EVO – THE CLUB SCORER (AND VERY MUCH MORE) AT 700 (part 2 - 1993 to 1994)

Evo’s first major silverware came in 1993 – the Devon Senior Cup played at Exmouth CC.  The semi-final was nail biting to say the least – a victory over Plymouth CC by losing fewer wickets (it was always rumoured that Justin Mann smoked a whole packet of cigarettes in the last two overs).  The final in comparison seemed like a walk in the park – an 8 run victory over Braunton CC but trust me it aged Evo quite a few years.  Should Evo have driven next morning – very debatable.  Two survivors from the team still playing are Phil Bradford and Tim Western.

Towards the end of his career, Malcolm Kingdon moved across the Bay to play for Paignton CC.  Mum Esme came out of retirement on very rare occasions to score.  The, irony was not lost on Evo when her debut for Paignton CC was at all places The Rec (apparently there was no truth that an emergency supply of Babycham hastily appeared) – a second, of her rare appearances in the box was also against Torquay,

During the mid-90s there was the “shocker” of all news – not even Evo’s concentration is perfect well actually neither was his colleagues either.  During one Britannic Assurance Challenge match with Barton CC, they both failed to notice a change of bowler despite the change of skin colour.   It was more “shocking” as his colleague was the daughter of a future DACO Chairperson.

With the arrival of the Morgan family in 1994 having made the short trip down the road from Cricketfield Road, Evo was in need of an umpire’s clicker.  Not for son Haydn affectionately known as “H” but for dad John who soon was known as “Captain Panic” in his role as Team Manager – if Evo did a click for every lap of a ground John did the clicker would have been worn out very soon.  However, the power behind the throne was John’s wife Di who was soon known as “Senior Management” and his daughter Rachel was soon known as “Junior Management”.  When not fishing with Matt Hunt, John still brings the family down to The Rec and Rachel now has “Mini Management!”  Evo now wonders though if the most famous member of the family ever came and watched – namely Jimmy Johnson who was ultimately the last surviving Dambuster.  For Evo, The Dambusters brings back memories of his first trip to Lords for an ODI way back in 1980 with his late mum, when the theme tune reverberated around the Home of Cricket, and his mum even in her 70s would make mention of the that day.

Evo certainly couldn’t not mention the exploits of Phil Bradford during the revived Torquay Cricket Festival in 1994, as failed to read the rule book.  In a match against an Old England XI, he hit Pat Pocock out the attack meaning after the application of some WD40, John Lever had to return to bowl.  When Essex came to visit, bets were being taken on whether the current England spinner at the time, Peter Such, would be hit for 6 – silly question really, a ball ended up on the roof of the rugby club bar!

The same year as Bradog’s exploits it wasn’t so good for Haydn Morgan though away to Braunton.  Evo’s colleague got a bit over zealous with the scoreboard and “H” as he also known as thought he had scored a century but he was actually stranded just short.  Evo coming from banking stock declined the opportunity for some creative accountancy.  (This antidote comes to you with help from H’s sister, Rachel who was Ms Efficient in getting the year confirmed.) 

Evo couldn’t leave his memories of 1994 though without making mention of “that catch.”  With the team’s place in the top division looking a little dodgy, the club called for the late David “Sid” Lawrence in their hour of need.  His short time with the club will be forever remembered for a disputed catch against Exeter at home – but as Evo said, “who would want to argue with the big man.”  The sequel to this was a few years later with Evo sting on the boundary at Exeter CC for a Bunbury Bunnies match, “Sid” was playing and when being interviewed made mention of “that catch” – Evo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.  “Sid” sadly passed away well before “time” should have been called on his innings.  Evo knows of three more players form his time in the box now looking down from heaven, Guy Sewell, Ian Vinter and most recently the legend Vaughan “Jocker” Hosking.