Thanks
to Simon Woodruff we have fantastic cumulative records of the club dating back
to 1979. Click below to see the all-time averages and stats, Any
omission or errors please contact info@bodicote.com
All-time BCC averages
YEAR BY YEAR HISTORY
– UP TO 1986 ..... SO FAR
1971
The club reformed in
1971 after three seasons' inactivity. During this time the land below the main football
pitch where the square was situated had been converted into a second football
pitch and used by such footballing giants as Cramic and Hartford Motors. A new
four strip square was produced with Tim Rogers and Johnny Clark doing much of
the work, These four strips being the four lowest of
the current run-oasis. The heavy roller was dragged out of the nettles and
mended. It took three people, ideally four to pull it,
can you imagine the club existing if we had to do this nowadays? In
addition to the trees that encroach on the ground today another oak tree stood
at not very deep long on at the village end of the ground. This tree was
removed in the mid-eighties. The team entered the now sadly defunct
Banbury League, visiting such cricketing outposts as Warmington, Barford,
Brailes and British Rail, all sadly no longer playing and Wroxton, Sibford,
Kineton and Cropredy. The team was very much a village side with players such
as Tim Rogers, John Clark (JC), Mick Battley, Phil Rivers (the Claw), Pete (Wint)
& Brian Winterton, Jeff King (Slugger), Mick Gilkes (The Mouth © Phil
Rivers), Bob Lawrence (Flossie), Ian Sands (Gunter), Mick Wilkins, Derek
Brooker (Brooker) and Pete Mullard (Mullard) – the latter two not really men
for nicknames. During this time the team used the old pavilion
which was situated where the benches are on the far corner of the field with
teas taken at the Church House (now the dance school) next to the Bakers. It
was traditional for players who were out for nought to be met by an incoming
batsman with a duck a string for them to escort back to the pavilion. The
team's main supporter was Charlie Bushrod who took on this role for the
football club too. A Bodicote man through and through Charlie lived round the
corner in
1972
& 1973 After
a season in the Banbury League the team moved to Division Four (of four) of the
South Northants League. This involved games mainly against the "A"
teams of clubs such as Wardington, Syresham, Helmdon, Kings Sutton, Chacombe
plus fellow one team outfits Culworth, Hinton, Boddington and
Evenley. A trial at Hampshire was arranged for the talented
1974.
Gilkes
lured current Culworth veteran Chris Bateman to the club and Colin Thurbon, who
had joined Bodicote Sports FC as a stylish left back, moved from Woodford with
talk of a score of 70 at Kings Sutton. Iincredibly 30 seasons
later he still plays for both the cricket and football clubs well into his 50s.
Additionally morale was kept up by the arrival of Andy Andrews, guitar playing
rep for Rothmans with the company livery gracing his Ford Escort. Phil Rivers
made another important signing with 12 year old
1975
So
promotion and what happened, half the team left. Captain Gilkes, Bateman, King,
Battley,
1976
After
two turbulent seasons things settled down in 1976.The
team won a few and lost a few. The squad changed little from the previous
season with the addition of Brian Reilly who still supports the club today as a
Vice President and did much to keep the club going during the latter part of
the 70s. One departure was Pete Winterton. Having been main bowler for a number
of seasons he left to play for the Alcan in the Banbury League, as he thought
the club was on its last legs. Off the field the team moved into the shining
new village hall leaving the old pavilion, which remained as a beauty spot on
the field until the early 90s, to have the honour of becoming the shed for
groundsman Arthur (Boaty) Coles. Arthur’s contribution to the club over the years
is legendary. But just in the case he becomes web-literate and reads this much
will remain unwritten as he would have decked anyone for even daring to use the
name Boaty to his face. He did feature in a most memorable win during 1976 at
Kings Sutton. For the one and only time in his career he donned the gloves as
keeper. Kings Sutton amassed 70 of which 35 were byes. In reply Bodicote were
being steered to victory by Ian Sands until he was run out by
1977
Just
when the team were settled into mid-table obscurity, Mick Gilkes returned as
captain. Pete Winterton also came back, having picked up the bowler of the
season award for Alcan in the Banbury League. New blood boosted the team as
well with two good players Pete "Buywise" Bendle and Steve Jelley
joining. Rob Bowley also joined but although he struggled to make an impact at
this stage would become a far more valuable member of the club in the longer
term. Gilkes’ target was the Division 4 title that had eluded him three years
before. The team got off the flying start with wins all the way including a
one-off debut for youngster
1978
Bodicote
continued to practice the Boom & Bust theory. Gilkes left (again) for the
Twenty club, as did Jelley and Bendle joined Banbury. Mullard, Lawrence and
Sands took up golf; Arthur’s tractor either blew up regularly or he did, so the
outfield was like generally like a meadow; the Village Hall committee wanted
weddings in the hall every week (and weren’t they lovely classy do’s) so it
could not be used and worst of all some team must have dropped out of Division
3 because the SNCL promoted third placed Bodicote from Division 4!. Gilkes
influence stretched to the first game of the cricket season where as skipper of
Bodicote Sports FC he arranged a Banbury & District match for a 1.30 kick
off which finished at around 3.30, leaving the cricketers with a fine for a
late start. The second week of the season remarkably saw the only win of the
campaign. Barlow had persuaded his maths teacher Ian Bloom to join and his
wickets helped bowl Syresham "A" out for
80-odd. Bodicote replied with surely the heaviest opening pair in the history
of the SNCL – Mick Rogers, no lightweight but a stripling compared to John
"Shagger" Smith of Weeping Cross. The 40+ stone combo
set Bodicote on the way to a five wicket success. It was all downhill from
here. Apart from getting hammered on the pitch it became difficult for
skipper/secretary Andy Andrews to raise a side. One player, who shall remain
nameless, advised Andy that if he called round and said they were short he was
sure his wife would relent and agree to him playing. This was duly undertaken
but the wife’s response was a somewhat frosty "If
you play, I’ll leave you". Obtaining the village hall key also became a
task in itself. The management of the hall at the time seemed hell-bent on
being as difficult as possible and on more than one occasion it was case of
breaking in was the only way! The nucleus of the team was Andrews,
Barlow, Bloom, Bowley, Brooks, Reilly, Mick Rogers, Thurbon and Winterton who
carried the bowling. Phil Rivers persuaded a number of Simmons Watts players to play – John Horner (known of course as
little Jack), Tony Fernbank and at Marston, in the only other game the team
vaguely competed in Tim Moulding. Barlow’s schoolfriend Matthew Kavanagh joined
(his elder sister who transported him to games proving a pleasant distraction
for some of the older players!) Nick Spencer and Simon Watts from the
village also played and Paul Hadley occasionally turned out. Norman(?)
Sykes also used to play and just to add to the admin load would refuse to pay
for or eat tea because he would have a meal when he got home. It was a case of
more weekly beatings than at a public school for the team and confidence hit
rock bottom. At an August crisis meeting in the bar of the Plough discussions
took place as to whether the team would carry on. Barlow became secretary, made
a scoreboard and some boundary markers with the help of future club scorer
Colin Webb and the club just about finished off the season.
