This area of the website will be reserved for news of former playing members, including those who have not maintained their membership of the Club. If you are visiting the website as a former player and would like to bring the Club up to date with your whereabouts, email the Club at heriotscricket@googlemail.com.
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George F Goddard
Undoubtably the finest cricketer the Club has produced, George Goddard's list of achievements are legendary
- the only Club member to captain Scotland
- the only Club member to take over 150 wickets for Scotland
- the Club member with the most caps for Scotland
- the leading wicket taker for the Club with 1,381 1st XI wickets
George was good enough to agree to be interviewed for the Club website.
Webmaster: Whilst both your parents were sporty, neither were cricketers, so what attracted you to cricket as a sport?
GFG: As a youngster I was interested in a variety of sports. In the summer months cricket was more attractive to me than athletics! In the local park my friends played football in the winter and turned automatically to cricket in the summer. The local park (Roseburn) was the venue for Edinburgh Public Parks league fixtures between office sides and clubs such as Newington and London Road and this boosted interest.
Webmaster: Your first year in the School 1st XI was in Year 2 of the Senior school and you played for 5 years. Can you recall how many wickets you took in your School 1st XI career?
GFG: In the 5 seasons I played (the last 2 as captain) I took 254 wickets at an average of 5.84 runs per wicket. Given the limited amount of cricket the School 1st XI now plays, I think my record might stand for some time!
Webmaster: At that time schoolboys were not allowed to play for the FPs. What age were you when you made your debut in senior cricket and who was that for?
GFG: I made my debut in senior cricket at 16 for Murrayfield CC who at that time played in the East of Scotland League. I played for them (school fixtures permitting) until I left school and then joined the FP Club in 1958.
Webmaster: What age were you when you scored your first senior 50 and/or your first 5 wicket haul in club cricket?
GFG: I had just turned 17 when I scored my first 50 for Murrayfield versus Stenhousemuir in the East League. At the same age I took 6 for 26 against Royal High School FP. That season (1956) I topped the batting averages and was second top wicket taker.
Webmaster: At that time you were an away swing bowler, so why did you decide to change to bowling off-spin when you joined the FPs?
GFG: When I joined Heriot's in 1958 the Club had established quick/medium paced bowlers on a conducive wicket. Jim Souness and George Miller were internationalists and Ronnie Souness and Ronnie Scotland were fine bowlers. We lacked variety, so I decided to give off-spinning a go.
Webmaster: Were you self-taught as an off-spinner or did you get help from someone in the Club?
GFG: I think I would have to say that I was a self-taught off-spinner. There was no one at the Club who could offer help on the field so it was very much learning on a trial and error basis, with encouragement to keep trying and lots of practice.
Webmaster: In your early years in senior cricket, whilst you were learning the art of spin bowling, you were primarily a batsman and it was as a batsman that you were first capped for Scotland. Later in your career, you seemed to give up batting. Why was this?
GFG: In my early seasons batting was my strength, but gradually I became more influential as a bowler. I did not give up batting for many years....remember I had a very long career (1958-1994). However, there were a lot of very promising young batsmen coming through and team wise it made sense to give them the opportunities. Initially, I dropped down into the middle/lower order where I could still influence a game. In my last few seasons I rarely emerged from the 'hutch', but I was still in the game on the bowling front. At the end of the day, I think I am still the second highest aggregate run scorer for the Club.
Webmaster: You took over 160 wickets for Scotland. Were there any notable scalps amongst them that you particularly valued?
GFG: For the amateur cricketer it was always a 'feather in your cap' to dismiss a Test Match player and I can list the following amongst others:
Australia - Doug Walters; Graham Yallop
New Zealand - Bevan Congdon; Richard Hadlee; Martin Crowe
Pakistan - Zaheer Abbas; Younis Ahmed
South Africa - Peter Kirsten
West Indies - Alvin Kallicharan
England - M.J.K.Smith; Basil D'Oliveira; Mike Brearley
Webmaster: Did you ever consider giving County cricket a go?
