Richard Boxall (left) receiving his signed bat from Adrian Smart.
From Phil Burrell
It was the end of an era on Sunday 21st August as Grainthorpe CC bade farewell to veteran batsman Richard Boxall.
Richard, who turned 60 in March, has retired with his wife to Cyprus.
He joined the club in the early 90s and went on to make 254 league appearances. During his playing career he amassed 4,626 runs, scored 43 half centuries with a high score of 90, and finished with a batting average of 20.65. He took over the wicket keeping gloves in 2000 and up to 2009 held on to 114 catches and executed 65 stumpings. The East Lindsey League record for the most dismissals in a season belong to Richard (28), also the most stumpings in season (18) and most stumpings in a match (5) all during 2005. Richard has been involved in 2 record partnerships for the club, putting on 134 runs for the 1st wicket with Adrian Smart against Grimoldby in 2003 and the 3rd wicket 129 with Conor Elvidge in his last ever match (Richard contributed 24).
In the last 2 seasons he also played regularly for Lincolnshire over 50s and over 60s. However
Richard will be most remembered for his off field activities, without which Grainthorpe CC would not exist today, during the mid 90’s Richard set up junior cricket at Grainthorpe and was also instrumental in the East Lindsey League starting running junior cricket leagues. Of the team which played in Richard’s last game only 2 were not coached by Richard (himself and veteran Adrian Smart).
Richard was a true gentleman on the field and knew how to conduct himself on the field of play. He will be sorely missed from the club and hopefully from local cricket in general, he did say he would return to visit next year so hopefully he will bring his whites with him. We all wish him well and long happy retirement.
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