Preston Village Cricket Club

The clubs non-stick 2nd XI wicket keeper and vice-captain, but a big lad so thank XXXX he is not aware of the author of this profile. This especially true as his other leisure activity is a door man at a certain entertainment establishment in Edinburgh linked to the Polish community which involves young ladies showing their ballet prowess. Famously commented during Euro 2004 when the Poles were presumably watching the game , that he had spent 2 hrs sitting watching a match with 4 scantily clad ladies, that working life was a pain - how true

Boycott like opening batsman who would prefer test cricket so he could take walks rather than runs.

By his own recognition, Peter's career highlight was with the bat this season (2005) in the Masterton Cup. While, on the international pitch, against a few internationalists, all Village batsmen were walking from and to the pavilion at an alarming rate, Pete remained strong with a respectable 3 not out. Peter made history that night when he appealed for the stumping of the Village’s last batsman – his brother, Graeme – from the non-strikers end taking all by surprise – a batsman appealing for the other to be out! After receiving the decision he had hoped for, Peter gave a loud cheer of celebration, followed by a lap of honour as he remains the only Village batsman to be not out on the Grange and Scotland wicket.

Peter is a valued member of the club and has done wonders with his brother Yoda in developing fund raising methods to improve our finances as well as turning out whenever and wherever required.

Has also discovered a vicious spin bowling action, akin to a Murali or a Warne, after claiming 2 wickets for 13 runs against Morton in a midweek fixture. His variation of pace and length bamboozling not only the opposing batsmen but also his teammates and himself.

A Preston Village legend, Black famously captained the club from 1993 until 1999 guiding them from grades into the main East League. A useful left handed bat and cunning spinner Black has consistently performed admirably both on and off the field, and was the second player in the club to reach 100 appearances. He continues to star in the first whilst now modelling an interesting pair of hernia protection whites.

Blacks captaincy was famous for the ability of the club to lose score books generally in Peebles which somehow was always the tour match for the Village People.

Internet signing during 2007, used to play for Musselburgh but he’s forgiven for that and his awful taste in football tops. Know as Hooker not for the obvious reason but he’s very good at the shot, very good to the extent that he drives Coach Russell mad by trying to play it to every relative short pitched ball where ever it happens to pitch Should do well with the Village and definitely one of the future (xbox gamertag is bradastonvilla1 get adding ppl)

Something of a keeping specialist, football, hockey and cricket hence the nick and no for the arty farty types he doesn’t run about Livingston, his home town, liberally spreading graffiti, at least he hasn’t been caught yet if he does.

Has secured his place behind the sumps and his batting is improving as he works on it.

Matt’s brother but we don’t hold that against him after all we all have skeletons in our closet Bankies just unlucky his is so obvious to the rest of us

Seriously a good lad who going to be a valued, member of the club

John was recruited from Preston Lodge Rugby Club during the summer of 2006. He has already shown that he is a very safe fielder as well as contributing with his batting as well.

One to watch in the near future!!

John has a second love that of dance. Gains his second nickname as he is PV's Lord of the Dance, although he is the only player having to call off after injuring himself whilst dancing the night before.

The club "Ginger", (every club should have one), wicket-keeper, and opening batsman. Alistair was captain of the club for 4 seasons from 1999 including the victorious Division 5 winning team in 2002. He was also the first player in history to play 100 games for the Village People.

His main claim to fame with the bat was establishing his record of being the first opening batsmen in the clubs history to carry his bat in infamous game at Kirkbrae where Alistair was 77 not out as no other batsman made double figures. Guz has still to forgive him for running him out to ensure that the record was achieved.

His habit of taking his wicket keeping gloves on holiday is legendary although quite what he did with them in Mexico is a question best not asked.

Internet signing for 2006.

Forms half of the club's home improvement couple with Macca.

Has huge potential given his 6'3" frame but still doesn't bowl with the venom he is capable of. Has proven throughout 2006 that he can take wickets and on occasion has hit runs too. 2007 will be a better year for him though as additional coaching will sort out his bad habits and should set his targets on 20 league wickets and 100 league runs for the season.

Unfortunately Malcolm's games for PV are limited due to his lack of time, he manages a junior football side and has small children!!

When Malcolm is available he continues to show an all round ability. He is arguably the best off spinner at the club.

Wandered along to nets in the summer of 2008 after captaining Boroughmuir over the years: can't bowl, can bat & field a bit - hopes to get somewhere close to 2008's batting average for PVXI!!