1979
So
the team was restored to its rightful place in Division Four. The pre-season
AGM saw Brian Reilly elected captain, Barlow secretary, Colin Thurbon as
Treasurer and Rob Bowley with the unenviable task of coaxing the mower into
life as groundsman. From the 1978 regulars Andrews, Rogers and Wint had hung up
their boots but on the plus side Barlow lined up a number of players from
The
first game of the season was at home to Byfield A and they amassed 146 in 33
overs which on the Bodicote wicket and outfield of 1979 was going some. John Tucker,
father of ex-tearaway fast bowler turned Culworth trundler Andy scored 70 and a
very young Neil Brough scored 36. Brough was probably the best all-round
cricketer in the league during the 1980s, who played a
couple of game for Northamptonshire IIs (as well as football for the Cobblers)
and really could have played a far higher standard of cricket than the SNCL. On
Bodicote’s side was debutant Paul Miles. He admitted afterwards that, having
been brought up on a TV diet of 40-over John Player League Sunday cricket, he
thought a total of 146 would prove easy. Bodicote made 46 with Nigel Cook now
of Culworth taking four wickets.
Week
Two saw the visit of Priors. Bodicote made 68 of which Miles made an impressive
33 and the visitors knocked these off for the loss of four wickets. This was
followed up by the first points of the season, a rained off game v Adderbury
then losses, but the margin of defeat was narrowing, to Kings Sutton A (81-47) and Deanshanger A (61-49).
Next
up were early season pace setters Charlton A. With Arthur’s tractor out of
action the boundary was a bizarre shape based on which bits could be cut by the
mower used on the square but forced into outfield action. Charlton (including a
young R Taylor) made their disapproval of the facilities obvious and so the
seeds were sown for the happy relationship the clubs have since then. Charlton
managed 69, Ian Bloom taking 5-17 and with bowling resources thin even Phil
Rivers turned his arm over (and over - for those who remember his distinctive
action). Unfortunately this proved 10 runs too many for Bodicote with three
runs outs including debutant Simon Blincowe - gardening and an inability to
play the spin of Tony Hunt, nicknamed Rumpole by Blincs (15 overs 4 for 6!)
proving crucial. Paul Hadley scored 20 but obviously thought he couldn’t better
it because he never played again
The day after saw a trip to Division Three Twyford for
the Wardington Cup in a once only SNCL experiment to play the competition in 40
over matches on Sunday afternoons. Bodicote fielded six players making their
debuts – Graham Hammond, Maurice Marshall, Mark Larner, Dave Turner, Mark
Boland (The Boot of Banbury RFC) and John Ward (now Byfield) – the latter three
never to play again. In his second game for the club Simon Blincowe took 8 for
31 as the home team made 84. To say Bodicote were never in the hunt would be an
understatement but at least they improved from 10-7 to 41-9.
Every
dog must have his day and this was undoubtedly Simon’s. Although he hardly
played after the 1979 season he did come on tour to Edinburgh(where
he would hail taxis for 400 yard walks) and Guernseyin the 90s. Now living in Newcastle Simon lectures at a local FE college.
Students must be surprised to be taught by Mr Creosote - a persona he put so
much effort (alcohol) into cultivating in the 70s and 80s.
Hopes
of a first win the week after were dashed because although Bodicote had 11
players the team did not have enough cars to transport them to Hillesden. A
call to the league secretary – John L Blower, (telephone number engrained on
the mind of any club secretary from the 60s and 70s - Sulgrave 268), did not
bring a sympathetic response but no points were deducted. A week later the
mighty Helmdon A visited Kingsfield. They collapsed from 56-3 to 61 all out. In
reply Bodicote slumped to 28-7 but a partnership of 34 between Marshall and
Barlow (probably their best in all the years of playing together) brought
victory at last – the beer tasted sweet that evening in The Plough well it was
Hooky then – 48 p a pint too – the good old days! Syresham A brought the team
back to earth with a bump 113-47 the week after.
The
second half of the season started with Bodicote travelling to Byfield A where
they recorded their second win. For the only time that season Bodicote reached
three figures scoring 101-8 with Miles making 28 and Bloom 26 in a seemingly
never ending fourth wicket partnership of 51. Tucker and Brough both scored
runs again but with Maurice bowling quickly enough for keeper Tony Fernbank to
admit to being a bit scared of facing him and Hammond catching Tucker for 41
off Barlow, an exciting win by 12 runs was achieved. The team visited Kings
Sutton A after this and
League
leaders Priors were Bodicote’s next opposition and for the only time that
season they failed to field 11 players. Priors success
however was based on one star all-round player who had left the week before and
Bodicote made a respectable 95. Struggling to get a side out Simon Watts had
been selected and he memorably responded to a request to field at long on by
Barlow with the line that "If he didn’t bowl such s**t he wouldn’t need to
field out there". However it was Maurice who took the bowling honours as
Priors were blown away for 69. His 8-24 (all bowled) remains a league best for
a Bodicote bowler. At that time his status as a quick bowler was enhanced by
him playing in his athletics spikes from his days as County Schools’ triple
jump champion. (Ask ex-teacher Eddie Tait about the time he contemptuously
dismissed Maurice’s concern that the long jump track they were using was too
short..… Maurice ended up in the sand pit before he’d
even done his jump!).
Mention
of Simon Watts recalls a midweek friendly against The Elephant & Castle.
With Bodicote cruising to victory, Simon had his chance to bowl. Enthusiastic,
but not the best ever fielder to play for the club, throwing the ball back to
him became a bit of a lottery. This culminated in him not only failing to catch
a lob from Blincowe but it actually hitting him on the elbow. The game also saw
another debutant, who fielded at the Cow End alternatively at mid off and just
behind square for the whole game – Arthur’s tractor which had temporarily died
with its gangmowers on.
Adderbury
visited Bodicote the Saturday after on one of those wet days when the wicket
was dreadful, the outfield lush (although the tractor had been towed off) and
the back up pavilion the scout hut less than welcoming. To add to the
atmosphere after seasons of badgering (see the early 1970s) Charlie Bushrod’s
offer to umpire was taken up. Bodicote’s 56 in 25 overs was
overtaken by Adderbury’s 60 for 6 in just 14 overs. However
the game still didn’t finish until late in the afternoon because it took
Charlie such a long time to reach one end from the other between overs.
His funereal walk definitely didn’t look out of place when he intercepted a PT
throw from long on with the back of the head. You would have honestly thought
this could have killed him but all that happened was that his cap fell off. He
shook his head slowly bent down and picked his cap up and carried on.
Unfortunately
after a period of win one – lose one the team suffered a five match losing
streak. The next game saw Deanshanger A scored 108 and Bodicote slump to 44-9
only for some tremendous hitting by No.10 Rob Bowley, who scored 30, to take
the score up to 79. The "Bowley Man" was to repeat this feat with far
more regularity in coming seasons taking delight in hitting the ball higher and
higher. 79 was exactly the same score Hillesden made the following Saturday
with Barlow picking up his second five wicket haul in two weeks. This game also
saw the bowling debut of the legendary Paul Harper – christened Handshake by
Graham Hammond for his effusive welcome of everyone he saw – "Your mate
old……...(insert name as required)" . Hillesden (without even needing Gawcott’s
help in those days) bowled Bodicote out for 16 in reply – their lowest ever
Saturday score.
Table
topping Charlton A was the next port of call and Cracco kept his place at the
expense of an aggrieved Blincowe, because skipper Brian Reilly thought he was
someone to be encouraged and would be a useful acquisition. You have to admire
Reilly’s long term forecasting as although it was 11 seasons until he played
again it would be hard to argue he didn’t prove a useful acquisition on and off
the pitch in the end! Bodicote’s batting resolve was stiffened and they ground
out 53-9 in 40 overs with just one boundary from Marshall who top scored with
15. Charlton reached their target for five wickets. The penultimate week of the
season saw Helmdon A get revenge for their earlier loss as they beat Bodicote
92-33. Bodicote were 0 for 2 before tea and it just went downhill from there.
