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Kev Burgess plays the Big Stage. (Aug. 2007)
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Hello everyone.
After a gap of several months, I decided it was time for another instalment of my West African adventures.
I'm still playing football, and my club, Expats FC play about 3 times per month, usually at the National Stadium. We are winning more than we are losing, which is good considering that we can rarely field the same team twice and our best XI is almost never available (which on the bight side, usually means I can get a game............).
Recently I've been converted into a defensive central midfielder and I now think I have finally found my best position, which considering I'm 26 is not before time. There's no better player in our squad at running round kicking people and giving the ball away so it's nice to have found my niche after all these years.
It's rainy season here now, and a few weeks ago we played a match in a tropical thunderstorm. Half of the pitch was underwater by the final whistle and our lads gave it everything, as did our opponents - the US Embassy. It was a very competitive game, which we won 3-2. Unfortunately I failed to see out the 90 minutes as I was shown a second yellow, and therefore a red card with 15 minutes to go. I have to admit I completely deserved to go off and was lucky not to have done so earlier. The irony is that the ref is a mate of mine and I had bought the cards he used against me for him when I was last in the UK. I've attached a picture of me and the ref at a subsequent party just to show there were no hard feelings!
I also managed to play in a 6 a side cricket tournament in April, along with a mate of mine from London who is working as a lawyer here. My mate claims to have played at a decent level in the UK and to know Michael Vaughan. Judging by the way he played in this tournament he's more likely to know Frankie Vaughan. I done a bit of everything, bowling, batting and wicket keeping and it was good fun. Our team came 4th of 10, which is a bit disappointing but we had a good laugh in the process.
I have attached some photos of the 'stadium' for want of a better word. The outfield was bare soil with large lumps of rock - it was like trying to field on a pub car park. The pitch was a strip of concrete topped off with a mat. Plenty of short pitch bowling was the order of the weekend and it was mainly a case of slog, pull, hook and cut. We hope to play a 40 over game when the weather improves, probably around late November.
Shortly after taking part in the tournament I was interviewed on BBC World who were discussing cricket in areas where you would not expect the game to be played. Naturally they were very interested in Sierra Leone so I managed to get my big head on TV for 10 minutes
We have been building up to the presidential elections here, which take place today (11th August.) I'm an official United Nations Election Observer so should be an interesting afternoon. . Other than work and sport not much has been happening. I'm on an intensive training regime (I need to be fit to run round the midfield kicking people) which involves no drinking alcohol and 7km runs 5-6 times weekly.
Anyway, I hope to see as many of you as possible when I'm back in the UK later this year.
Take it easy
Kev
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Our red-rooted Lee Carsley look-alike sends us these rather diminished images
of his steps up the footballing ladder.
Top pic is his Expats FC team photo, who strode the hallowed turf at the National Stadium.
It went to a penalty shoot out, and (bottom pic) Kev wishes it known that he slotted ok.
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Holiday Cricket gets underway for junior squads. (Jul. 2007)
With the U13 and U11 league and cup fixtures reaching their conclusion,
we have a new addition to the calendar this season.
Tuesday 31st July saw the first, with a second the following week, in what should be a series of holiday matches,
aimed primarily at junior squad members in the 11 to 14 age bracket.
Unfortunately the third Tuesday session was a victim of the weather,
but the fourth session on 21st August went ahead successfully.
The final contest is scheduled for Tuesday 28th August at 1:30pm.
Any squad members who missed the previous dates can phone a friend, or just arrive on the day.
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Northern host additional county game. (Jul. 2007)
Lancashire have asked us to stage an additional second XI county game this year,
against the old enemy Yorkshire,
on Wednesday to Friday 8/9/10 August.
The following week we also host the fixture originally allocated to us,
against Northants,
on Tuesday to Thursday 14/15/16 August.
The Three Bridges tour game falls on the final day of the Yorkshire match,
so will switch to the back pitch.
It remains to be seen whether the county lads are up for the egg catching.
The following week there is also a tour match,
following the final day of the Northants game.
We entertain Dutch team Rood en Wit, with a scheduled 5:30 start time.
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Good Selection for David Graveney dinner. (May. 2007)
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There was full attendance for our celebrity dinner with guest speaker David Graveney,
England's Chairman of Selectors.
The event, to celebrate 100 years of cricket at Moor Park,
attracted cricketers from Northern and surrounding clubs,
plus many social members and supporters from outside the section.
It was a particular pleasure to welcome players from yester year,
including Nicko Williams, Jim Wall, McGregor and Hadfield, John Winter, Brian Lewis, Brian Capstick and others.
