A sensational summer of cricket and joy throughout the Club with games to remember, new friends made and compliments aplenty about the facilities we have and the superb spirit everywhere you look.

We began our series of events against Sawbridgeworth. Alfie Jessey shone with the bat, ball and in the field as we squeezed home by 2 runs with everyone on the balcony completely wrapped up in events on the field, a sensational start.

The Barbados High Commission was a day that will live long in the memory, those that didn’t have any rum punch, will be at a distinct advantage there !
A wonderful afternoon played very competitively with some very talented older cricketers from the Commission on show. The food tent and music added to the atmosphere, we could easily have been in the Caribbean.

Many are eager to repeat the game next year as soon as possible !!
Next up was a Development XI game with Bishops Stortford. At 64/7 we were looking at an early bath. However, the experience and guile of Adam Dack and Simon Baulcomb, along with a patient 15 from Fisky got us to a half decent 179, top scorer Mr Extras….57 ! A much more measured reply from Stortford saw them edge home in the last over 8 wickets down. Some splendid bowling performances from the Harlow youngsters made the game very watchable. Ben Dack, 4-32 and Lia Fisk 1-27, almost got us the victory.

Matching Green were next up. They didn’t seem too worried about when the game started, the open bar being of much greater interest !

When we did finally play cricket, Zabi wasted no time in getting runs on the board. Atif got the ball of the day Eliot then carried on the fun allowing us to finish on 237-4, on another plumb Clarkie track.

Matching’s reply was dominated by a Mr Shah, who clearly knew what he was doing. However regular wickets at the other end allowed us to exert a bit of pressure and with the rate increasing we ran out comfortable winners by 30 runs on another delightful summers day.
Cricket week was a joy from start to finish. CCC v Sports Exchange was another incredible advert for the talent that is available around the Country.

Our game v MCC, well what can you say ? From looking like we were going to chase 400, to winning chasing just 200 was utterly amazing. Wickets were spread as control returned with the spin of Fisk and Sullivan. Our reply was anchored by James Mitchell, with Rehman and Ben contributing on their return. We cruised home by 5 wickets to seal a famous victory and our illustrious visitors. Lunch was superb, many old friends up for the day to take in the event, the whole place was buzzing for at least 10 hours. So many compliments on the day just shows how close we are, we have to take that next step.

Our other blot was a T20 loss to our friends from up the road, Harlow Town. In gathering gloom and virtually no light we succumbed with a few balls remaining. A good game given the conditions….bleak wet and dark !

We entertained Maldon at the end of July an official 250 game celebrating the very first 250 years ago. Sadly, they were weak but a game was had and our first 4 all filled their boots Atif, Billy, Alfie and Rich Norris ALL retired with 50’s to their names. 267 was always going to be too many. George and Ronnie took 3 each as we eased to a comfortable victory by over 150 runs. Full credit to Maldon for honouring the fixture, unlike Upminster….!

Our last game was against our friends and fellow Marigolds incumbents, The Millers. An even game with many friends playing against each other, which added a bit of spice ! We got to 215 with Zabi notching another 50, ably supported by Atif, Waheed and Matt Fisk. A spirited reply had the game in the balance all the way through. Ultimately, we had more than enough variety in our bowling to keep the Millers at arms length as we won by 35 runs.

Our Gala Dinner at the end of September was nothing short of a raging success, Graham Gooch OBE, entertained like a natural. Though he did not suffer ANY interruptions, I can imagine that how he Captained, no nonsense. An outrageously successful Auction that Graham took charge of, Nick did us proud with the menu, just wish I hadn’t drunk quite so much !

A fantastic and fitting way to celebrate 250 years playing cricket. Can’t wait for the 500 !!

Simon

Anniversary Garden Is A Resounding Success!
A popular spot during play and post-match gatherings and a beer or two with friends and families.

Named the 2FIVE0 Garden to celebrate our recent anniversary celebrations. Kitted out with circular benches donated by the Keith Alder-Barber family along with a donation from HCC Charity

Fund the gardens were made safe with the continuation of the picket fencing and a ‘monster banner’ at the far end depicting our oldest cricket picture of the 1922, 2nd XI. The picket fencing was sponsored from a SWIRE Trust contribution and the monster banner by Foremans Law.

Our sincere thanks to all who helped with this project and its continues upkeep by our Thursday Club members.

Being The 250th A Few Old Faces Turned Up At Marigolds.