GFG: I never seriously considered giving County cricket a go. The Counties would want a young man and at the time I was indentured for 5 years as a CA apprentice and married shortly after qualifying. However, it was my good fortune to have the opportunity to play a lot of cricket against and with professional cricketers on some wonderful grounds and in different places. Good amateur golfers very rarely get the chance to play with Tiger Woods! These opportunities and the odd success built up confidence so that I was not overwhelmed at the prospect of bowling to professionals. Some knowledgable pundits were kind enough to say I had the ability to play First Class cricket and that's good enough for me.
Webmaster: Finally, in the League cricket that you played, it was important to bowl sides out. What would your role as an off-spinner be if you were playing under the current national League rules?
GFG: I think I would have felt very inhibited as a bowler of any type under current National League rules. Most cricket nowadays centres on restricting the opponent's score...taking wickets at times appears to be of secondary importance. I have watched matches where early wickets have fallen but no real effort made to go for the jugular whilst a host of fielders patrol the boundaries. Very few sides, if any, have 5 really competent bowlers. I would have felt very aggrieved if I found a wicket that suited me and I was removed after 10 overs to accommodate a 5 man attack. All too often the 'Pro' or overseas amateur batsmen 'see off' the decent bowlers, then help themselves to the limitations of the others. This situation means that our top amateur batsmen are not being sufficiently challenged and pay the price when they step up to international standard. Similarly, for a bowler aspiring to step up, 10 overs in a week-end club match is not sufficient to develop the skills to survive against professionals.
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Hamish More
After a few years away from the Club, it has been good to see H K More back down at Goldenacre to watch a number of 1st XI home matches in recent seasons. With over 15,000 runs for the Club and nearly 2,000 for Scotland, Hamish is, by some way, the outstanding batsman to come out of Heriot's school.
Hamish kindly agreed to answer a few questions about his own career and on the state of Scottish cricket.
Webmaster: You did not come from a cricketing family so who or what were the influences that attracted you to cricket as a boy?
HKM: In the middle to late 1940s the family had a holiday house on the beach just beyond Dunbar and I had three cricket-loving uncles. My father, three uncles and my brother (George) and I played beach cricket every day. I loved batting and sulked when out! Heriot's from age 7 encouraged me further.
Webmaster: How old were you when you first thought that you would be a good enough player to play for Scotland?
HKM: I always dreamed of playing, not only for Scotland, but also in Test cricket. I was always confident I would play for Scotland and probably knew from age 15 when I was relatively successful in the School 1st XI.
Webmaster: What qualities did you have that helped you to become a successful cricketer and in what order would you rate these?
HKM: Very keen eyesight, exceptionally good catcher of a ball but, most importantly, self confidence. I always believed I was as good as, if not better, than my opponents.
Webmaster: Mike Denness and yourself were outstanding young batsmen of your generation. He took the route to professional County cricket. Why didn't you?
HKM: I tried in 1962. I had a trial arranged with Notts, but broke my leg badly in March of that year and had to miss the whole season. They said no for 1963.
I applied to Somerset in 1964-65 and had a week's trial. I played a couple of games for their 2nd XI in 1966 and was offered a contract of £400 per annum, but I rejected the offer as I had just been picked to play for Scotland.
Webmaster: Have you any regrets over that decision?
HKM: Yes, I have slight regrets, but I was getting married that year and the fact that I was now in the Scotland XI and proving that I could play at that level helped me to decide.
Webmaster: You have (almost) stopped playing now so you can reveal which bowler(s) gave you most trouble in Scottish cricket?
HKM: My nemises was David D Fraser of Royal High. I scored a hundred against every East of Scotland League side with the exception of Royal High. Obviously, Dougie Barr and Eric Thompson of Melville College FP's ( two of the finest ever) and Jimmy Allan of Edinburgh Accies.
Webmaster: You were quite an innovator in East cricket, playing leading roles in:
- standardising the types of balls used;
- changing matches from time to overs cricket;
- determining the points awarded in matches.
