North Thoresby Cricket Club

North Thoresby legend Tom "TC" Carter making the Lincolnshire cricket honours board this week 👏👏👏

County Honours Board 🏏

Congratulations to everyone who has got onto either board for last week's fixtures

Last year we had a brilliant fundraising day in memory of our legendary supporter and friend Geoff Annison. It was so good we're doing it again!

So the invite is out there - Sunday 13th September at 2pm.

Players of any standard required - message us on Facebook if you'd like to play or email [email protected]

BBQ, refreshments and a good time guaranteed*

Please share and spread the word!

*BBQ and refreshments guaranteed...

Final Match – Home v Grimoldby - What’s the Story? Morning Glory?

“All your dreams are made
When you’re chained to the mirror and the razor blade
Today’s the day that all the world will see”

Morning Glory – Oasis from (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, 1995

What a night! WHAT A NIGHT! Normally on the way home I put my tunes on shuffle, or ponder some great literary works, for an apt and inspirational quote. Yet this time I’ve started with an Oasis quote, for 2 reasons – firstly it was an absolute rock and roll atmosphere at the Den on Thursday – huge crowd for the end of season bonanza to see whether we could win a single game in the season and prevent Grimoldby stealing the title from our old Division 2 comrades Waltham Millers; and secondly, Billy Wright spoke passionately about the arousing effects of some zinc tablets he’d been taking – a notable side effect of which is increased blood flow to the groin region around dawn...

Dave Bedlow arrived hauling a cool box packed to the rafters with beers and the party was quickly in full swing as the crowds filled both sides of the clubhouse, with Grimoldby also bringing a plethora of fans and well-wishers to see if they could sneak over the line to become Division 1 champions.

We’ll, today’s the day that all the world will see...

To the match –

Following a season of trying to scrape a side together, Thursday was abound with players. 13 no less, but ad so often this season, our knights in shining amour Filo and Hoops Snr this time gladly stepped aside.

Grimoldby won the toss and elected to bat. Billy Wright, stiffened into his spell with great gusto and furious pace (she’s clearly a lucky girl...). Grimoldby set the umpiring tone with little leeway on accuracy and so a few wides and byes were the first thing to contribute to the scoreboard, aided by standing wicket keep Hoops Jnr who’s night got off to a tricky start behind the stumps to say the least. A few words of “encouragement” from Billy however soon sparked something inside the human enigma that is Mark Hooper and soon lead to what was one of his best evenings for the Super Rams, starting with what was actually one of the greatest takes you’ll see - a full length diving half chance, somewhere between first and second slip, that miracle upon miracle actually stuck! Jubilant scenes erupted and this sparked a bit of something in the boys and the crowd.

Reasonable spells from Random and Birkwood against hyper aggressive batting, the former just missing out on success by the finest of margins on a couple of occasions, but Sam Horner was again in the wickets, showing great shape and huge promise for the future.

In the dying overs Captain Random called on the reliable hands of Gary Spencer, who duly obliged in his single over returning 1 for 1 caught and bowled, and the Prince of North Thoresby himself Jack Flockton – receiving a rousing reception from the crowd – who did not disappoint with 2 of the greatest overs in the club’s long history! Looping, swaying, moonballs dropping in the most awkward of spots lead to a beautiful stumping by Mark Hooper to take the prized scalp of Jake Hamilton (68), which was followed by a beautiful runout with a tidy pick up from Hoops from a deadly Shreeve through from the outfield. Flockton was unlucky not to have more with Random and Barker both spilling catches towards the end.

So Grimoldby finished on a tidy 138 from their 16 overs, but there was magic in the air and perhaps the crowd could give us that few extra percent we’d been missing all season.

Carter and Barker to open. Sadly Barker buoyed by the crowd flashed at his first ball and the wicket tumbled. And Tyler, Spencer and Wright also fell quickly to take Justin Owen to a tidy 4-for with not much to trouble the scorecard. Meanwhile however, Tom Carter was merrily crashing the runs, despite those about him faltering.

Enter stage right, Mark Hooper – cometh the hour, cometh the man – powerhouse 26, sticking around and allowing Carter to get to an unbelievable 90,until Spence finally skittled him. Now it was squeaky bum time as the remaining balls dwindled, but the margin narrowed. Shreeve entered the fray. Surely he’d take us to the line? No – LBW after 2. Now it was time. Flockton and the Venerable Sheep eyeballed each other – who was to go?

“Most humbly on my knee I beg the leading on the vanguard” Flockton asked his beloved Captain. “Take it, brave Jack – and how thou pleasest God – dispose the day...” (I’m paraphrasing...). He strides out. 1 required. Field closes in. Pressure. Crowd holds its breath. Spence floats it in. Slow motion. A slash of willow. The horn of Gondor that was Mark Hooper heralded “runnnnn” and they charged. Oh, how they charged. If Tennyson could only have seen it. Two thoroughbreds Two thoroughbreds bounded majestically – a roar from the sidelines – SUPER RAMS WIN!!!

