On the eve of the brand new home aggressive cricket season, a well-known Fife membership kicks off its 40th anniversary celebrations on Friday evening.
Members and pals of Largo CC might be current on the Pratis Barns venue for a dinner, dance and evening of reminiscing and catching up as effectively waiting for a shiny future on the Strathmore & Perthshire Cricket Union membership.
A signed Ian Botham shirt is the star prize within the public sale through the occasion, which present Membership President Alastair Duncan thinks might be a special day.
“My dad was one of many founding members of the membership in its present guise again in 1983,” Duncan defined.
“The group began off by having a dialog within the Railway Inn in Decrease Largo – an area hostelry that membership members nonetheless frequent after matches now and again – about doubtlessly getting cricket going regionally and it appeared to go from there.
“There had been a cricket membership in Largo post-World Struggle II into the early Nineteen Fifties earlier than it folded, so the group had been eager to resurrect issues and Peter Norton caught notices up across the native space to gauge curiosity.
“For the primary few years the membership had a reasonably nomadic existence, however then permission was granted by Fife Council to put a sq. at East Drive in Higher Largo and, since 1986, the membership have performed at that venue.
“To formally open the bottom again then, Freuchie, who in 1985 had been topped Village Cup champions at Lord’s, introduced a staff to East Drive to play towards a Largo staff.
“This simply wasn’t any Largo staff – it was one together with Mike Denness as a visitor participant. Having a former Scotland and England participant taking part in for us was fairly one thing and though I used to be fairly younger on the time, I keep in mind the day and the way particular it was for the membership.
“Now we are attempting to make 2023 particular for the membership, too, and after the dinner dance this Friday there might be two fixtures to mark the 40th anniversary later within the yr, towards the Forty Membership on Could 21 and towards the MCC on August 20.
“To be president of the membership right now is a superb honour. We’re a grassroots, group membership with a band of volunteers on the committee and volunteer junior coaches who all do their bit to ensure that we get groups out at senior and junior degree.
“It might probably take a variety of work typically, however it’s value it once you see folks having fun with themselves and increase relationships.”
The aforementioned Peter Norton was joined by Andrew Duncan, John Pettifer, Dave Kinnaird, Andrew Pirie, David Pirie, Robin Storie, Ian Halley, David Lister, Bob Burns and Eldon Zuill in serving to to get Largo CC up and working 4 a long time in the past.
The membership began as a enjoyable/social cricket membership, however within the early Nineteen Nineties they took the choice to begin taking part in league cricket, so Largo’s senior sides joined the East of Scotland Cricket Affiliation leagues, taking part in there till 2019 after they moved to the Strathmore & Perthshire Cricket Union leagues.
Present Scotland seamer Safyaan Sharif began his cricketing journey within the junior part at Largo – whose memorable membership colors are purple, blue and yellow – as did Heriot’s spinning all-rounder Ryan Brown who has performed consultant cricket.
Scotland’s rugby captain Jamie Ritchie additionally had a spell on the membership as a junior, so what’s the taking part in set-up like now at Largo heading into the brand new season?
“We now have two senior groups who now play within the Strathmore & Perthshire Cricket Union leagues, and we play some friendlies midweek within the early a part of the season towards different native Fife groups,” Duncan continued.
“The junior part, generally known as the Largo Lions, is prospering; we’ve got youngsters who play Kwik Cricket, and we’ve got under-12 and under-14 groups.
“We’ll look going ahead at having an under-16 staff if the numbers are there whereas a variety of the juniors get entangled in senior fixtures and it’s a great way for them to study alongside older gamers.
“Everybody on the membership is wanting ahead to this season whereas, as a legacy of the fortieth anniversary, we’re beginning to look into the feasibility of a pavilion refurbishment within the coming years.
“These are thrilling instances.”
Should you or your membership has a narrative for us, please e-mail Gary Heatly at gary@gh-media.co.uk – we look ahead to listening to from you!