What changes would you like to see in the current National League playing rules?
HKM: I would welcome a return for our domestic recreational cricket to be played on a regional basis and, whether it is or not, I would like to see a draw re-instated, with bonus points for batting and bowling. I would also abolish the restriction on the number of overs that can be bowled by any bowler, or certainly increase the number allowed from the current level.
Webmaster: Were you in favour of the National League when it was first proposed and, if so, do you think it has served its purpose?
HKM: No! I was against as long as the top 30 players in the country had regular, meaningful cricket against one another (possibly on Sundays). Availability of grounds being a problem.
The original purpose of the National Leagues was to have the best players playing against one another to improve the National side. That clearly hasn't happened for two reasons:
(i) most of the good players are playing for three sides:
(ii) the number of meaningless and hopeless overs bowled by most side's 4th and 5th bowlers ( and sometimes 3rd bowlers), because of the limitations in overs for each bowler. This does nothing to improve either the batting or the bowling. Bowlers learn how to bowl by bowling many and long spells and batsmen only improve by playing against the top bowlers, not jokes at nos 3-5.
Webmaster: Excusing the pun, there are pros and cons in the debate over whether paid overseas players should be allowed in Scottish cricket. Where do you stand in the debate?
HKM: Scottish clubs have limited financial resources and far too high a percentage of these resources is being paid to professionals (who incidentally have too big an influence, primarily because of the poor standard of the 4th and 5th bowlers), so I wouldn't have them, but how you get an agreement to stop it I am afraid I don't know.
Webmaster: In your matches for the MCC against school sides you play against the next generation of cricketers. Who has impressed you?
HKM: Many over the years. The best was a young lad from Fettes named (Neil) Miller a few years ago. After captaining Oxford University, he was lost to cricket by the lure of the city.
Currently, there is a young Merchistonian called Hairs. He is a bit of a 'dasher', but with a rare talent!
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Graeme Stanley
It was good to hear that Graeme Stanley has returned to playing cricket with Glendelvine Cricket Club in Perthshire who play in Division 2 of the Perthshire League. Despite a lay off of several years, Graeme was quick into his stride, top scoring with 54 runs.
Graeme was captain of the FP Under 15 XI in 1990 and was one of the stalwarts of the FP 4th XI, bowling left arm seamers and hitting many a six on the wicket cut on the athletic track.
On marrying long-time girlfriend Lily, the Stanleys settled in Luncarty and have a son, Leo.
June 2010
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Colin Macfadyen
It was good to hear from Colin Macfadyen who has been living in Kilmacolm for the last 9 years, but is hoping to move back to Edinburgh as soon as he is able to sell his house.
Colin was an all-rounder in the first Under 15 XI that the Club ran in the mid eighties and went on to turn out for the Club 3rd XI in 1991 which narrowly failed to win promotion in its first year in the Grade Leagues.
Colin was an athletic cricketer with a good eye for a ball who also bowled seamers with a bowling action all of his own. As befits a good looking chap, he has been busy
breeding, building up his own team of the future with three boys, aged 8, 5 and 18 months.
We look forward to welcoming Colin back to the 'snug' on his return to Edinburgh.
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Bill Alexander
A welcome visitor to our website was Bill Alexander, alias The Red Snake.
Bill played for the 1st and 2nd XIs as an opening bowler in the late 1950s and 1960s before moving to Nottingham where he continued to play for a further 21 years.
In Bill's playing days the Club practised on grass wickets at the foot of the bank on the west side of the 1st XI square and Bill was highly respected as a net bowler, keeping the 1st XI batsmen on their toes.
Following his 'apprenticeship' in the 2nd XI under the late Eric Mentiplay's captaincy where he formed a successful opening partnership with the late Bill Hamilton, Bill was promoted to the 1st XI and was a member of the East League Championship winning side of 1966, opening the bowling in tandem with the late George Waites and Chris Binnie.
