A Review of the 1977 Season
1977 saw the establishment of an Indoor Cricket School Committee under the Chairmanship of Ron Lynch. The projected cost was £30,000 for three nets, changing rooms and showers. The Hon. General Secretary David Rafis, who was a devoted worker for the Club for many years, was quoted in the Waltham Forest Guardian as saying:
“ The aim of the project would be to let the hall to other groups. We have worked out that in a couple of years it might pay for itself if it were fully booked”
Following several recent changes of groundsman the square was in poor condition and Harry Brind, the famous Oval Groundsman was brought in as there was great concern amongst the membership that cricket might not be able to be played at Forest Side in 1977.
Fortunately the wicket improved and the 1st XI did well, winning six games under Bryan Hart. Highlight was a great 10 wicket win in the League at Westcliff whilst conversely in the all-day Bank Holiday game at Woodford Wells Chingford were all out for 54 batting first ! A slim and aggressive left arm pace bowler by the name of Richard Alston topped the League bowling averages and had 5 wicket hauls against Ilford and Westcliff. David Layton took 6-80 v Walthamstow and 5-20 v Hadleigh in a season tally of 42 wickets, whilst Basil Swaby weighed in with 31. Meanwhile Geoff Sandrock was third in the League’s batting averages, scoring 728 runs in all 1st XI games. Graham Lord hit a tremendous 85no v Ilford.
Chingford went out of the Kemp Cup in the first round against Clayhall, with 106 from Geoff Sandrock not being enough to get him on the winning side.
The 2s under Buddy Jessop only won 2 League games , but on the other hand only lost 3 with 9 games ending in draws, and there was an 8 game unbeaten run in mid-season. Peter Coyte was the only batsman to tally over 200 runs in the League and the principal wicket takers were Peter Joslin with 22 and Buddy Jessop with 20. Unusually the away game at Wanstead was played at the PLA Ground in Ilford. An interesting piece of team selection took place for the game against Gidea Park and Romford on 9 July with Keeper Derek Lacey replaced by Oxford University Stumper Paul Fisher. I wonder why ? One of the most tedious games in Chingford history was the all-day match on August Bank Holiday against Woodford Wells. The Wells were 45-9 but reached 99 all out and in reply Chingford took 58.2 overs to reach 103-8 – must have been riveting !!
The 3rd , and Extra 3rd books are missing.
The Sunday A season was very disappointing with just one victory and ten defeats. David Rafis scored 104 v Hutton but only himself and Saleem Awan making over 250 runs. Richard Alston led the bowling attack with 25 wickets but Paul Cross, David Layton and Buddy Jessop all secured 5 wicket hauls.
The Sunday B campaign got off to an unusual start at Old Minchendenians where the opening bowlers were a certain Messrs Woodland and Coyte. Anyone know why ??! Talking of bowlers Ted Alston (49 wickets @ 14), Robin Runciman (37 @15) and Nitin Patel (30 @10) did the lion’s share of the bowling but all performed very consistently. Robin looked like he was on for all 10 at Ilford when he took the first 7 but still ended up on the losing side! Top ruin scorer was skipper Jeff Runciman on 301, with Barry Jessop a single behind on 300. 5 games were won, with 7 draws and 7 defeats.