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David spoke of his playing days, and time as a selector,
and then fronted an enlightening no-holds-barred question and answer session.
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Howsit from South Africa. (Apr. 2007)
Howsit Guys,
My name is Marcel Engelbrecht and I captain the premier league side for which Francois plays in South Africa.
I would like to wish you all the best for the season for both the premier league as well as the Sunday cup.
Francois contributed much to our side’s success this season and I hope that he can do the same for you guys.
Tell him to work hard on his fitness and that 62 are not easy to beat.
Regards
Marcel Engelbrecht
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Turn up, tune up, drop nought. (Mar. 2007)
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Apologies to most of you who were born after 1969.
Then, it was a case of 'Turn on, tune in, drop out'.
(It didn't happen.
Most became teachers, accountants, or members of the house committee.)
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Outdoor nets begin again on Thursdays, with fielding and fitness sessions with John Mooney on Tuesdays.
So 'Turn up, tune up' and, who knows, we may even 'drop nought' in the field.
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Tuesday 6.00pm
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Circuit training and fielding practice – all welcome
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Thursday 6.00pm
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Club nets – all welcome
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Order your kit now for 2007. (Mar. 2007)
All team players are strongly encouraged to order and wear the current kit for the 2007 season, both to present a united front on behalf of Northern and to support our sponsors.
To meet the first batch in time for the season, please place your order with Andy Davies by Saturday 31st March.
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We have a range of discounted logo’d cricket gear, all Gray Nicolls branded.
The cricket shirts and training/casual tops will included an embroidered club logo, plus a special addition marking the Moor Park Centenary 1907-2007, and the logo of our major sponsor Michael Mott.
Cricket shirts are available with ¾ or full-length sleeves. The
Pro Performance
is in heavy-duty polyester, while the
Super
is a thinner lightweight poly/cotton mix.
Shorts and rain jacket are also available bearing the club logo.
A range of quality trousers are not embroidered, but are also available at a competitive price.
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Cricket
Shirts
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Pro
Performance
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Polyester
100%
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£22
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Super
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Poly/cotton 60/40%
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£17
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Cricket
Trousers
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Ice
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Polyester
100%
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£20
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Pro
Performance
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Polyester
100%
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£17
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Super
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Polyester
100%
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£14
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Rain
Jacket
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£25
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Pro
Performance T-shirt
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Polyester
100%
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£15
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Cotton T-shirt
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£14
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Shorts
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£12
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Sweat
Shirt
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£19
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Sizes are from Boys to S to 2XL. Youth size is spacious for your average 12 year-old. Medium is about right for a growing 14 year-old or Carl Hey. Sizes L, XL and 2XL embrace the subsequent phases of adult debauchery.
Two of our greatest icons of style and fashion are seen above, modelling items from our range.
Andy Davies is wearing the rain jacket, while Phil Sloan shows off the Pro Performance long-sleeve cricket shirt
(plain samples without club logos).
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Diary Dates. (Mar. 2007)
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From Sunday 25th.March at 2:30pm, after nets,
there will be a meeting for anyone available for registration (senior Saturday teams).
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From Tuesday 27th.March from 6:00pm to 8:00pm,
John Mooney will again be running cricket fitness sessions at the club,
for six Tuesdays.
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Another forthcoming event is a cricketers pre-season get-together on Friday 13th.April .
We intend to hold a players meeting at 7pm, hopefully followed by a cheap curry night, details to be confirmed.
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And don't forget the David Graveney Centenary Dinner, on Friday 4th.May .
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Registration night for the Friday junior coaching sessions is now the following Friday 11th.May , at 5:30pm.
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HKCC Tour to Melbourne. (Feb. 2007)
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A brief postcard from Mark Edwards.
'Some selected shots of the Tour to Melbourne over the past weekend.
Won two, lost one ... got murdered at the MCG!
38 degrees - ouch.'
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'Pictures of Tommy Reilly, Bootle Lads, plus Jezza ...'
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David Graveney booked for Centenary Dinner. (Feb. 2007)
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Northern celebrate 100 years of cricket at our Moor Park ground this year.
On Friday 4th.May we are delighted to have booked a celebrity dinner
featuring the England team's Chairman of Selectors
David Graveney (pictured left in conversation with Duncan Fletcher).
Ticket arrangements, see club noticeboard.
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It's Au Revoir to Alex and Karl. (Feb. 2007)
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Two members of our championship-winning team of 2005 have decided to play their cricket nearer to home in the coming season.
