The build up to the 2007 season started in the saddest way possible with the premature death of our Chairman, Mike Rogers. Mike played a huge role in the success of our unique club in our first half century and we intend to remember and honour him in a permanent way to be announced by our new chairman Bob Percival in an upcoming bulletin.
Richard Finn summoned an SOS call to make up the XI in the season opener at Castle Hill where the Grannies played out a draw, Paul Knight just missing out on the first half century of the season. Finny proved � as were many other notable vets throughout this sodden summer- that they retired too early. "You're a long time retired," said Bobby Charlton once. But then again Charlton was a man who for a long time refused to be admit he was going bald.
En route to the Gravediggers, Anthony Sykes tried to mount a Ford Focus while Robin Rogers added to the lexicon of Granny excuses: "Sorry I'm late. I had to go back home and feed the horses." Peter Pitt-Brown brought his Bentley convertible, Tony King batted in sunglasses and panama, like something out of The Sopranos, and The Grannies brought enough of a game to hang on for a draw.
We could have beaten St Pauls in the 20-20. But guess what?. We dropped a crucial catch at the wrong time. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.
The Invalids game was all our yesteryears. We drank in The Bull in Three Leg Cross, we played at Stonegate and we dropped 7 catches. The captain, who was raised down the road, Will Kennerley, tried to take his second Grannies catch in his 25 year career and was left needing stitches in the webbing of his left hand. So Dr Sam Weston-Simons had to sew him up, rather than take wickets. And so we lost by 15 runs.
Having roasted The Old Spots last year, this time we had to defer to them by 3 wickets. Everyone contributed with the bat but no-one underpinned the innings. The ham sandwiches were excellent, Paul Knight took four wickets and MM Jim Streeter remarked: "Stanners performed as ever in a manner that defies his age". Next year Jim will simply add, "Old Bugger Stanners performed in a manner that defies his age." You don't remember him with his dodgy moustache, Jim.
162 off 20 was a decent return against The Dusters even if they had stuck us on the 2nd XI pitch. John Davies got their top batsman cheaply thanks to a wonderous catch from our new Chairman but as ever it came down to the last over with the home side needing 11 to win. Paul Knight's crafty bowling and some sharp fielding saw us home by 6 runs and all the team proudly wore their Grannies shirts.
30s from Nigel Draffan and Simon Clarke weren't quite enough to set Goodwood a demanding target who scrambled home by 7 wickets with 2 balls to spare and so to Hurlingham. Alex Rushent's 85 was the cornerstone of our 291 for 8 and Leo Avery's 3 for 50 gave us every chance but they had one very good player who survived two hard chances and he saw them home in the last over. The only good thing is that that very good batsman is now engaged to a very good friend of mine and I'm about to go and lecture to his Economics Sixth form students at Rugby - in return for his signature on a Granny contract. So next year, he'll be ours and doubtless he'll turn up hungover, be out for a golden duck and drop three catches.
St Benedicts were 8 for 3 after 8 overs of the 20-20 with John Davies and Oli Waldren having bowled outstandingly. Their captain subbed for us and kept letting it through his legs and 135 was just too much for us despite the valiant efforts of Lawrence Brennan and Eddie Daffarn. We loved Willoughby appearing to umpire, even if he never gave us a wide when they bowled it down the leg side��He moved around us afterwards in the dressing room dispensing largesse and love, like a poorer version of Roman Abramovich.
Against the Demijohns, the sun actually shone and like good racehorses, the Grannies are so much better in the good weather. We responded by winning a game. Toby Sykes with a maiden ton (108) and Paul Knight (70- till he was run out by Toby) were the big run scorers in a score of 243-6 and Dom Ely with 4-18 had the 'Johns 46 for 6 at tea. Victory duly followed and The Grannies repaired to a riverside pub to enjoy both the sun and the win although apparently the centurion had left his wallet behind. Yeah, really.
The Griffin, captained by a Granny in James Pullen, proved too strong for us. Willoughby and Carys turned up for tea this time after they'd made 253 for 7 and the best thing about our response was a spirited 24 not out from Harry Yeates, son of Nick, but much more significantly, grandson of Peter GH.
11 year old Archie Clark, son of Simon, was the star at Broadhalfpenny as his off spin brought him 3 for 25 from 6 overs. 151 was our target but our top order was undone by bounce of a variability not seen since the West Indies-England test at Sabina Park in Jamaica was abandoned on the first morning. And of course in a summer of rain, it stayed dry all day.
Some vets turned in some fine performances against Parham. Martin Bagley took 3 for 20; Martin Emmison � who once bowled at me in the garden when I was 5 and I'm now 21 � 2 for 5. And John Rayer, who won't see 35 again, was very, very mean. Actually, chasing 101 we won very easily, with 10 overs to spare and 7 wickets in hand. How very dull and Australian. Not the sort of game we want to be a part of. Where was a Granny collapse when the game needed an injection of excitement?
Against the Stragglers, it all happened. They nibbled at their lunch at 69 for 6. We appear to have eaten the entire spread and then nipped down the local for 3 pints of scrumpy each and a couple of pickled onions as the Stragglers duly escaped to 212 for 9. At tea we were 60 without loss. Clearly we had regained our appetite for egg sandwiches and coconut macaroons as we then disintegrated from 158 for 3 to 187 for 7. Chris Weston-Simons, who hadn't played for the Grannies in over 20 years, was heroic in seeing us to a draw. Time tricks us. As a kid, I'd always thought of Chris's bowling as fast and ferocious on the capricious Stonegate wicket. Sam, the loyal son, told a different tale: "Military medium veering towards buffet, always was."
On the hottest day of the year, The Eton Ramblers flayed us to all parts. They made 400 for 3 off 50 overs. Paul Knight made 58 not out but we came second. It's quite possibly the first time the opposition have made 400 against us in a game. So you've been part of history but after 4 successive wins it was probably time that Ed GH came up short against the Ramblers!
We had to play 10 v 11 against the Old Amplefordians and they wouldn't lend us a sub. Willoughby has been on to the Pontiff and their skipper has been duly condemned to a lifetime of writing up the notes at the Granny committee meeting. 321 was a big chase but we went for it manfully, Knight and Piper putting on a staggering 225 for the second wicket. Piper made 112, Knight 87 and we pursued it all the way, like Sven after the ladies of Manchester, but in the penultimate over our ninth wicket went down for 297. In the pub afterwards, the team mulled over the cost of the missing 11th player. If only!
It was great to have the HAC back as a fixture and we celebrated with a Granny collapse. From 57 for 5 we crawled, scratched and cajoled our way to 166 before Bob Robinson's metronomic bowling got us off to a good start but the HAC dug in to preserve their modesty and force a draw.
The appalling weather and Mike's premature passing made the 2007 season a difficult one all round but we still have much to be proud of going into our 52nd year. Winter well and we look forward to seeing you all at the cocktail party in the spring.