One debutant that day was a very young Alan Parfitt.
The
campaign ended with a trip to Syresham A who were
bowled out for 59 with
Rob
Bowley, who had been a lynchpin of the team’s social activities - drinking in
The Plough and generously buying beer for the younger members of the squad -
organised the first end of season dinner which was attended by 30 odd in the
Plough lounge.
The
Team of 79 (Click to Enlarge)
However
the first week of the season took the team to Byfield A with only one player
who hadn’t played the previous season – Tim Squires, Barlow’s form tutor and
more importantly for future world affairs Alan Parfitt’s Russian teacher.
Byfield were rolled over for 46 with
The
following Saturday saw them brought further down as they were beaten by Kings
Sutton A who amassed 112 mainly thanks to a prolonged
spell from Barlow which saw 7 wickets bought for 65 in 14 expensive overs.
There was to be no repeat of the previous week’s heroics as Bodicote slipped to
80 all out. The week after saw the short trip to Adderbury A.
After a couple of midweek games Bodicote had picked up a new player – Gary
Harker complete with 1000 cc motorbike and to the awe of the many players from
the VI form at school, "seeing" Jane Barbeary.
After
4 matches Bodicote were joint top with Deanshanger A who visited Kingsfield the
next week. Although the game was ultimately rained off Bodicote had made an
impressive 98-4 of 27 overs at the time and their form was definitely
improving. A week later saw Bodicote visit Woodford Halse with another new
player in their ranks, Bob Campbell a dour Yorkshireman who added to the small
group of players aged 21+ in the side. What Bob made of the wicket at Woodford
was expressed in no uncertain terms as Bodicote struggled to 81 all out in 30 overs
which meant that Woodford would have to bat for five overs before tea. Skipper
Barlow then had to deal with an incident with Gary Harker who had claimed the
keepers’ gloves from Moggeridge only to be told that it was Clive who to keep
wicket. After 4.5 overs Woodford’s score stood at 2 for 5. The late Micky Moyce
edged the last ball before the break between the slips for 4 to take the total
up to 6. It didn’t get any better after tea and Woodford were all out in 8.2
overs for 9 with Bloom claiming 4 for 1 and Marshall a more expensive 6 for 8.
Back
to the comparative flatness of Bodicote a week later and visitors
The
next week Byfield A were blown away by the returning Marshall who took 7-19 as they finished 43 all out. Hammond promoted to
4 after the previous week’s heroics scored 21 NO in the reply after Bob
Campbell had been out for a duck and returned muttering darkly about
"….not being able to bat on that bloody cabbage patch" or words of
Yorkshire angst to that effect. Priors Utd were the next visitors and they saw
Bodicote run up the then huge score of 135 with Rob Bowley hitting the ball to
all parts, mainly very high, in a score of 40. It was Bloom’s turn for a 7-19
haul as Priors were all out for 63. Bodicote’s batting frailties were exposed a
week later at Kings Sutton A where the legendary Steve Simpson took 4 wickets
as they could only make 88. In reply Sutton were pegged back to 12-5 and
finally managed 65 with Barlow taking five wickets and Bob Lawrence, who had
become available again, two.
The
weather intervened a week later after Bodicote had crawled to 67-6 off 30 overs
against Adderbury and then the team lost for only the second time that season
at Deanshanger A. With the outfield lush to say the least Deanshanger made 43
with Bloom taking 7-20. Bodicote totalled a sad 29 with Bob Campbell making 19
of them. Woody was adjudged run out as non-striker when a drive from
Despite
this setback Bodicote were still top and strengthened their position by beating
Woodford 121-44 the week after. The title was clinched with a win at Marston
where Bodicote made 137, their best score of the season and bowling the home
team out for 25 with Barlow taking 6-13 including a wicket with his leggie! The
Marston opener Ray Styles was furious that Campbellhad (rightly) claimed a
catch in the gully off
Bodicote’s
league season ended with a "home" game at North Aston against
Syresham A as the Kingsfield was being used for the Scout Fete. Bodicote made
92-8 with Simon Woodruff, who had slipped down the order after his flying
start, top scoring at No 8 with 25 NO. Syresham made 33 in reply,
However
Bodicote’s cricket was not going to end there. In those days the league
championship was decided by a play off between the winners of the four
Divisions. This was a product of the days when the League was regionalised to
assist with transport but had been carried on as it gave a good focus to the
end of season and traditionally allowed the Division One winners the chance to
thrash two other teams and claim the title in front of a large crowd. Division
Two winners Maids Moreton would play Division Three winners Twyford and Bodicote
would play Division One winners Wardington in the semi finals. It is difficult
to compare Wardington to one of the top Premier Division sides today.
Wardington had (and still have) won the league more times than any other club
and along with Byfield and Middleton Cheney they had dominated the league since
the late 50s. They were Gods just starting another 15 year spell of league
domination… even their 2nd XI played in a higher Division than
Bodicote.
Their
exploits had been recorded in detail in a book written to celebrate the Diamond
Jubilee of the league that season by the secretary John L Blower. John from
Culworth, who only passed away a couple of years ago, was a fantastic servant
of the league, serving as secretary for nearly forty years. The league ran like
clockwork under his regime which could be described as "hard but
fair". If you stepped out of line you were punished and what he would have
made of some of the slipshod admin that current incumbent Pat Ashby has to put
up with would have been unprintable… which is probably what a proof reader or
editor would have said about the book. Despite its literary shortcomings if
offers a fascinating history of the league and a slice of social history of the
era.
So mighty Wardington visited little Bodicote on the first
Sunday in September. Banbury Utd FC legend Pete Svenson was the first to
arrive and as more came they looked curiously and suspiciously at the wicket
which had been prepared on the four strip square that
had coped with twenty midweek and Saturday games already that year. However any
thoughts of a dangerous track were soon dispelled when they batted as
Bodicote
were in with a chance but Wardington possessed an all-star bowling attack and
the game was still undoubtedly in their favour. In those days of hand rolled
wickets 80 was definitely not a pushover. However Bodicote’s opening duo of
Campbell and Parfitt edged the score up to 38 before Bob was out for 18. No 3
(well he was skipper) Barlow soon followed but PT hit one of the best 8’s ever
to keep Colin company and move the total onto 69 before he departed. Gary
Harker came in and his 8 NO coupled with Colin 30 NO saw Bodicote home with
almost four overs to spare. Colin’s knock for a sixteen year old was an
absolute model of concentration and determination. So the mighty Wardington
were toppled and they couldn’t believe it. Their mood was worsened when,
instead of medals for winning Division One, they were presented with copies of
John Blower’s book after the game, despite no doubt having bought copies
themselves as they featured so heavily. The Bodicote players were treated to
the sight of the Wardington legends ripping up their books and stamping on them
in their changing room. Bodicote celebrated in the only way possible, as they
had done all season, many many beers in The Plough. When the next book on the
history of the SNCL is written that day will undoubtedly go down as the biggest
upset in the league’s history.
A
week later Bodicote travelled to Wardington (or Lords as Maurice christened it)
to take on Maids Moreton in the SNCL Final. Unfortunately there was to be no
repeat of their heroics the week before as Maids Moreton rattled up an enormous
141 which Bodicote were never in the hunt for and finished on 75 all out thanks
mainly to a 9th wicket partnership of 32 between Moggridge and Mark
Larner. However the sight of old Wardington supporters muttering "It
should have been our name on that cup" proved some light relief and at the
league AGM later in the year, whilst acknowledging Bodicote’s efforts,
Wardington proposal that the SNCL winners should be the team who win Division
One was carried. However the end of season play offs would continue for a few
more seasons and it would not be the last time Bodicote appeared in them.
