Headingley CC

from a glove throwing (and losing) firebrand, to a senior figure in the club, who this year led the club to victory in the Copmanthorpe Cup and a Man of the Match performance in the Joe Dews Cup Final - we meet up with Nobby at his Pudsey Chateau, where he opens on his heart about the season from his perspective



Foxy – ‘'So Nobby - encapsulate the season in 3 words...'’

Nobby – ‘Uncompromising relentless Domination.’

Foxy – ‘good words, you should be a teacher Nobby..I think those traits came into their own at the latter stage of the season, once promotion had been bagged, but it was probably around that time of the season that we saw the best of Nobby, you must have been sadder than most to see the season end?’

Nobby – ‘Too true - I would be fair to say that I was seeing it like a beachball in the last few games and to end with my only 50 of the season in the cup final was a moment that I'm proud of. In the context of the game, probably the knock that I'm most proud of in all forms of cricket. With so many excellent players in our team it's not often that I have needed to shine but at the Cop 8s, the league games afterwards when we had a few stars missing and the Joe Dews Cup it was great to put a few good scores together.
My September average must be excellent - shame about the rest of the season!

Can't wait for winter nets and Div 5 - more domination methinks....’

Foxy – ‘it must have been a great buzz digging the team out of a hole in the Joe Dews Final and helping us to a total that put us back in with a shout’

Nobby – ‘Massive buzz and completely out of character for me - repeating "WATCH THE BALL" over and over again like some kind of ball loving cult member did the trick and it gave our attack something to bowl at. Our fielding was sharp, the bowling excellent and although it pains me to say it, Whicker's diving catch was the true catch of the season for me - like watching hippos charging in the Kruger National Park. Epic.’

Foxy- ‘it was a great catch by the big fella, and i would have felt dreadful had it gone down as i was chatting to him, but as we know he has the 'safest hands in the club' - that and Bruce's catch off DB steepler saw the Meths body language change noticeably and obviously lifted everyone in the Posties camp..

You were obviously instrumental in another magnificent day for the club skippering the team in the copmathorpe cup, what are you memories of that day?’

Nobby ‘Getting DB out is always a big wicket and Brucie truly was the ice man under that high, high ball. Hands high? Hands low? Don't think he knew but I would've put my house on him. Probably. Inspired the whole team to give it everything. Good work, Brucie.

As for the Cop 8s Mark, the star of that day was Matty Williams who produced 3 of the best hitting displays I've ever seen and against some proper league standard bowling too. It wasn't all Williams though - the whole team chipped in with some great bowling from Asif and Mutthia at the death and with the King of Spain Tony Boucher tying the oppo in knots with the slowest, highest bowling Cop has ever seen. Matty's mate and my mates, Neil and Ian, provided great support in the field really manned up for the Posties but the highlight was certainly the final: 105 for 0 in 6 overs is simply epic and Williams 66 off not many had Cop in a state of shock - the railway line hasn't been shelled like that since 1944.

It was great to turn the crowd in our favour too as they were quite hostile (and pissed) to begin with but the pure entertainment on display had the non-paying public singing for the Posties by the end of the innings. Cop's chase was admirable but it tells you how big our score was when, after the Spaniard's 6 balls went for 30 runs, Asif still had 20 runs to play with in the final over (not that he needed them - deadly accurate and finished with a wicket).

Posties will be back to defend both titles’

Foxy ‘indeed we will Nobby, we’ll be aiming high again next season’