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Alex Blake, who joined us from Prestwich at the end of 2004, has decided to move to Unsworth CC
in the Central Lancs League, in search of less travel and more overs,
plus an ECB Level 2 coach's package via the Bury Cricket Development Board.
Spectator attendances may suffer, as dad Harry and mum Helen have also been welcome faces at the club over the last couple of seasons.
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Karl Brown has of course already become a contracted member of Lancashire’s squad, and will be hoping for first team opportunities in the coming season. After seeking advice and concluding that the additional responsibility will be a good career move, Karl has accepted the job of nominated professional for Milnrow CC in the Central Lancs League for 2007.
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Karl's parents Lorraine and Paul have written 'to thank Anthony, Phil and everyone concerned at Northern CC
for all the help and support that you have all given Karl over the past two seasons.
We have all been made very welcome, and we have made many new friends.
Finally we would like to wish everyone at Northern CC all the very best for the 2007 season
and we hope to see you all soon.'
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Alex and Karl have been great lads to have around at the club, on and off the pitch, and both move on with our best wishes for the future.
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Northern stroll to Ramblers win. (Jan. 2007)
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Northern's cricketers were triumphant in our footballing clash with local neighbours Liverpool Ramblers.
Below, Ade Fraser converts the first of our two penalties in our 4-2 victory.
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G'day from Jez Davies. (Jan. 2007)
To all and sundry over in England and various parts of the world – I thought
I might say hello and jot down a note about how my first 6 months back home in Australia have been.
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First of all, I hope you all have had a great Christmas period and have
clear memories of new year's eve. I had my first festive season at home for
four years, and Mother Nature decided to gift the city of Melbourne with the
coldest Christmas Day in 100 years after a month of consistently hot
weather. Perfect! We still managed to complete the traditional game of
backyard cricket despite the wind and rain.
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On the whole, things here are pretty bloody good. I’m really enjoying being
back in Melbourne and quite glad that all my friends remember who I am,
after so long away from home. After a couple of months under my parents
roof, I moved into a sweet 19th floor apartment (view from balcony, right) in Southbank (Melbourne’s
equivalent of the Albert Dock, I suppose) with a Pommie mate of mine. It's
in a building with a gym, swimming pool and tennis court and our pad has
amazing views of the city skyline, botanical gardens and the MCG. We were
pretty lucky to get the place, and it's close to everything the city has to
offer (very handy on a Friday and Saturday night). My liver is suffering as
a result, but it's a great place to be.
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Cricket hasn’t been going great. I’ve been playing in the 2nds at Surrey
Hills and we have won just the single game so far this season and are facing
relegation. I’ve taken a few wickets myself but the runs haven’t been so
prolific despite the pitch at our home ground being flatter than an English
lager. My lack of runs is something I attribute to throbbing hangovers and
lack of sleep prior to each match (a direct result of living in Southbank)
but maybe that's just clutching at straws. Hopefully we can turn our form
around and win a few games after Christmas.
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As for Northern people who have been in town, I’ve caught up with Steve
Mullaney a couple of times who’s playing club cricket here in Melbourne.
Additionally, I was sitting in one of my local pubs on the Friday evening
before new year's eve, when all of a sudden, a gentleman whom I identified as
former 4th.XI League winning captain, Jimmy Robbo came jogging by. It was
possibly the most random case of bumping into an old friend I’ve ever
experienced and I later joined him and his mates for a night out in St
Kilda. It turns out they had a couple of free days in Melbourne after
watching the first three days of the Boxing Day Test.
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Speaking of the cricket, I feel England have been so poor that I won’t even
bother giving you guys a hard time about losing 5-0 to a team of geriatrics
- that would just be cruel. I expected the players of England, Wales, South
Africa, Papua New Guinea and pretty much everywhere else in the world, to
gallop into town in their shiny armour (they were knighted weren’t they?!)
and put up a fight. However, I did manage to see Andrew Symonds and Matt
Hayden score big tons at the MCG, although it seemed that there were more
visiting fans than local supporters there. Despite the influx of Poms, it
was a grand day indeed.
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That's about it from my side of the world. Since the poor xmas weather it's
been hot again and various trips to the beach have been the norm. This
despite a mate of mine being attacked by a shark quite recently - see
theage.com.au/articles/2006/12/19/1166290488905.html?from=top5
. Cricket starts up again next week and life will be returning to normal.
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Finally, I’d hope you all have a happy and safe 2007 and if you’re ever
down under, feel free to come and visit.
Jezza
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