In
terms of batting the improvement had been immense Colin Parfitt finished top of
the batting averages with 23 and another five players averaged in the dizzy
heights of double figures. In the bowling stats, Bloom had 40 wickets at 5.25,
Barlow 34 at 6.73 and most impressively
So
one season after finishing bottom the league Bodicote were runaway Division
Four champions with a record of P18, W14, D2, L2 and produced the all-time SNCL
shock result which given the change in format of the competition will never be
surpassed.
The
Team of 1980 (Click to Enlarge)
1981
With
the club on a roll the AGM saw all main officers return to their posts –
Barlow’s inability to impress the Associated Examining Board the previous Autumn meaning he had another year of
captaincy/secretaryship.
There
were no new players and Moggridge had retired after just one season but further
young players from the nursery club – Kingsfield Woodpeckers were just itching
to get their chance and a slim polite lad, name of Veall, had moved into
Now
in SNCL Division Three the 1981 season kicked off at a cold Helmdon who were
mown down by the bowling trio Marshall, Bloom and Barlow for just 35. Could
things get any worse for the home team well yes they could. Opener Colin
Parfitt, oblivious to the cold, saw this an the ideal
opportunity for some early season practice. The ultra defensive Chris Tavare
was just coming into the
The
next league encounter saw Croughton visit on a wet afternoon and they were
bowled out for 64. Unfortunately this proved enough as the home team could only
manage 48, local jack the lad Nicky Franklin took 8-18 and No 11 Marshall top
scored with 12 NO.
A
midweek cup game at Middleton saw the opportunity for Barlow to wheel out a new
signing – a colleague at the Tech – Gerald Udokwu who had impressed the skipper
with tales of playing for mid-Warwickshire Schools. Gerald was duly handed the
new ball which was deposited to all corners of the ground by the home side’s
openers…if they could reach it. Gerald turned out to be one of Bodicote’s few
One Match Wonders and they were soundly beaten on the night.
League
action was resumed with a trip to Lords to face Wardington A, captained by the
legendary Basil Prew, former Bodicote Sports full back and canny cricketer. On
another damp day Basil top scored in a Wardington total of 62-8 off 40 overs
and then, assisted by another local footballer of note Alan Jones (Angel FC)
skittled Bodicote out for 35.
Pre-season
optimism was fast evaporating and things got even worse when Bodicote made the
short trip to Adderbury for an evening cup game. Chasing 78 Bodicote amassed 17
with the last seven wickets falling for one run.
With
the season approaching meltdown Captain Barlow needed to take action and his
burgeoning tactical brain decided that a scapegoat was needed. So for the visit
to early season leaders Finmere Colin Parfitt was dropped from opener to No 5,
prompting the ever willing
A
trip to Chacombe the next week saw the home team rattle up 112-6 with opener
Pete Fernbank, father of Steve who had been at school with many of the Bodicote
side. This score was almost the sum of Bodicote’s previous three Saturday
scores but with the weather improving so did the batting and the runs were
knocked off for 3 in 36 overs with Bob Campbell scoring 32 NO and Gary Harker
35 NO.
Badby
visited Bodicote a week later and they did well to reach 99 having been 9 for 6
with Ian Bloom taking 6-38. This proved no match for Bodicote with the in-form
By
now Bodicote were moving up the table and carried on the good work with a win
over Priors. PT came good (at last) with 35 and another five
batsman made double figures including Dale Merry who had joined, to his
Grandmother’s utter disgust, from Wardington – how could he lower himself?
Bodicote made 136-7, Priors 99 in reply. The then less than mighty Evenley were
thrashed a week later, bowled out for just 69 (Marshall 7-28) which Bodicote
knocked off for the loss of just one wicket, Bob Campbell 39 NO and PT 23 NO.
The same two batsmen continued their excellent form at Croughton the next week
scoring 36 (Bob) and 29 (PT). Rob Bowley hit a typically belligerent 21 and Bob
Lawrence, who had returned to the fray also made double figures in a total of
129. With Croughton’s reply reaching 88-3 things looked in the balance before
There
had been more success in the Jim Coles Cup with an (even then) enjoyable
trouncing of Charlton which set up a home semi final clash with Division One
side
Chacombe
were the next visitors to Bodicote and their 119 all out was mainly due to 45
from Nick Berry who would claim greater fame with Wardington in years to come.
Nick also took the only three wickets to fall in Bodicote's reply with Bob
Campbell (76 NO) and PT (24) scoring the majority of the runs. Whilst PT, Bob
and Col Parfitt continued to score well things were not going so smoothly for
the big hitting Gary Harker who was in the midst of a run drought. Still he
always had his bat to blame and the site of him leaning it up against the
village hall to then smash it to smithereens remains one of the more surreal
incidents in the club's history.
Bodicote
were now 5 points clear of Finmere at the top and the two met the following
week. Finmere scored 111, having been 87-3 with Colin Thurbon taking a rare 3
wicket haul. Colin's bowling opportunities were obviously limited by being 2nd
choice left arm spinner but over the years he produced a number of useful
performances with the ball and later in the year would do well with the bat to.
Bodicote's response foundered and they made a poor 82 to see Finmere draw level
on points at the top. Thurby also took 3 wickets the following week as Priors
Utd were dismissed for 89 which Bodicote struggled to pass, losing six wickets
in the process. However good news emerged in the Banbury Guardian the following
Thursday (no email results service then) as Finmere had lost to leave Bodicote
five points clear with two games to go.
Off
to the picturesque ground of Badby a week later and batting first Bodicote were
in trouble at 95 for 8. No 10 Thurbon steered them to respectability with 37
and they reached 142 for 9. This didn't look enough when Badby had reached 76
for 1 before the intervention of the skipper. He recorded his best ever haul of
8 for 30, including an all bowled hat-trick, which included a leggie as Badby
were dismissed for 120. News was ascertained that Finmere had lost again so the
title was secured. Bodicote celebrated with skittles at The Windmill in Badby
where Alan Bristow narrowly failed to decapitate 2 year old Andrea Thurbon with
a shandy induced wild cheese that missed it's intended
target by yards.
Bristow
redeemed himself the following week with a haul of 5-30 at Evenley so for once
was not able to utter his oft heard quote "I didn't get as many wickets as
I wanted to". Disappointingly Bodicote made 103 in reply despite 42 from
PT.
So
Bodicote qualified for the end of season tournament, playing for the FT
Kielsden Cup, not the league title but this did not detract from the glamour of
the event. Team selection proved difficult and ultimately Woody, who had
endured a wretched season with the bat volunteered to stand down. Bodicote played
host to Division Four winners Adderbury in the semi and any thoughts of
complacency were soon knocked about as their upper order tucked into the home
team's bowling, particularly Maurice. Unfortunately bowling Maurice for all his
15 overs was part of Plan A. Plan B was the same as Plan A only with more
shouting and sulking from the captain so Maurice stayed on to finish with 2-61
as Adderbury reached 135-8 in a rain reduced 36 overs. The early loss of
Campbell was soon forgotten as Colin Parfitt scored 33, PT 41 NO, even Harker
came good with 21 and Rob Bowley finished them off with 20 NO including two
trademark "more height" sixes.