Bill's interest and involvement in cricket continued when his playing days were over, qualifying as an umpire in the South Notts Cricket League before becoming Chairman of Thrumpton Cricket Club.
He now winters in South Africa, following the cricket at Newlands, before returning to the UK for our cricket season. Although retired, he still does some marketing work for South African companies, selling wine tours and holidays.
He continues to follow the Club's fortunes via the 'net' and passes on his good wishes to'any of the really old guys left in the Club'.
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Regan West
Avid followers of the 20-20 World Cup on Sky television will have followed the expoits of former 2nd XI overseas amateur Regan West with interest as he plied his left arm orthodox spinners to good effect in helping Ireland to qualify for the Super Eight's section of the competition.
Regan came to the Club on the recommendation of Jamie Watkins and played at that time as a left arm seamer and hard hitting middle order batsman before plying his trade at Penicuik and then on to club cricket in Ireland.
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Donald MacQueen
It was good to hear from Donald MacQueen, brother of Hector, and former 'quick' for the 2nd XI in a brief but very successful career.
Donald took 'early retirement' from cricket whilst still in his twenties and is now involved in PR and Communications work with voluntary, arts and community related organisations and individuals, helping them to reach audiences throughout the western world.
Donald was one of the opening bowlers in the Grade A Championship winning side of 1982 and was a consistent wicket-taker in the early eighties with figures of 7 for 59 v Watsonians in 1981, 7 for 56 v Edinburgh Accies in 1982, 7 for 62 v Penicuik in 1984 and 7 for 21 again v Penicuik being just some of his match-winning performances.
At the time, the 2nd square at Goldenacre was something of a 'trampoline' and Donald was quick enough to pick up a number of wickets at short leg against batsmen who did not enjoy 'rib ticklers'.
Donald sends his regards to all and hopes to get down to Goldenacre some Saturday this summer.
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Derek Lee
It was good to re-establish contact with Derek Lee, brother of Gordon and son of the late former President, Roy.
Derek had a brief but successful career as a promising young 1st XI batsman and gifted fielder before moving to London where he played stand-off for Saracens before retiring in his mid-twenties to take up motor racing.
Derek was member of the East Championship winning side of 1969 where one of his most significant contributions was a top score of 38 to help Heriot's earn a draw at 101 for 8 versus Stenhousemuir.
Derek worked as a University lecturer in Climatology at Birkbeck College in London before opting for a career change to coach football and cricket at City of London school and is the proud owner of an NCA Advancing Coaching Award certificate.
Early retirement has led to Derek and his wife leading the 'good life' in Somerset, renovating their old house and looking after their sheep, cats, dog and bees, with the occasional visit to Taunton to watch Somerset play.
He sends his regards to all who remember him.
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Gordon Lee
A chance encounter whilst shopping at Tesco's led to an opportunity to catch up with Gordon Lee.
Gordon was an excellent fielder with a rugby player's safe pair of hands and played mainly as a support player throughout the Club's successful run in the 1970s when the East League was won no fewer than seven times in a row and the Scottish Cup was won for the first time in 1978.
Arguably, Gordon's most memorable contribution to the side over these years was in the 2nd Round of the 1978 Cup when in partnership with Ronnie Brock he helped Heriot's recover from 103 for 9 to ease past Aberdeenshire's total of 135 in the final over of the match.
Since hanging up his boots, Gordon has run his own marketing and design company and has recently been selected to sit on the Board of Telford College. His recreational activities include golf and fly fishing.
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Sandy Bowes
It was good to establish contact again with Sandy Bowes.
Sandy was a 2nd XI regular from 1966 until 1976 when work commitments took him South.
In the early part of his career, Sandy was part of a strong bowling attack together with Bill Hamilton, Bill Alexander and skipper Eric Mentiplay but the side was short of reliable batsmen. By 1971 the batting had been strengthened and Sandy's career best figures of 9 for 28 against Royal High helped the 2nd XI win the Grade A Championship that year.
