Thoughts from an ex Fives cricketer

 

I joined Fives Cricket Club in the mid sixties and played until the end of the 1971 season when I left to take up golf, joining Bush Hill Park Golf Club where I remain a member at the present time.

 

At the time of joining Fives we shared a ground at Hazelwood Lane recreation ground in Palmers Green with Mayfield Cricket Club. We were not a strong side by any means and usually had a pool of players of fifteen or less to choose from.

 

Cyril Wilkins was secretary and Leo Whalen the club Captain. I took over from Cyril as secretary at some point in the late sixties and continued until I left the club.

 

Hazelwood Lane was a good wicket with very good dressing room facilities, showers and a kitchen from which ‘the ladies’ produced what I always refer to as the staple diet of cricketers – namely egg and cress sandwiches. The pitch played well although the occasional ‘doggies doodahs’ had to be avoided if you were fielding in the slips! Being a council ground (we paid I think around £3.00 a match) the outfield was only cut once a fortnight on a Thursday. Unfortunately as we played alternate weeks every year we seemed to draw the short straw and had ten days of growth by the time we played resulting in considerable difficulty in hitting a four along the deck.

 

We played just once a week during the summer although we did try to improve ourselves by going to the Middlesex Cricket School for net practice (not coaching though!) during the winter months. As few of our members had cars in those days we used to go by bus (in fact with the changes necessary, three buses). I recall the time when boarding a bus on a cold January night, complete with cricket gear, to meet an enquiry from the conductor ‘what’s the matter mate, rain stop play?’.

 

It was an enjoyable time and I look back with many fond memories of my time with Fives Cricket Club and wish the Club continued success as it closes in on its sixty fifth year. I congratulate those current members who do so much to keep the club alive and well.

 

Peter Smith