A
long night in the Plough ensued with Wadworth 6X copiously consumed despite the
presence of local sump Tim Fittes who seemed to be claiming he'd drunk the pub
dry. The mood was made the more belligerent because the team had learnt they
were to play Wardington in the final…at Wardington. Skipper Barlow returned
home late from the pub to compose a protest as finals had always been played at
neutral grounds…it said so in John Blower's book so there! Due to a summer job
with the GPO he was able to get it delivered with the deposit of a £1 note to
league secretary Blower in Culworth the next morning. This surprised the league
secretary and he was only able to work out that a protest had been lodged
because of the presence of the £1 note - Barlow's usually untidy handwriting
not helped by the Wadworth 6X was absolutely illegible. Under the league rules
the SNCL committee had to meet to discuss the protest and Bodicote were
summoned to the backroom at the Marston Inn. Civil Servant Rob Bowley offered a
counter to Barlow's gun boat diplomacy but despite their good Cop, bad Cop
efforts the game was to be played at Wardington although we did get our £1 back.
So
to Lords for the final and Wardington absolutely itching for revenge….. which unfortunately they got. Bodicote manage done more than
their hosts had the previous year - 81 all out. PT scored a classy 24, Bowley
made 19 and Bob Lawrence was out for 9, caught over the boundary by former
Bodicote player Chris Bateman who despite the spectators all around him telling
him otherwise claimed the catch. Dave Merry was removed early so at least Mrs
Merry (Snr) had something to moan about but Graham and Trevor Watts saw them
home for a seven wicket win.
Despite
the loss the season proved another great success. Bob Campbell lead the batting averages with 32.6 and PT managed an
average of 20 even though his first six knocks only amassed 15 runs. On the
bowling front Bloomy took 37 at 10.86,
1982
1982
saw a change at the helm with Bob Campbell taking over the reins as captain.
However the squad remained the same and optimism was high that the team could
make it three promotions on the trot.
However
this looked less than likely in the first match of the campaign at home to
Eydon. With Marshall & Bloom both absent the
visitors rattled up 170-9 in their 40 overs which on an early season wicket was
going some and far too many for Bodicote, 61 all out. The deadly duo returned
the week afterwards and Bloom's 5-9 helped dismiss Twyford for 60. At 35-8
victory looked unlikely but the nerveless Bristow, who rarely let the situation
in a game bother him, added 24 for the 9th wicket with
Bodicote's
blossoming relationship with Charlton was developed the following week. Despite
38 from Brain J (Taylor R) the home team were bundled out for 86 with Thurby
taking 4 for 1! The total was easily reached with the skipper 39 NO. League
leaders Thornborough were visitors a week later and despite being 0-2 then
moved onto 153-5 off 35 overs. Local legend Ronnie Gall may be remembered in
the song "Ronnie Gall, Ronnie Gall when he hits the ball he gets ****
all" but actually was a fine bat and hit 76 NO. Bodicote's reply of 89
meant they had fallen a long way off the pace.
Finmere
away saw the meeting of the two promoted sides and scene of an epic rain
affected encounter the previous year. There was nothing epic about the match
which Bodicote won 85-8, 26 all out apart from the figures of Michael Cook 5
for 4. Cook, with Alan Bristow gave the team an improved depth of bowling
talent. What sticks in the memory most about the day was the world's worst tea
- two sandwiches and one chocolate biscuit each served at the local pub by a
new landlord. In those days Bodicote's appetite was more than healthy and teas
were generally devoured with great gusto so it was surprising the team were in
any condition to bowl and field after the meagre offering.
There
were even caravan rallies in those days so the next home game against Claydon
was played at North Aston. Claydon's 63 was passed
with 3 wickets down. Gary Harker took his average to 24 with 28 and opener
Colin Parfitt improved on his average of 4 with 20 NO. The following week
Bodicote's 97 against Middleton 'A' proved more than enough. The visitors, who included
JR, current umpire John Rutland, not the
Preston
Capes visited Bodicote next and amassed 151-7 with Marshallunfortunately
injured having bowled 8 overs 1 for 7. However Bodicote were on a roll by now.
Parfitt and Campbell put on 71 for the 1st wicket with Bob scoring
the only half century of the season and Barlow & Harker finished off the
job as the total was reached for the loss of only 4 wickets with 7 overs to
spare.
Bodicote's
seven match winning run had taken them up to second, just two points behind
leaders Thornborough who they were to play next. With
As
well as the SNCL Bodicote continued to compete in the Brackley Midlweek League
and various cups with seemingly endless trips to Chacombe and Middleton and
bizarrely two games at Helmdon on successive nights. At Middleton they came up
against Glen Letheran who played in goal for
So
three years after finishing bottom of Division Four the team would be entering
the top flight of the SNCL in 1983 and walk with the Gods - Wardington,
Middleton, Byfield et al.
1983
Another promotion
even before the season had started saw a place in SNCL Division One upgraded to
the Faccenda Premier Division thanks to a sponsorship deal with the local
poultry suppliers that saw new balls provided for each game.
Unfortunately for
Bodicote a number of players were off to improve themselves for much of the
summer - Col Parfitt & Maurice Marshall to Exeter Uni, Michael Cook to Bath
Uni, Alan Bristow to Leeds Uni and Ivan Veall to the meat counter at Gateway
(now Somerfields). His job earned him the sobriquet Rasher and prevented
regular Saturday appearances for most of the season but allowed him to captain
the midweek side. Another player not able to play on Saturdays was Skipper Bob
Campbell who stood down due to child care duties on Saturdays meaning that Ian
Bloom took over at the helm. Budding thespian Gerald Heys was appointed
secretary which had disaster written all over it.
Fortunately
The season kicked off
with a visit to one of the big three - Byfield. This was to prove a veritable
baptism of fire and Bodicote were bundled out for 47 with only PT (14) making
double figures. Debutants for Bodicote were Alcan man Eric Barlow and
More new players the
week after included Chris Reynolds, Mark Faux and another Barlow Uni. friend,
David (
Week 4 saw the visit
to Lords to play Wardington and this time the weather was poor enough to see
the game rained off with Wardington champing at the bit for the easy five
points on offer. King Sutton were the visitors the following week and with runs
still hard to come by on a shin high wet outfield were dismissed for 93 with
Woody taking 4-17.This again proved too much for the home side who managed 52,
debutant Gerald Heys (wonder where on earth he is know) finished with six not
out.
With Kingsfield not
available for the next home game Bodicote played leaders Middleton Cheney at
North Aston. Boosted by the return from Exeter of Marshall and Parfitt C we
even managed three figures, 103-8, with Woody and PT both making 20s and
another new boy Swanson M, heart throb of all Bicester, 11. As the rain clouds
circled Middleton went for the quick win and SNCL legend Paul Wilkins and J R(utland - still umpiring to this day) both scored freely.
However wickets for Barlow (surprisingly) and Paul Harper (miraculously) saw
Middleton fall to 80-7 before edging home by three wickets - still at least we
had competed for once.
The week after the
sun shone at last as Bodicote made the long trip to fellow strugglers Thornborough
where the home team rattled up 163-7. With the top three of Quinn, Miles and
Richard Beard (a useful ringer from Warmington & Alcan) all scoring 20s the
situation didn't look too bad at 96-3, unfortunately this became 113 all out to
leave Bodicote marooned at the bottom of the league. Culworth also enjoyed the
Bodicote bowling attack a week later as they managed 159-4 - how times have
changed Fred Eaton batted at 4. However Bodicote made a spirited reply with
Beard, Woodruff and Barlow all in the runs and at one stage were 122-6 before
slumping to 127 all out.
The halfway point of
the season came with Syresham the visitors - remarkably Bodicote's sixth home
game in nine matches, John Blower's computer must have been playing up.
