he topped both the batting and bowling averages with a staggering 999 runs at an average of 76.84 and 38 wickets at 12.73.

I had been persuaded to resurrect my modest cricket career in 1972 having first been sucked into the community of Grenfell by my close friends Joe Sitch and Micky Way. I refer to it as a community as it is much more than a cricket club. Unlike most sports club wives and families and friends were welcome in a social whirlpool that keeps us together even away from the cricket. The friendships were immense and deepseated and if many of the social activities raised money for the club it was also indebted to the ongoing and financial support from its Life Members.

In each of the seasons 1970 to 1975 we toured South Devon. Stories will abound as to the success of these trips and some might even mention that cricket was played. As interest in touring waned Greg Stevens, while assistant secretary, inaugurated a cricket week in substitution. The springboard for this was an invitation to put out a side in Old Brockleians cricket week. My role as Fixture Secretary at that time was to arrange other games around it. Both Greg and Mike Blake provided valuable contacts and assistance and I will attest to their efforts later. It was anticipated that to be a success we would have to invite guest players but it turned out to be sufficiently popular with and supported by our own. The cricket week lasted another five years. Again stories will attest to the fun evenings that followed as our hosts made extra efforts to entertain us. Fixtures included Medway Police (played at Frindsbury), Maidstone Police, South Suburban Co-op (Beckenham) and the University of Kent (Canterbury). One year, Medway Police took us back to their Chatham station canteen and bar for late drinks and buffet where Alan Coupland decided that discretion demanded that he should not attempt to drive. Asking if it was alright to leave his car in their compound he was assured that it was and that moreover they would be happy to give him a lift home; Alan’s face was a picture when he found out he was to be delivered home in a squad car!!

I was first introduced to the Club through its annual Dinner and Dance and I am glad to say that not only has it continued throughout this period but it has thrived. In April next year we expect over 150 to attend and the guest speaker will be Kent and England’ s Derek Underwood.

The other highlight of 1985 is a tour to Devon. Secretary Colin Stone ably supported by Mike has booked us preferential half board terms at a Seaton holiday camp. Response has been immense and with friends and families it is anticipated that we will be forty strong. The tour will begin with a Champagne reception.

Cricket-wise we had been steadily improving and were very capable performers in a very strong fixture list when Phil Blake took on the captaincy in 1976 from Greg Stevens. Kevin was his vice captain. Along with the ever reliable Clyde Cartwright, Phil, Kevin and Greg were the last remaining two-games-a-weekend players. With a diminishing number of players unable to make this sort of commitment there was an ever growing need to expand our membership and in 1975 the club benefited from the demise ofDulwich Rosebery C.C. We had always enjoyed a close relationship with them, the Angelo brothers and Keith Finch having briefly played for them as

youngsters, now it seemed a natural progression for Colin Stone, Dave Golding, Pat Bresnett and Mike Blake to join us. It also brought us the highly promising eighteen-year  old Andy Thomas whose parents became our most fervent supporters regularly attending matches.

There is no doubting this heralded our strongest formation. Between August 1977 and June 1979 the Club lost only five matches!! However it could not last. Our 1980 captain Tony Haylock could not commit to another season and, indeed, with his wife Jean very ill he made no appearances in 1981. Chris Fisher overlooking his estimable batting felt, at thirty-five, that he was past his best as a fast bowler and retired at the end of 1980. Phil agreed to resume the captaincy but with the loss of these players and that of the irreplaceable Kevin still deeply felt 1981 proved a disaster. It was time to recall Greg Stevens.

I must mention two very influential contributors in this last decade.

First, Greg Stevens. My close friend Mick Way, a very distinguished cricketer, who played under many captains, regards Greg as the very best. Greg took on an under performing side in 1973 and in the next three years gradually raised performances and results. He reads a game well and reacts quickly but most importantly he makes sure that we as players recognise his tactics and play our part. Like all captains he has his trademark strategies such as he will usually start out with really aggressive fields, sometimes with seven or eight fielders within five yards the batsmen. He likes to rotate his bowlers before batsmen settle and will turn to spin early, always looking to take wickets. Opening bowlers are often told “if they get to thirty you’ re offl”. He unremittingly  plays to  strength and the best players can expect to bear the biggest burden but his real knack is getting cameo performances from bit part players (like me) and his development of young players. He is an astute judge of players’ capabilities and potential and wise in giving opportunity.

Second, Mike Blake. Mike currently works on the Olympic committee and before that was Secretary at Leyton Orient F.C. Since taking over as Fixture Secretary in 1982 to allow Greg to take the captaincy he  has worked  tirelessly . The loss of our “home” facilities  at Delta Metal’s sports ground and the advent of league cricket decimated our established fixture list and it has not been easy to reconst ruct, especially as wanderers. No doubt his experience as a professional

administrator stands him in good stead but he is equally committed to the amateur game, simultaneously serving his old school, Old Askeians and recently joining our Ron Stevens and Len Johnson on the A.K.C.C. committee. Despite this workload he has been instrumental in finding us new ground facilities at National Dock Labour Board in Sidcup after two seasons wandering. He is ambitious for us. One of his first initiatives was to replace winter nets by entering us in the Indoor League and he currently presses us to join the Metropolitan League. He believes that induction into League cricket is irresistible for the future despite our own reservations that we are an aging and declining side that needs refreshing before we can contemplate such a move. In Mike’ s view recruitment will be impossible unless we have league recognition. That said, the decade ends with the introduction of Keith Secrett, another precocious talent – perhaps to match that of Kevin or John. There is also plenty of hope for the future in the young hands ofmy own son Mark Mullens, Mark Haylock (Tony’ s son), John Connell, Bruce Wheeler, Mick Bullard, Barry Feist and Martin Secrett (Keith’s brother.)