EVO – THE CLUB SCORER (AND VERY MUCH MORE) AT 700 (PART 12 - THE CONCLUDING PART)
A unless fact - unknown to the players on two occasions over the couple of seasons, they have been watched by Don Shelley the Middlesex CCC 1st XI scorer, who Evo has previously worked with at The Home of Cricket.
Whilst not year specific travelling to Seaton CC to score always brings back memories for Evo of his 41 years, he served his community with St John Ambulance as he passes the field where he attended his first County Cadet Camp (and slept through a thunder storm – the only one in camp to do it).
What might be surprising to most though Evo’s finest achievement in his own eyes is away from the scorebox, although if anyone asked Di Kelmere she would have a very good idea what it would be. The past year, Evo has formed a link between the club and Hollacombe Community Resource Centre off his own back – helping to rebuild his own life while most importantly helping those less fortunate than himself. From a light bulb moment one Friday evening in The Devon Dumpling to literally bouncing around his lounge – a photograph of his work having won an ECB competition, within just eight months. He is now simply known by many of the clients (and staff) as “the Cricket Man.”
Likewise, Evo’s most emotional moment has also been away from the scorebox. Raising money for Autistic After Hours a CIC which is very close to his heart as he continues a very personal journey and he thought he was going to be run out on £488. Evo was watching the Memorial Match for Pop Latto, who had been his legendary ball retriever (and the club’s number one supporter), on the eve of the 2nd anniversary of losing his mum, when the mum of one of the 1st XI gave him £12. Evo freely admits he doesn’t know to this day how he held it together – members probably only need one guess who the mum was!
Whatever, the outcome of match 700 there will be a funny story attached to it. Luke Petherbridge who appeared in, the match to celebrate Evo’s 500th match as a replacement for Matt Petherbridge AKA “Little Pethy” will be one of the umpires. Within boundaries, Evo has been given permission from Luke’s parents, who will be travelling from their new home in a foreign country, well Cornwall, to give him some stick!
Will though the 2026 be a historic season for Evo? Well, Evo has really been in the job to long. With Tim Western likely to be in the 2nd XI all season, it will be the first season that no one in the 1st XI was born when Evo started scoring! (Ironically another great left hander from this area, Nick Gaywood last played for Sheffield Collegiate CC 1st XI aged 52.)
As for the Holy Grail of 1000 League Matches – 16 August 2042. Evo never thought the target was possible but when speaking to Dr Bruce Coleman the legendary Exeter CC scorer nearly a decade ago, who said he would have only need to be his age to achieve it, just got Evo thinking it is possible. Rumours have it, after a chat at the wake for Mike Janes (father of Nigel Janes, Evo first 1st XI captain and who broke the news of Esme Kingdon’s resignation all those years ago) Shaun Needham has already been down the bookies to put money on it! Actually, Evo has said, “the Holy Grail as a result of the last few years is now my goal in life.”
Has Evo though ever really considered calling it time in the scorebox? Evo reflecting on this said, “had JY not phoned me personally when the Yau Dynasty came to what many still see as a tragic end then quite possibly then and if his replacement hadn’t departed after a season then it would have be extremely likely then.” (Had the 2025 season gone on much longer though would Evo have had the strength to continue that is a different scenario and but for a mum mentioned just a few times and Pasty’s better half – well let’s just say he freely admits he was totally broken.)
The one other big unanswerable answer for Evo though is, had Esme Kingdon not resigned would he still be scoring today having sacrificed so much of his life for the art of scoring. The answer is probably, “No.” Talking of sacrifice, Evo even turned down being an usher at a friend’s wedding on the day the 1st XI could only field 10 players even when the 2nd Xi had no fixture, if there was ever a time of “why bother” it was then! Ironically it was away to Sidmouth CC – the same fixture 15 years later was the one he showed such commitment by scoring for it just 3 days after the failed resus attempt on his own father.
Equally though had there not been a prequal conversation back one dark May evening I 1986 to the one over the front fence would Evo had even ever started scoring? How different his life might be today but for Colin Davey the 2nd XI skipper and John Kirby the Colts Manager (the latter being grandad of Beau [& Noah] Rider) who kept a failed cricketer active in the sport that night. The two said gentlemen really have a lot to answer for! A short addendum of stories from Evo’s days with the 2nd XI could always appear – apparently Hatherleigh CC would star, a lot, and you guessed one about North Devon CC!
It is only right though to finish this article with a stat for a stato – Evo is now 55 but has scored on 57 grounds (excluding 4 indoor venues) in Devon for various teams (dependent on Cullompton CC it could be 58 by the end of the season but now unlikely). There may already be a 58th as for some reason Ottery St Mary CC rings a bell. However, whether Evo will take up Steve Waters’ offer of doing the 3rd XI / 4th XI fixtures which are on a Sunday this year to boost his total we will have to wait and see – it would though only be one extra ground. With some 1st XI league grounds in the South Devon area still to be added to his list. Evo has said, “if it had been Ashburton CC or Stokeignteignhead CC it would have been really tempting especially the latter as my next-door neighbour plays for their 2nd XI.”
That saying. as Evo is a fan of Strictly Come Dance though (and he has seen Karen Hardy and Mark Ramprakash dance) this article can only really be finished though with:
“Keep Scoring”
Much has changed though for Evo during the publication of this article as by the time Part 6 had its “scheduled” release, Evo had officially just been diagnosed with a life-long condition he had always suspected he had had – Autism. It is only now though Evo feels he feels ready to go totally public with this.