Syresham's 126 which saw a four wicket haul for Paul Harper, proved over 100
too many as Bodicote managed just 23. They were blown away by
With
Mid July and
Leaders Wardington
were in town the next week for their first visit to Kingsfield since the 1980
cup shock. They made 183-8 although Bodicote had the satisfaction of removing
Ian Sloan for 0, c&b Thurby. Bodicote's response never got going and they
made 102. Woody scored 30 and 20 came from the bat of stand-in captain Quinn, whose
captaincy star was in the ascendancy at the time, remarkably as his future
leadership skills came to the fore! King Sutton away and the teams improved
batting form deserted them as they could only manage 87-9 with Al Parfitt top
scoring on 26 NO. Surprisingly this looked a winning target as Sutton slumped
to 33-8 thanks to 5-23 from
Bodicote then
produced their most abject performance in the second half of the season against
Thornborough losing 117 all out, 118-2. The only highlight was Woody's 71.
Woody was again in the runs with 35 at Culworth the following week where some
later order hitting from Cook (33) and skipper Bloom (20) helped the team to
152-8. A couple of early wickets saw Dennis Cadd and Nigel Rush come together
for the home side. Then came a song-inspiring moment as Rush edged a ball to
keeper Parfitt off Michael Cook. Edge implies a thin contact, this was not, it
could be heard all round the ground but unfortunately umpire Reynolds did not
see/hear it. Rush did not improve the situation by announcing yes he had hit it
but as he got some bad decisions he wasn't going to walk.
The song to the tune
of Terry Jacks Seasons in the Sun -
We had joy we fun
we had Culworth on the
run
but we couldn't stay in
front
because Nigel Rush is a
cheating c*** (I think you can guess the rest)
After this the wheels
came off, Cook missed a skier of a caught and bowled and Rush's 71 helped the side
to a 5 wicket win.
So to Syresham for
the last game of an eventful campaign and the home side ground out 124-5 with
opener Linford carrying his bat for 42 NO! Bodicote chose to open with the
Parfitt brothers and they were both back in the pavilion with 4 on the board
but PT (39 and Woody (56) helped the team to a six wicket victory and Ian
Bloom's only success as captain in what proved a difficult season for him.
The team had
undoubtedly found the step up in standard very difficult with no easy wickets
or runs to be had. Woody and PT both did well with the bat and Maurice carried
the bowling with good support from Bristow. However many other in the team did
improve as could be seen in performances in the midweek league and a series of
Sunday friendlies in the second half of the season.
Highlights on Sundays
included a score of 216 at the Bartholomew Arms Blakesley where PT flicked one
off his toes which such venom that it took out a pavilion window, narrowly
missing the shocked home team's scorer on the way. PT scored 64 on the coconut
matting at Greens Norton as the home side's 148 was reached with 6 wickets
down. Bob Campbell (52) and Woody (47) put on 100 for the first wicket in a rain
affected match at Priors. There were two fixtures against Grendon Underwood
which were the fore-runners to today's annual Beaujolais Golf match. The first
saw a resounding 172-6 to 134 all out win and the second on August Bank Holiday
saw a ringer strengthened Grendon make 180-4 to which Bodicote replied with 177-7
with Woody scoring 53. Warborough were made to suffer for 49 overs as Bodicote
ran up 234-8 with Bristow scoring 54. Veall took 6-10 as the visitors totalled
49 and quietly dropped Bodicote from their fixture list for being too
competitive. Even Barlow got in on the act with 67 NO in a 167-5 to 100 all out
win at Deddington. The team even managed to score 111 at Farnborough with its
knee high outfield.
A rare loss came at
Radway but it did produce one of the classic Bodicote fielding moments and a
remarkable evening's entertainment. Early in the Radway innings a batsman
played the ball to point and set off for a run, indecision set in and the two
runners were both stranded in mid-pitch. The Bodicote fielder at point was Col
Parfitt who it is fair to say was no Jonty Rhodes.
Have you heard of
Botham and Mike Brearley?
Have you heard of the
Road End, Headingley?
No said Joe I don’t
think so
But I have heard of
the Bodicote COW END
A trip to the Castle
Inn saw the team meet Alexi Sayle and then after many drinks it was back the
Blincowe house in
To counter balance
the lack of success on Saturday's the Veall captained midweek XI enjoyed a good
season in the Brackley Midweek League. Many of the Saturday regulars played
along with Bob Campbell, Nick Wills (Horley), John Coombes and occasionally the
now sadly departed Paul Morgan. Morgers was an absolutely top man who was
mainly a (superb) hockey goalkeeper who would have loved to have played more cricket. He scored the only 50 of the midweek season at
Brackley.
Towards the end of
the season Bodicote, Middleton and Bibbys were all in contention for the title.
Bibbys were seen off when the Parfitt boys opened and secured a 10 wicket win chasing 92.
Although they did time their innings to perfection as only 2 balls remained
when the target was reached which saw much pacing beyond the boundary for other team members -
Barlow in particular.
This result set up a
grandstand finish with Bodicote two points clear of Middleton Cheney who they
would meet on the last round of matches. A win for Middleton would force a play
off the following week. With teams playing each other twice in those days the
game was played on 21 August meaning the toss would be crucial as it would soon
be dark even with a 6 pm start. Veall called correctly and 94-7 which included
43 from Bob Campbell looked to be enough as the evening set in.
Bodicote were
supported that evening by Tim Rogers who had recently escaped from Blisworth to
return to the village with a young damsel (Jessica) in tow. They watched (some
of) the game from the boundary although even the usually
unflappable Blincowe was surprised how close they were when he retrieved
a ball from close by them. Despite the game finishing in almost pitch black Middleton
stayed in touch and by the time the last ball was to be bowled by skipper Veall
they had reached 93 with the last pair at the wicket. Veall will claim tactical
genius but his next ball was a wide which took the scores level. However in the
excitement the Middleton non-striker was already halfway down the pitch and the
batsman also ran to allow keeper Campbell to run out the non-striker and the
tie meant that Bodicote took the title!
1984
In any club's history there are good years and bad and 1984 unfortunately, in
terms of results has to go down in the latter category.
After one season in charge Ian Bloom stood down a captain to be replaced by
Kevin Quinn who, it was hoped, would bring cerebral talents to the role - alas
how wrong we were! On the playing side Ivan Veall had joined Colin Parfitt,
Michael Cook and Alan Bristow at college, studying Theatre Studies. On the
positive (?) side Maurice Marshall's sojourn at
Another departure was the tree that stood diagonally opposite the current tree
at deepish mid on bowling from the village end which had died and was cut down.
Part of the trunk was placed outside of the village hall and became a useful
seat / something for the scoreboard to lean on / primitive slip cradle. It was
also famously rescued from a blazing inferno later in the season by
Firefighters Barlow and Parfitt R (Sister of Col and Alan) one night on a
return from Town when it was spotted alight with the flames licking the village
hall.
The opening week of the season saw Eydon rattle up 179-5 with the former
captain Bloom's figures not improved by being relieved of captaincy duties
-12-0-73-1. Bodicote's reply was a feeble 39. However the team bounced back at
home to Twyford the following week. Batting stalwarts Woodruff and Miles turned
bowling stars taking 4 and 5 wickets respectively to dismiss the visitors for
75. Bodicote edged home to a one wicket win with Chris Ro gers top scoring with
18 on the first time in recent season s that a father and son (Tim - who had
scored a duck!) took the field together for the club. Long Buckby, who were
relegated with Bodicote at the end of 1983, were looking to go straight back up
an d their score of 176-4 proved almost 100 too many
for Bodicote. Priors Utd also thrashed Bodicote the following week with Woody
scoring 20* out of 62 and taking 3-13 off 12 as the total was reached for 4
wickets. Woody also did well the following week as he scored 36 out of
Bodicote's 83-8 off 40 overs against Charlton who were playing their last
season out of the top flight and they easily reached 84-3. It was PTs turn to
play the all rounder a week later as he took 4 wickets in Croughton's 123-8
then top scored with 43 in Bodicote's reply of 81.
