About the Website
The easiest way for me to start this introduction to the website is to explain my background.
Despite only being 24 years old, I have had a longer association with Drayton Cricket Club than any other current player. As a baby I was taken round the grounds in Norfolk while my dad compiled another studious innings or added multiple stumpings to his burgeoning collection. That year was 1976 and curiously enough my dad had his best ever season for Drayton with 646 runs, 19 catches and 15 stumpings. For the next few years I was a regular fixture at Drayton games, either trying to catch the captains eye as a 7 year old bowling at the batsman waiting to go in - curiously enough 17 years later I still rarely catch the captains eye when it comes to bowling - or doing the scorebook. Then in 1986 came my big chance - for a midweek come game at Marlingford, two players were late arriving and I was thrust into action as a substitute fielder, and even though I left the field 8 overs later without having touched the ball I was hooked.
The next couple of years produced a few more substitute appearances, and the occasional touch of the ball. Then in September 1988 came my next big moment. For the annual Saturday XI v Sunday XI fixture, there was an imbalance in the sides batting strengths - so star schoolboy cricketer and later to be England footballer Chris Sutton joined the Sunday side. This of course left a 12 v 11 scenario, so yours truly who had as ever brought his kit along was asked to play. My batting that day left something to be desired, a second ball duck wasn't what I was used to in schoolboy cricket, but I wasn't overly disappointed, after all Mark Wilson was a demon bowler - well actually he got just 6 wickets in 77 games for Drayton. The following season I started to play the odd Sunday game and get the odd run (literally just one or two here and there). By 1990 I was playing more or less full time - I was captaining the Hellesdon High School side, playing for Drayton 'A' on a Saturday, in the Sunday side more or less every week and also playing for Horsford Under 15s on the way to a cup final against Swardeston at Pinebanks - the less said about which the better.
Around this time I was getting a touch confused about what I actually was. For Drayton I was batting at number 9 or 10 and bowling the odd over of "comedy" leg spin - for the school I batted at number 4, and avoided bowling unless Mike Sutton (school coach & Drayton teammate) told me I had too!!! - and for Horsford I was opening the batting and keeping wicket. Eventually in 1992, I decided to concentrate on my batting, and as a result stopped bowling completely - indeed I have bowled barely 30 overs in 200+ matches since. In 1993 I was converted to opening by 'A' team captain Stuart Alexander - who along with my dad and Mike Sutton has been the greatest influence on my career, simply because of the confidence he gave me - and in my second match as an opener I hit my maiden 50 against Watton 'A'.
Ever since there has been little to report, I have kept plugging wherever I have been asked to bat - occasionally spectacular, as in an 8 over 50 at Pulham, and more often than not solidly. My fielding which was once my strong point, particularly in my late teens, has been hampered by various injuries, and my bowling remains non existent.
The basic point of the above is to show that this website is a result of my love and dedication both to cricket and to Drayton in particular. I first learnt about website design while doing work experience at a company called Imminus in Peterborough in 1996, but had put all thoughts of doing anything about it on the shelf until recently.
In the long term the site will be improved - but this will have to wait until the long boring winter months when I don't have cricket - oh but hang on a moment, I do have football - but thats another story.
Finally I would like to say thanks to a few people - firstly my dad for instilling the love of the club into me. Secondly my mum for buying this damn computer. Thirdly, my sister Jo for providing several of the photos which are shortly to appear - I have to point out that these photos date from the early 90's, so anyone wishing to stop these pictures appearing (Andy Denny, Saul Simpson, David Ayres etc etc), will need to buy me a beer or three. Also I would like to thank all of the Drayton players who have asked so many questions about the site, but who have curiously forgotten to return their forms. I am still waiting boys!!!