Player Profiles
A brief guide to the players of Fairford Cricket Club. Follow the links to view a more in depth profile and a mug shot. If you play for Fairford and haven't filled in a profile go to the new profile page and do so NOW!
RICH BENNETT - club dog. Never sure whether he's a batsman or a bowler but it's usually the opposite to what you want him to do. Responsible for half the clubhouse falling down dut to his erratic darts.
STEVE BENNETT - product of the youth system. Quick left armer who generates great pace from such a slender build and has a variety of deliveries. Promising tail ender who likes to give himself room and is capable of quick runs. Winner of the league bowling award in 1999.
ED BIRD - nicknamed "Steffan", hails from the flatlands of East Anglia. Most improved player over the last couple of years. Opening bowler who takes stacks of wickets in the league mainly due to his deadly inswinging pies. Solid tail ender who rarely gets the chance to bat and. Also acts as fixture secretary.
COLIN BULLOCK - came up through the youth set up and had batsman in a muddle when he burst on to the league scene in 1996 with his left arm Chinamen. Bowling has suffered as a result of an expanded girth due to 3 years at university. Potentially good batsman and probably the club's best fielder.
LEE CLARK - another who progressed to the first team via the junior ranks. Still only 25 but with years of experience there should be a stack of runs to enjoy next season. Best timer of the ball in the club who hits it miles, wonderful fielder and reluctant off-spinner. Always smiling.
GRAHAM CLARKE - Seam bowler and clean hitting batsman newly recruited from local rivals Cirencester. Should be an ideal replacement for the retired Tim Alcroft with his experience, style and maturity. Caused a bit of a stir when he asked for a "glass of red" after nets, may lead to a change in the bar stock this summer.
MARK COOK - local lad who after arriving in the first eleven at a young age took several years off cricket and then returned to the club in 1999. Now trying to make up for lost years and make use of undoubted ability. Middle order batsman with a good eye who drives with a slight fade and an excellent fielder.
CLIVE GRAY - joined the club in 1996 from local rivals Cirencester. Opening batsmen who struggled in his first year but has been a consistent player ever since. Wicket keeper with quick hands and slow feet. Former captain who is never short of an idea in the field.
MARK GREENER - a new recruit from local rivals Poulton. Attacking, big hitting batsman who should relish the flat tracks and short boundaries at Fairford. Has dreams of being a pace bowler, keep dreaming Greenie! A welcome addition to the over thirties as there will now be three of us who don't have to be back home by eight o'clock.
MARK LEADBEATER - "Leaders" joined us at the beginning of 2003 after a few years in retirement following a distinguished career with Poulton. Originally intending to play if we were short, due to a dodgy knee, he ended up taking over as captain after half a season. One of our younger players at a mere 34.
RICHARD MOREING - Filthy is now in his 3rd, 4th or 5th spell at the club. Used to be a very boreing top order batsman with a huge appetite for runs, now an off-spinner with a large vocabulary. Kit is always immaculate despite claiming that his long suffering wife hates him playing. Now added journalism to his range of talents with some pragmatic reporting in the local papers
PAUL MORRIS - "Wing Commander" played his first full season in 2003 and picked up the 2nd team batting and bowling awards as well as the player of the year. Accuarate and surprisingly quick bowler off two paces and a useful lower order batsman. Shy, retiring chap.
ADRIAN NEWPORT - been at the club since 1977, due a gold watch. Top order batsman who had a poor 2000, 2001 and 2003 compared to years previously. Normally an attacking number three who likes to dominate. Bowls with surprising pace off a short run and takes useful wickets. Now club chairman due to maturity beyond his years.
IAN PEYMAN - another local lad who has made a comeback after many years away from the game. Won 2nd team bowling award in 2001 and is looking to keep a first team place in 2002 bowling his seamers. Looks the club's best all-rounder in the nets (only in the nets!), known as "Sid" after Hissing Sid of Captain Beaky fame.
DEREK TOWNSEND - new club captain. All rounder in every sense of the word who possesses an abundance of natural ability. Devastating hitter in the middle-order, and bowls everything from dibbly-dobbly to hostile. Hopefully 2002 will see proof of his talent. Safe pair of hands, particularly when foods about, and a strong right arm.
TEAM PICTURE 1999 – team picture from May 1999, away versus Corse and Staunton. The game was abandoned due to the mother of all thunder storms.
TEAM PICTURE 2000 – team picture from 22nd July 2000, home versus Haresfield. The match was won by Fairford who passed Haresfield’s total of 162 for the loss of one wicket.
TEAM PICTURE 2004 - team picture from 12th June 2004, away at Tewkesbury. The match was won by Fairford who passed Tewkesbury's score of 175 for the loss of 4 wickets.
GUEST PROFILES
TOM FOX - Basil joined us as a callow youth and after we'd taught him to be a demon pace bowler and middle-order batsman he thanked us by leaving!! Has now gone on to greater things first with Swindon and now with Oxford.
MARK HIGGINSON - won't give him the arse licking build up that Timbertool gives him on the ACCC site. After all this is the bloke that caused me to get dirty looks in the curry house for about 5 years after he deposited a techicolour yawn on the stairs and muggins, trying to sort out the situation, got the blame. Being diplomatic he didn't list Fairford as his worst ground as he did on the ACCC site.
CHARLIE HULLS - our most frequent visitor to the guestbook, all the way from Corse and Staunton. You've read his postings now find out more about the man.
TIM LOAGUE - our overseas player for 2001. Not your stereotypical Aussie - very quiet, doesn't drink much, interested in history etc. Not been given a nickname yet apart from the obvious Oz. Seems to think we need 300 to win every week, he'll learn! Promising to come back in 2003 - he didn't!
MIKE OXLONG – newly arrived in the area from Ashby-De-La-Zouch, Mike is by his own admission a fine player. Bowling off a long run he gives it plenty of length, gets it in the right area (i.e. the corridor of uncertainty) and swings both ways. Known to be a very close friend of Clive Gray and likes to get the ball to explode into CG’s hands.
JIM WOODCOCK - much travelled blocker who has guested for Fairford on occasions. Upsets a lot of people in winter by dressing in black and blowing a whistle frequently.