By now Bodicote were bottom of the table but received a boost the following
week in the (sadly no more) local derby against Adderbury. Maurice, who had
been travelling back from Streatham to play was rewarded wi
th a five wicket haul in Adderbury's 122-9. In reply PT scored a six-studded
67* as the total was reached with just four wickets down. Bodicote achieved
their third win of the season a week later at Claydon who were bowled out for
90. A partnership of 59 between captain Quinn (33*)
and young Alan Parfitt (28) for the third wicket helped Bodicote to a
comfortable seven wicket win. Their mini run came to an end at Middleton Cheney
who made 112 and Bodicote, who met a young (and then a lot slimmer) Ty King for
the first time, made 90 with King finishing with 6-23.
This was the halfway point of the season and the team was bolstered by the returning
undergrads Parfitt C, Bristow and Veall for the trip to Eydon.
The following week saw the high spot of the season - the visit of league
leaders Charlton. Rivalry between the clubs was intense in those days and
Bodicote scored 116-3 off a rain reduced 29 overs with PT hitting a marvellous
78*. Charlton's reply foundered in the wet conditions and Dick Taylor produced
his all-time Jelly Brain moment in letting slip / throwing his bat at Young Al
fielding in close . Bob Campbell appealed for
something - obstructing field? and JB was given out, much swearing and the
decision was reversed only for Marshall to snare him soon afterwards in a
pumped up spell of 6-37 Charlton were dismissed for 77 which as this messed up
their title challenge made the win particularly satisfying. Croughton were well
beaten the following week 131-7 / 90 all out with Barlow re-adapting from boule
to take 5 wickets. The only double of the campaign was secured at Adderbury the
week after but not without some alarms. After a typically
breezy 30 from PT Bodicote slumped from 60-2 to 67-8 but were rescued by a
ninth wicket partnership of 42 between Veall (25*) and Marshall (26 - including
a six!). The total of 124-9 proved enough as Adderbury made 96. The
batting also failed the following week against Claydon even though opener Colin
Parfitt carried his bat for 45* and the new No 4 Marshall (!) made 18. This
time 53-2 became 84 all out and despite reducing Claydon to 78-8 they won by
two wickets. The league season was rounded off with a convincing win against
Middleton with Bodicote scoring 132 all out and Marshall and Bristow both
capturing five wickets each as Middleton made just 44 in reply.
The late burst of 4 wins in the last 5 games meant that the playing record was
Pl 18, W 8 L 10 - no rained off matches at all which must be a record. PT
batted well to score 345 runs at an average of 23 and Col Parfitt also averaged
over 20. Marshal l again led the bowling with 40 wickets in 15 games and
captain's Quinn's stock fell in light of bizarre field placings, batting orders
and bowling changes!
There was to be no repeat of the previous season's success in the Midweek
League. High lights included a 100 opening partnership between PT (55) and Ian
Phillipson (48) who was to be lured away from Bloxham to play on Saturdays in
1986 and PT also scored 58 in a huge total of 138-6 against Sibford.
A programme of Sunday friendlies were played in the
second half of the season. On a rare outing as skipper Maurice declared before
tea at Greens Norton having thought we had got enough with 152-8 only for their
2}{\f1\super nd}{\f1 wicket pair to put on 127 in under 30 overs to win the
game. Bodicote made a dismal 46 all out at North Aston who knocked them off for
seven thanks to an unbroken 8th wicket partnership of 23. In the ensuing beer
match Swanny made 54*! Maurice made his highest ever score, 45, opening against
Deddington The final match of the season was a game at Grendon Underwood which
was rained off at tea but not before PT had compiled his first ton, 108, in a
seventh wicket partnership of 107 with Woody (43*)
1985
1985 arrived and the
portents did not look good. Veall, Bristow, Barlow and Parfitt C were all
finishing off degrees, Maurice was having his second crack at the world of
Higher education at UEA and even Young Al was old enough to go off to college.
PT took over the captaincy and he and Woody again shouldered the workload of
the club.
Perennial opening day
adversaries, the now sadly defunct Eydon, were Bodicote’s first opponents and
they made 99 with quickie Woody taking 2-11 off 9 and occasional spin bowler
Chris Reynolds 3-16. Unfortunately this proved too many for Bodicote with only
debutant Michael Coombes making double figures, 12 in a total of 57. Michael was
son of Adderbury player and Plough regular John and at one time managed the
Horse & Jockey. He had a good eye but unfortunately never became a regular
player. Chipping Warden visited for week 2 and they were strengthened by the
move from Wardington of the Reynolds brothers Mick and Steve. They made 136 and
a win looked possible when Bodicote reached 88-2 before the inevitable collapse
to 103. Two debutants that day were Ian Phillipson and Nick Henning and their
performances were a shape of things to come. Ian scored 22 and became a regular
from 1986-1988 when he scored a stack of runs. Nick was a Quinn-signing from
Maurice was still
around the following week when high flying Syresham visited. He produced one of
his best all-round performances, 5-19 and a grinding 31 but to no avail as
Bodicote could only make 77-8 chasing 110. Runs were proving hard to come by
and the nadir was reached on a wretched dog of a track at Croughton where
Bodicote were bowled out for 23 with Vaughan Martin, who is still trundling
them down for Evenley, took 9-14. Croughton knocked off the runs for the loss
of 3 wickets. Local rivals Adderbury visited Kings Field in week 7 and
Bodicote’s
batting got back on track
with Woody scoring 35 no and PT 38 in an improved 125-5. However Adderbury
reached their target with a couple of overs to spare thanks to 57 no from the
Bodicote village bobby Terry Philp who was to enjoy a successful season for us
in 1987. Week 8 and the first points on the board when the rain intervened at
tea at Claydon after Bodicote had made 90 all out. Things got even better as
the team reached the turn with a visit to league leaders Badby. Ian Phillipson
(64) and PT (58) put on 99 for the 2nd wicket and helped Bodicote
reach 146-4. In reply Badby were bowled out for 125 with 2.5 overs left. The
metronomic PZ was the pick of the bowlers with 3-24 off his 12 overs.
Remarkably in the 1st half of the season PZ bowled out his 12 overs
for between 22 and 24 on six occasions!
Eydon visited
Bodicote to start the second half of the campaign and the side was starting to
strengthen up with Col & Al Parfitt, Ivan, Maurice and Barlow in the
line-up. The latter was to feature memorably in the Banbury Guardian the
following Thursday with the photo of a head up smear as his stumps were splayed
above the caption “….. lifts his head with fatal consequences”.
Bodicote recorded their second win but only narrowly winning by 2 runs 103 –
101. The good run continued at Chipping Warden where Woody made 58 no and Col
Parfitt 32 in a total of 144-4. Maurice took 5-19 to help bowl the home side
out for 95.
A crucial relegation
battle against Helmdon the next week could not be played at Kings field due to
the annual caravan rally and the salubrious surroundings of the Wykham Hall
artificial turf wicket was used or the game.
The wicket was not easy to score quickly on and Bodicote were indebted
to Al Parfitt with 31 to take them to 107-8. Helmdon’s reply was always up with
the rate but they kept losing wickets and ended up 92 all out with 5 overs to
go.