Although he generally batted in the lower order, Sandy had a good eye and over his career produced several match winning contributions with the bat, none more important than his 70 versus Leith Franklin at the Links which helped Heriot's recover from 49 for 6 to 170 all out on their way to winning the Grade A Championship in 1976.
Sandy has been living in Surrey for the past 30 years, working in the merchant banking field, but having taken early retirement in 1997 is not responsible for the current banking debacles!
He send his regards to all who remember him at Goldenacre.
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Ian Ramage
Congratulations go to former member Ian Ramage who has been appointed to the ICC's Associate and Affiliate International Umpire's panel.
Ian joined the Club in 1985 from Leith Franklin together with John Hunter and Kenny Blyth and after a few seasons in the 1st XI, dropped down into the 2nd XI where he opened the batting successfully and was a member of the Grade A Championship winning side of 1988. He then went on to develop as a slow/medium swing and seam bowler throughout the 1990s and gave sterling service as Honorary Treasurer of the Club before retiring as a player to take up umpiring.
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Alfie Conn
It was good to catch up with Alfie Conn at Goldenacre whilst he was home on holiday from the Phillipines.
As a cricketer, Alfie was a late developer. At Under 15 level Alfie was no more than a support player in the successful 1988 side where the bowling was shared between Fraser Suttie, David Mackay, Damien Brown, Colin Thomson, Garnet Howells, Andrew Gearie and a diminutive Stephen Wallace, but by the time he played in the successful Under 18 XI that won the East Youth League in 1991, he had developed sufficiently to be one of the change seam bowlers in that side.
On leaving School, Alfie played as a bowler and tail end batsman in the FP Club's 3rd XI with no great success. However, he worked hard to improve his game and as he matured into a tall, athletic and enthusiastic cricketer he developed the ability to bowl inswingers at a good pace and within a few years had established himself as the most prolific wicket-taker in the 2nd XI during the mid to late nineties.
Alfie's capacity to improve as a cricketer even extended to his batting, compiling a maiden 50 for the 2nd XI in a rare opportunity to bat up the order.
Sadly, the need to earn a living took Alfie south to Surrey and beyond, but he remains in close contact with his contemporaries and with the Club.
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Ronnie Scotland
A chance encounter at Kingston & Garmouth Golf Club in Morayshire re-established contact with Ronnie Scotland.
Ronnie trained as a surveyor during his playing days before studying to enter the ministry and taking up a post in Elgin. He has now retired from the ministry, had a successful hip operation and is enjoying life in the north east of Scotland.
Ronnie played for the 1st XI in the late 50s and early 60s as an opening bowler and hard hitting lower order bat and was one of the founder members of the 'Gnomes', the Sunday club formed by Herioters in the days when play was not allowed at Goldenacre on the Sabbath.
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Bill & James Clutterbuck
It was good to hear from Bill and James Clutterbuck.
Bill succeeded Frank Coles as Head Groundsman at Goldenacre and in addition to his groundsman's role Bill was a more than useful away swing bowler and an outstanding coach. Amongst those who benefited from Bill's coaching expertise as youngsters were 1st XI captain Gavin McIntyre, Chris Goddard, David Ross and the recently departed Robert More.
Bill's son, James completed his education at Heriot's and played a major role in helping our Under 18 XI win the East Under 18 League. Before joining Bill when he moved South to be Head Groundsman at Guildford Cricket Club, James was a 1st XI regular and notched up a ton whilst still a teenager. James has been playing in the Surrey Premier League with Normandy CC before returning to play with Guildford CC this season whilst Bill has coached both Clubs' 1st XIs.
They send their regards to everyone who knew them during their time with Heriot's.
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John Hunter
A welcome visitor to our new website was John Hunter who has been living and working in Northampton for the past 22 years.
John was educated at the School, but having been brought up in Leith, initially played his cricket with Leith Franklin before being persuaded to come to Goldenacre to replace opening bowler Jack Ker who had moved out of town.
