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.

Trav fetched up during 2005 and has quickly become a valued member of the club. Insists on the Trav nick and he’s bigger than this author so that’s Ok.

Developing into a useful right arm bowler and presently Team Manager for the 2’s a thankless exercise which involves taking strange telephone excuses in the early hours of Saturday morning and generally running around daft between 10 and 12 to get the necessary bodies located and then to the club on time

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.

Darryl returned to Polwarth during 2006 and quickly started taking wickets again. A very safe pair of hands and can also bat a bit as well, he is one of the 2nd team all rounders.

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 improvemment 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.

To follow

Young right handed batsmen signed with an eye for the future development of the club in 2007, James is one for the future and as yet hasn’t sufficiently misbehaved sufficiently yet to earn a more lasting tag.

James played a number of games for the 2’s and the development team in 2007 and already is showing signs of becoming a valued member of the club.

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.

Douglas was recruited during the winter of 2005. Douglas is a steady top order bat who rarely misses a training session. Douglas has returned to playing cricket after a period of some 19 years (long before PVCC were formed) after learning his cricket in the old Glasgow and District League.

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.

One of a famous pair of ivory pullers in East Lothian, Juggy relaxes with his golf and classical batting. A tyke by origin, 2 in 1 club counting Fred, is almost too much for any self respecting Scottish club, but we manage.

Famously chose to play golf in Yorkshire on the 2nd day of the Headingly test in 2000 on the basis that the Saturday was always the best day. As it turned out it was the better day for golf as all he and his party saw of the cricket was in the golf club bar when they wandered in and saw Cork ripping out the stump on embarking on his lap of honour.

Despite his inability to predict results Juggy is one of the classiest batsmen ever to play for the club and has played many matching winning innings.

A 2007 recruit, never having played cricket previously. Earned his nickname after a Village game in Tyninghame where he had his team mates in stitches due to his unorthodox running technique. It was mentioned how similar it was to Forrest Gump running with leg braces.

Paul has never been described as passive in any thing he does, he single handedly established the club ethos of drinking and in his case smoking. He is responsible for the only occasion in the club history when a umpire moved from square-leg to point to avoid the smoky fug emanating from Ronan, the umpires claim was that he could not adjudge a stumping through the fog like atmosphere.

Generally only appears after a few pints and once took a skier in a style not in the MCC coaching manual as he calmly put the fag down took the catch, threw the ball back in and picked up th still lit fag. Thats class.

Paul is one of the top wicket takers in the clubs history, with his medium pace cutters.

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.

Son of “People” legend Eddie the nick was obviously.

Developing into a more than useful medium pace bowler and hard hitting batsman Adam is one of a group of youngsters with Patte, the Dixon’s etc who will stage a coup-de-tart in the near future and clear the oldsters out of the 1’s for ever as the club moves forward.

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.

A web-site signing, who spotted the club via its old web-site. Useful middle order batsman and medium pace bowler plus being and exceptional cover or mid-wicket fielder.

John has quickly become established as a member of the first team squad.

Famously called off for a game after hurting his back babysitting on a Friday night, the reaction of his colleague to that news was too graphic even for this site.

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.