Celebration and jubilation. What an end. All your dreams are made...

A funny old season. A bit stop-starty in places, but the spirit and camaraderie between the boys unmatched, win, lose or draw, although mainly lose...

And so to finish with a song lyric that did crop up on shuffle – to the boys of North Thoresby Cricket Club – Super Rams one and all – a great summer – I wouldn’t want to lose with anyone else!

“Hey, don’t falter
You know we ought to be together
When you’re with me its always summer..."

Don’t Falter by Mint Royale feat. Lauren Laverne, 1999

An unbelievably quick and tidy job on the hot water system upgrade from Stewton Plumbing and Heating.

Massive thank you for all your works on our clubhouse upgrade project 👍

Another big element of the restoration works completed this week as Jim Dixon from Stewton Plumbing and Heating removed our decrepit old hot water tank and moved it into the loft and installed new controls. This will free up some space once the new kitchen worktops are installed shortly. The painting and plastering also continues apace!

Match 9 – Away Vs Newglaze – The Boys of Summer

'Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.' Henry James, 1843 – 1916

Hot isn’t it! Does this mean we’re gonna stop taking about ’76? Wouldn’t have thought so. Different kind of heat back then. Not like now. Kids today would’ve melted in ’76 – literally melted - like a candle in a microwave. Fans? Air-con? Not in ’76. Oh no. Still had the heating on back then! Could afford to at those prices! Different times…

To the match -

The parched outfield of Holton le Clay was our venue this week on another glorious summer afternoon, which slipped into a glorious summer evening, as we faced the top of table Galacticos of Newglaze.

The clubhouse inside was awash with activity – bingo and suchlike - and on the pitch the action was equally enthralling. After the match we waded into a man with a microphone dealing out cards on the bar. Confused, we were left to wonder whether it was either an elaborate sort of pub game or the world’s worst magic trick. I suspect the first, but hoped for the latter, but of course the real action was on the pitch.

A late July miracle of 11 players occurred, despite, 7 absentees, and thanks in no small part to the Don King like organisational efforts of Lee Barker.

Winning the toss we elected to bat first and the opening pairing of Carter and Barker set about with great frenzy, finishing on 37 & 16 respectively. Tidy contributions from a few others moved things along and we lasted the whole 16 overs to just got our noses over 3 figures. Batted well, but clearly we had a battle on our hands with Newglaze’s cavalcade of big hitters awaiting.

Billy Wright, at his fiery best, and Random, at his sloth-like best, started proceedings. Both were in the wickets and both reasonably economical to boot. After a misfire with the bat, the evening didn’t improve much for backup wicketkeeper Mark Hooper, even after he disposed of his RNIB sunglasses, as a few chances and stops passed him by. Gorgeous George Holcombe was probably on the receiving end of the teams collective worst misfields, although it doesn’t seem to be accurately reflected in the scorebook, so that is possibly the universe apportioning out some karma. George did get a wicket, however once Lumby started his charge there wasn’t much stopping him as Newglaze cantered to the total with 4 overs to spare.

Anyway, the summer sunshine evoked much jollity amongst the boys - in the changing room pre-match, on the benches mid-match and in the bar post-match. All in all a great evening, aided and abetted by a competitive but jovial Newglaze side.

Operation Relegation continues apace.

Thanks to everyone who came out to support the Carboot Sale and Village Cafe today. We raised a lot of money for good causes. Thanks in particular to all the volunteers who worked so hard keeping things running smoothly!

Renovations are still ongoing, but already great to see the clubhouse being used for wider events!

TOMORROW!

Set up pitches from 7.30am - open to buyers from 8am.

Free entry to buyers. £1 to park your car on the field.

Sellers £5 a car, £8 a van.

This week’s player from the past is Timothée Cartier.

In the 1970s North Thoresby went all international as it brought in its first overseas player. A ferocious fast bowler from the West Indies? A crafty spinner from the Subcontinent? A majestic run scorer from Down Under? No, a sleazy “all rounder” from France.

Timothée Cartier came over in the summer of ’72 and soon started pulses racing. With his film star good looks, sunglasses and neckerchief the crowds soon grew to watch this flamboyant Frenchman grace the field. His swagger walking out to bat was only outshone by his flaming Gallic rage as he stormed back once dispatched. Likewise his temper flared whenever one of his deliveries was sent packing to the boundary and he would blame everything from the state of the square to “ze quality of zeez Ang-lish baals”.

Despite the glamour, it soon became apparent Timothée wasn’t much of a cricketer, although he was quite the hit with local ladies and he scored heavily in this department. Things came to a head after young Johnny Flockton felt he’d been knocked off his perch as the club’s leading womaniser. A fight ensured after a particularly heavy defeat on the pitch, and out of the dust of the melee came what was evidently Cartier’s hairpiece. Beaten and crestfallen he packed his bags and was never heard of again. Flockton regained his crown and harmony was restored.