Although John only had one season at the Club, in 1985, before moving to Northampton, he was an immediate success with his left arm medium fast deliveries, taking eight wickets in an innings on two occasions that season, including a hat trick versus the now defunct Kirkcaldy CC.
John is still playing in Northampton and has brought his club up to Edinburgh on tour on a couple of occasions in the past few years and hopes to do so again next season.
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Robin Ferrier
Older members of the Club will be delighted to hear news of Robin Ferrier from Wellington in New Zealand.
Robin was a member of the 1st XI as long ago as 1951, being a tall, elegant batsman and after finishing his PhD at Edinburgh University, he moved to work at the University of London where he enjoyed a dozen seasons at Hampstead Cricket Club before moving to New Zealand in 1970 where he continued to play club cricket for a further 12 seasons.
Members of the 1977 2nd XI may recall playing with Robin when he returned from Wellington on a sabbatical. He opened the innings for the 2nd XI that season and was adept at using the 'trampoline' to loft the ball for four over the bowler's head.
Robin and wife Carolyn were excellent hosts to Dougie, Anne and Chris Goddard whilst they were touring New Zealand in 2007 and Robin is still a keen student of the game, enjoying a seat in the Members' Stand at Wellington in the recent Test series between New Zealand and England.
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Albie Wright
It was good to see 'Albie' Wright down at Goldenacre from London on the occasion of the 2007 Club Awards Night.
Albie was captain of the 1979 Championship winning 2nd XI and whilst he would be the first to admit that he was not the most talented member of that side, he was an outstanding captain. Albie had the personality that made others want to play for him, as well as for the Club, and winning matches under his captaincy was a guarantee of a good night in the bar, at home or away.
Although it is nearly 30 years since Albie moved to London to work, he has remained a staunch member of the Club, has changed little, and his entourage of friends ensured a profitable night at the bar for the Club......not much changed there then!
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Jamie Watkins
Of all the overseas players who have turned out for the Club over the past 20 years, none has embraced the 'Nail's' culture as well as Jamie Watkins.
Jamie first came to Goldenacre from New Zealand as a 17 year old on a formal development programme. At that time he was a promising wicket-keeper/batsman and in his early years with the Club kept wicket for the 1st XI and batted in the middle order where his natural attacking batting style was well suited to pushing the score along in the final overs of a match.
As is often the case with players from overseas, Jamie also proved to be a useful bowler in Scottish cricket as well as a gifted wicket-keeper and it was in this capacity that he was first used when playing for the Club's Under 18 XI in the East of Scotland League competition, helping them to win the League in 1995 and norrowly missing out on reaching the final of the national competition as captain of that successful side.
As each year passed, Jamie's value to the 1st XI as a medium fast seamer as well as an attacking middle order batsman became more evident and it is in that capacity that he continues today, back home in New Zealand.
Jamie now works as Cricket Development Manager for the Taranaki Cricket Association and coaches the Central Districts Under 19 squad and last year completed his Level 3 NZC coaching qualification. He plays representative cricket as an all-rounder for Taranaki in the National provincial competition (the Hawke Cup) and club cricket for New Plymouth Old Boys who have just won the club title for a record-breaking sixth year.
The New Plymouth Old Boys club has become something of a home from home for 'Nails' with Regan and Gareth West, John Blain, Gavin McIntyre, Chris Goddard, Alfie Conn, Andy More and Chris Jones Jnr all having turned out for the club on visits to New Zealand, with Nicky Taylor the current club captain.
Jamie continues to take a close interest in Scottish cricket and wishes everyone at Goldenacre continued success this season.
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Garnet Howells
It was good to track down Garnet Howells who is now living in Melbourne (Derbyshire, not Australia).
Garnet was a member of the successful 1988 Under 15 XI and went on to play in the 3rd XI that won promotion in 1992 after winning all its matches. Although now the proud father of one year old son, Sebastian, he is still playing cricket with Ticknall CC in Derbyshire. He would gladly set up fixtures in Derbyshire should the Club wish to tour in that part of the country.
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