To follow

2008’s 2nd XI Captain and a well respected member of PVCC who is fast closing in on his century of appearances for the “People”. He holds the best bowling return with an amazing 8 for 13 and a top score of 78 in his batting which has been consistent for years. The youngsters in the 2nd will surely learn a lot from Guz.

His nick come from his love of beer the more unusual the better, and Guz can always be relied on to unearth some obscure or previously unheard of beer at apparently a moments notice, although positioning milk in the club fridge around the beer is an art form only known to the maestro himself

The surely is a lot of shakin' going on with this youngster. Suspicious minds should have a little less conversation regarding his cricket ability, no doubt he will be a big player for the Village very shortly.

Critics will say Its Now or Never bur the Villagers know Way Down that Elvis has not left the building, and is very much part of the New Improved Polwarth set-up.

Returned to Polwarth during season 2006. Has proven to be a useful RH medium bowler and one of a few members who never misses a training session.

Half of the opening partnership with "The Wright Stuff", that saw The Village to the Division 5 Championship in 2002 during which "Macca" won the bowling award with 28 Wickets. He added the the Division 4 award in the promotion season of 2007 narrowly beating "The Wright Stuff" to the title. This "honest lad" is well known for liking people from Musselburgh rugby and has earned other tags like "Baloo" , landed at Townhill when the comment was made that the sight of himself and "The Wright Stuff" strolling around the boundary in a setting sun was similar to the last scene in Jungle Book. Mainly a bowler "Macca" has helped spearheaded the opening attack for several years whilst his rumbustious batting has on occasions won games for the Village People. "Macca" gets the name from a past Kiwi member of the club, Aaron Buckley, who noted that he shared the surname with N.Z. allrounder Craig "Macca" McMillan...... a point not lost on Scott who, while touring N.Z. explained to the ladies there, that he was in fact visiting his cousin CRAIG...... as good an intro as you need ;o)

Also known as wounded knee , as if we didn’t have enough injury concerns with Yoda , but Steve announced himself to the PVCC crowd with a tremendous display at Dunfermline where he ended up playing on 1 leg and put himself out for 6 weeks

A spinner who will take wickets as well as being a useful fielder and hard hitting batsman

Provided we can keep him fit should be an asset for the club for many years

Roughly about the same height as a stump we’ve been waiting for him to fill out since he was 15. However despite the slight build Josie is a talented off spinner who’s a more than useful batsmen down the order.

Now taking wickets regularly for the 2’s the youngster is one of a growing breed of talented youngsters who will move up to the 1sts and take the club forward.

James is another recruit from Preston Lodge Rugby Club. James is a hard hitting RH bat and like Burner is one to watch in the future.

A club legend simple as that In the early days of the People he formed a successful opening bowling partnership with Obi Wan. which helped the club establish itself in the leagues

One of the clubs leading wicket takers and still plying his trade with the 2’s where a generation of young players are learning the art of seam bowling from the Eagle.

His nickname was famously established by the legendary W.G. Said Grace on the basis that he bore little resemblance to Michael Caine but when he came on to bowl the eagle had landed, and People were likely to win.

Gary decided to join PV during 2007 having watched cricket on TV but never having had the opportunity to play. His strength is in his Boycottesque batting technique which does not score quick runs but contributes well in partnership stats. He is a regular contributer to the 2nd XI and has performed well when asked to stand in for the 1st XI (Other than his trigger finger!!)

He earns his nick due to his anytime any place philosophy.

One of the youth squad ala The Dixon’s who will form the basis of the club fro years to come.

Has recently moved into the legal profession which will be useful for the club when it comes to bailing out players ona Sunday Morning and defending the club from slander and defamation claims from Face in the Crowds reports.

An exceptional fielder who despite a late start to cricket is becoming a hard hitting batsman, who will score lost of runs for the club.

Once the clubs record signing, snared by Kenny Black during the winter 2000/01 and signed for a then club record fee of 7 pints of larger and a fish supper. In true Village People fashion he is still waiting for payment . One lesson he quickly learnt was that when Black offers pints and food its Black who drinks and eats.

"The "Wright Stuff" is particularly popular with Patterson as he is slightly older, he is also more than slightly better and he has topped the league bowling averages on 2 occasions, and on another finished 2nd behind his opening partner McMillan. This opening bowler combination was initially tagged as the odd couple but famously became Baloo and Bagheera after a match at Townhill in 2001