A Review of the 1976 Season
In 1976 18 years of service to the Club came to an end when the hard working Ken Russ finally hung up his pen after being Team secretary from 1959-66 and then Subscription Secretary from 1966-76. Sadly Ken was to pass away in 1981 thus denying a new generation of colts the benefit of his sage advice from the bench
In the 1st Eleven a rampant Graham Saville averaged over 60 , scoring two League centuries and Basil Swaby took an incredible 58 wickets while skipper Geoff Sandrock hit 486 runs. A side containing three players with first class experience – the other two being Steve Plumb and Robin Hobbs – won 8 games but considering the quality of player available it was a little disappointing to return 4 wins and 7 defeats in League matches.
Graham Lord continued his love affair with the Kemp Cup, cracking 114 against Waltham Cross Rosedale, but we went out in the third round to Coggeshall.
In the Sunday As Saleem Awan was most unfortunate to be caught one short of his century for 99 v Old Parkonians.
The second eleven did well with 7 wins in the League, with skipper Buddy Jessop again top wicket taker with 28, whilst Saleem Awan and Peter Hall contributed most with the bat. Malcom Ridgway was the side’s sole centurion.
Bunny Swinfen returned the season’s best bowling figures, capturing 8-50 v Ilford at the London Transport Ground.
The Bs had an entertaining season, winning 14 games and drawing only 1 as skipper Jeff Runciman went for results. Andy Wragge hit 388 runs, whilst again Ted Alston was top bowler with 44 victims. Paul Cross hit a superb ton against epping in August. Reg Hobbs paid no attention to entertaining the crowd when in the ten wicket win at Hadleigh he carried his bat for seven not out – all in singles !!
Finally 1st eleven Umpire Bryan Kinight got his reward for many a year’s consistently high standard umpiring by being appointed to the Minor Counties list.