KICK A MAN WHEN HE'S DOWN

By Gary Smith, Brigg Town CC

As predicted in Lincs Cricket Latest, the West Wold League champions Hurdiss played a President's X1 on Tuesday at Caistor CC. Selected to play for the President's X1 was Nick Beacock, of Brocklesby Park. However, two days before the match, Nick - a Brigg Hockey Club regular - decided to play in a pre-season warm-up hockey match and sustained a nasty ankle injury and was in some pain.
Having secured Jack Richards as a worthy replacement, Nick managed to hobble down to the match to support the President's X1.
The president of the West Wold League, Mrs Kathleen Smith, prides herself in visiting all teams in the league throughout the season and has a very healthy record of victories for 'her' team in the annual fixture.
Upon seeing Nick she immediately recognised him as a Brocklesby player and said: "Sorry to hear about your injury. I recognise you from Broclesby Park - are you Nigel Fisher?"
Nick's expression was of sheer pain - not from the ankle but from the thought of being mistaken for Yours Truly!

NF adds: It must be 10-12 years since I last turned out midweek for Brock Park alongside Beaky. Not wishing to add to his misery, of course!

PS Couldn't resist so I've just checked on the excellent Brocklesby Park official website (many thanks, Webmaster Bedders) and my enjoyable, but gloriously unsuccessful, BPCC "career" actually drew to a close in 1996. The website reminds me I am 53 years 41 days old today, and reveals club best bowling as 6-12 v Rustons at Brocklesby (match best remembered for Lewis Strange making 44 in excellent style and the fact the famous "Subba Roe" was playing for them).
Claim to Fame 1: Took four stumpings in one over off Michael Burbidge v Elsham Golf Club, equalling the club record for stumpings in an innings.
Claim to Fame 2: Teamed up, in 1994, with Jamie Burbidge for their only current first class victim - Buck Venter (Griqualand West and South Africa A) being caught Fisher, standing up to Burbidge, for 87. There were suggestions Buck, playing for Caistor Grammar School, gave his wicket away. In my defence I would say Jamie was then pretty nippy to be standing up to if you weren't a specialist keeper. And I never came anywhere near. My view was if you were going to down a chance off the opening bowler, at least give yourself half an excuse by standing up! View this and other BPCC trivia by visiting

Brocklesby Park Cricket Club