Two of the special visitors we had in the summer, Dean Lloyd and Michael Davison.

Mike played for us during the 1990’s and was 1st XI Captain for two seasons, ’95 and ‘96. A fine opening batsman, scoring many runs alongside his frequent opener, Terry Rist. One of Michael’s most valuable contributions to the club was introducing a very young, raw fast bowler in Steve Peachey.

Alongside Mike was Dean Lloyd, still looking as young as ever, a fast/medium bowler and useful batsman for many summers here at Marigolds. Dean was one of Terry Coxhead group of young emerging youngsters introduced back in the 1980’s.

Both now live up in Norfolk but have promised to return and hopefully on a more frequent basis.

Always known as Simon younger and smaller brother Mark, returned to Marigolds last Saturday and brought us luck with a magnificent 1st victory that weekend.

Following a horrendous motorbike accident whist racing on Anglesey, Mark is recovering well and has lost none of his humour and foul attitude to life!

There is so many stories about Mark especially during the wonderful summer seasons in the 1980’s Sunday Cricket Team which I will publish soon and about our philosophy in those days was fun cricket regardless of the opposition. We always enjoyed our Sundays and even if rained off, we still rolled up to keep the bar turning over.

Welcome Mark, it was marvellous to see and catch up with you, do return soon.

Hills Brothers return to Marigolds for a lovely reason.

We have enjoyed a few surprise visitors all year especially those former members with extraordinarily strong family ties.

Recently Kenneth and Robert Hills along with their lovely wife’s, Lisa and Maira paid a pilgrimage to Marigolds to lay to rest the ashes of their late parents Derrick & Eleanor Hills in ‘Pamela’s Garden’.

Those with a good memory will recall, their father Derrick who was a past President, life Member and occasional player in the 1970’s and most important ran the youngsters cricket coaching for many summers. Few members will know, Derrick was the very generous benefactor with the acquisition of Spicer Field to become our second cricket ground.

The outcome of both Eleanor (who was a brilliant tea lady!) and Derrick enthusiasm for our club being their sons Kenneth and Robert becoming well established playing members for many seasons until new opportunities changed their lives.

Ken moving to the USA to marry Lisa and now living in the beautiful city of Boston, Mass. And Robert with his wife Maira moving not so far away, just south of Oxford.

It was a wonderful hour or so, remembering old stories, names and magic moments shared here at Marigolds.

An Amazing Year Had. But sadly we have had to say Goodbye to some of the HCC Family.

RIP Greg

In loving memory and sadly missed Greg Racey.
A wonderful friend of the cricket club, founding father of the Marigolds Jazz Club now hopefully enjoying his music with dear Vince.
Greg’s job roll was to make sure the hanging baskets were always well fed, and they were, puddles everywhere!!

‘Come on Arlow!!!

Olive Aspinall

Sadly passed away during the summer Olive was a frequent visitor to Marigolds then again little option with two sons. Nigel and Graham playing for many seasons and her husband, Ray, an active committee member and our chairman for a few seasons. A traditional ‘tea lady’ Olive could be relied upon to put on ‘a good spread of traditional cricket teas’ with a Yorkshire twist or two.
Upon retirement, Ray and Olive returned to their native Yorkshire to watch cricket and from time to time made the lengthy journey to viit us and watch Harlow cricket.

RIP Olive.

Martin Allen (Martin The Marine)

Another face we sadly lost this year was Martin The Marine, he could always been seen at the club in the summer. In more recent summers with his mad dog Cody. Martin will be missed by all those that knew him, both around Marigolds, and around Old Harlow.

He wishes is to have his ashes scattered at the club, plus his medals to be displayed at the club.

“Martin it would be an honour to do so"

RIP my friend.

Another Season & Summer Draws To An End!

On the last weekend of this season, Sunday 8th September saw an enjoyable afternoon for many families, friends and cricketers as we watched our permanent guests, The Millers (Netteswell & Burnt Mill CC to give them their correct title) bringing the season to a close wining an enjoyable match against Stebbing CC. Over on Spicers Field was a ‘children’s fun day’ with bouncy castle along with any other attractions. So wholesome fun all around.

But the weather threatened to spoil our day as you can see from the dramatic skyline in our picture above, we heard many rumble of thunder over towards the west but thankfully along with the black clouds continued to circle around us then decided to visit another area of East Anglia, thank goodness.

The end of another enjoyable cricket day at Marigolds, now a shut down for a mere seven months or so to go, then we start all over again!!