The good run came to
an end at Priors despite a useful all-round performance from Barlow. He took
4-17 in their total of 115 and added 43 in the Bodicote response of 102. The week
after saw Bodicote well beaten at league leaders Syresham who knocked off 81 to
win by 9 wickets. The poor run looked set to continue with another home game at
Wykham Hall against Croughton. Bodicote made 68 all out in 31 overs but with
Ivan, Maurice, PZ and Woody all bowling tightly Croughton could only score 43
all out in 26 overs. A week later the runs flowed more freely at Adderbury as
PT went ballistic scoring 91 and with Kevin Quinn making 42 no Bodicote racked
up a then record Saturday score of 196-9.
Adderbury were never going to get near this and ended 98 all out. The
next week a narrow win was achieved over Claydon. Bodicote made 102 all out
with a useful contribution coming from “Skipper” Instone who made 20, his best
Saturday score. Barlow took 5-35 to help the team to an 11 run win. The final
week of the season saw Badby visit needing a win to ensure promotion. However
they were never in the hunt being bowled out for 72. PT opened with Ian
Phillipson and smashed a quick 49, including a 6 and four 4s in an over. They
put on 71 before both were out as was Al Parfitt for a duck to leave Bodicote
victorious by 7 wickets.
So after losing the
first seven games on the trot Bodicote won 8 out of the last 10 to comfortably
maintain Division 1 status. Outside of the SNCL Bodicote again competed in the
Brackley Midweek League and some enjoyable Sunday friendlies were played. At Tusmore
Park Col Parfitt ground out 51 no off 115 balls a knock of such tedium that saw
his Dad pack up his folding chair and leave before the landmark was reached.
The scorebook also annotates
Bodicote also enjoyed
their first tour travelling all the way to the Railway Hotel,
1986
With a number of key
players still at college or having finished their studies living elsewhere,
early portents pointed to another tough season. On the plus side Alan Bristow had
finished his studies and was working at GF and after the odd game in 2005 Ian
Phillipson had joined the club from Bloxham and would be available all season
and could keep wicket. In addition Kevin Quinn had been busy recruiting signing
up Paul Openshaw and Chris Buckingham. Openshaw was a taciturn Northener and
Buckingham has moved into the area to live with
Buckingham talked his
way into opening the bowling with Alan Bristow and did the business with 4-19
as Thornborough made 114-9 off their 40 overs. He also talked his way into
batting at 3 and fared less well making 7. Bodicote slumped twice in their
reply going from 58-2 to 58-5 then 93-6 to 94-9 however opener Philipson
carried his bat for 54* and with the help of No 11 PZ Kovacs steered the team
to an exciting win with one ball left. The week after
Chipping Warden were shot out for 58 and Bodicote recorded a five wicket
win. Availability issues thwarted the chances at Priors with less illustrious
brothers Bristow C and Barlow Si playing. One bonus was the return of Maurice
Marshall who having given another University, UEA, a
year of his time was now working in
After the visit of
Kings Sutton fell foul of the weather, the following week saw a trip to
Croughton and this game probably defined Bodicote’s season. Croughton were all
out for 109 which looked a long way off as Bodicote struggled to 62-8. However
the Fist was a pretty good No9 and he found a doughty partner in
Claydon away saw
another significant debutant, Neil Young. Introduced to the club by Openshaw
Neil ultimately prospered whilst Openshaw faded from the scene. Neil had been brought up in the tough school
of league cricket in
Thornborough were the
visitors in the first game of the second half and they were also riding high
but were shot out for just 30 with Buckingham, Bristow and the returned Veall
sharing the wickets. Thornborough put their low score down to a under prepared
pitch but their whining struck a chord with the usually placid Phillipson who
set out to prove there was nothing wrong with the track. He scored 25 in quick
time as Bodicote won by 10 wickets inside 10 overs. His opening partner was
Parfitt A, back from University and into the openers slot, no doubt to the
chagrin as Buckingham who had quickly established himself as a member with
plenty to say and one of his bugbears was players coming back from their
studies and walking straight into the team. A hiccup the following week saw
Bodicote lose 115-84 at Chipping Warden where Maurice got into a contretemps
with their legendary bowler Alan Lickorish who was to sadly to pass away early.
Chipping Warden was one of the many grounds where facilities were less than
spartan – Bodicote’s shower facilities were almost palatial in that era, a
shame they haven’t been updated since. The fastidious Maurice developed the
“shower in the bag” which gave him a post-match freshen up!
This loss made the
short trip to promotion chasing Kings Sutton all the more important. Bodicote
batted first and after 39 overs had made slow progress to 126-5. However the
last over of the innings saw a Bristow spectacular as he hit 28 off it with 4
fours and 2 sixes to move the score up to 154-6. The Fist who many (if not
Veall) feel is the best all rounder to play for the club followed up his
batting heroics with 5-21 as Sutton fell 14 short. The week
after it was PT’s turn to take the honours against Priors United. He hit
123, the first time a Bodicote player had scored a century in an SNCL game
which helped Bodicote to a score of 233-5, which stood as their best SNCL score
until 1995. He was matched in the early part of his innings by Ian Phillipson
who scored 57. Priors were never going to get near this and were all out for 98
with Maurice taking 5-16.
Bodicote then visited
Chacombe in a battle between first and second and the home side scored 114 with
Bucks taking 4-19. This proved no target as Bodicote won by nine wickets. PT
hit 76* and Bob Campbell, with the smell of silverware in the air, returned to
the side with 27* in an unbeaten second wicket partnership of 103. Croughton
were defeated 143-7, 68 all out the week after and then Claydon fell to a seven
wicket defeat having scored just 67 with PZ enjoying a bowl taking 3-10 and
Buckingham not enjoying having to wait behind another returnee, Barlow, before
he got a bowl. Come to think of it Buckingham, who had earned the nickname
Bloater on the back of his fisherman style cricket sweater, didn’t even think
Barlow should replace Geoff Smith in the side!
The title was clinched
the following week at Adderbury where the home side ground out 59-8 in 40 overs
with 4 run outs! “It’s calypso time” announced Ian
Phillipson and he hit a rare six adding a rapid 60 with PT for the second
wicket to put Bodicote back in the Premier Division. The last league match of
the season saw Bodicote defend a poor 110 all out, bowling Silverstone out for
71 with Veall’s fast bowling status dented by Al Parfitt taking a stumping off
his bowling. This left Bodicote in the end of season play-offs where they
travelled to Byfield to play the mighty Premier Division champions. The game
was to be played on 13 September and Barlow severed all links with his
University past by opting to play rather than attend one of his college
friend’s wedding. (Dixie Dean, who played once for the club and world champion
Mick Mills impersonator). As it transpired the game was rained off with Byfield
handily placed at 153-5 after 31 overs. In the replay Byfield made 157-9 with
Neil Brough and Barry Ellard both scoring 50s as they so regularly did against
us. Bodicote made a meagre 64 in reply but this could not disguise an excellent
season.
Away from the cut and
thrust of the league the club thrived on and off the pitch. Tim Rogers
organised an excellent 50/50 furniture sale which saw his auctioneer skills
very much in evidence to boost club funds. This allowed the club to purchase it’s first motorised roller. A handheld affair which PT’s
dad famously borrowed and sub-let as part of a burgeoning plant hire business.
As well as the Brackley Midweek League and assorted cups, various friendlies
were played and the new village shopkeeper Bill Read proved himself to be
another useful acquisition although it was not until 1987 that he would be able
to play on Saturdays. In the annual Priors double header Woody followed up PT’s
ton the day before with his maiden century. The club went on tour to
Northumberland playing at the Rivendale Hotel,