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MIKE SWAIN : AN OUTSTANDING SPORTSMAN

Posted on 15 April 2025

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Local sport has been saddened by the passing this weekend of former Gosport Borough cricketer and Fareham Town footballer Mike Swain, aged 78, after a long and brave battle against dementia.
He was an outstanding sportsman, a top left-arm cricket all-rounder initially with Gosport Amateurs and Gosport Borough, a near automatic pick for Southern League representative sides and England seniors. A footballer with a cultured left foot, Mike was a prolific goalscorer in his Fareham Town days, his career taking him into the semi-professional game.
An active member of Corhampton Golf Club (until fairly recently), Mike spent his entire business career with British Gas, being particularly prominent in the hugely successful sponsorship of Southern League cricket.

Mike Byford RIP

Posted on 4 April 2025

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Michael John Byford, friend, team-mate and Surrey Seniors Legend

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our great Surrey Seniors legend Mike Byford. A popular and personable man who was very good company and always enjoyed the company of team mates and opposition alike.

Most of you will know and remember Mike as a very good all round cricketer. Mike will be remembered not only as a destructive batsman but also as a bowler who would often break batting partnerships with his ‘magic arm’.

The Surrey Honours Board records that Mike scored 10,635 runs for Surrey including 18 centuries, 65 50’s including a high score of 131 and finishing with a batting average of 48.12. If you add the runs scored for his home club, Worcester Park the total is 19,767.

As a bowler Mike is 4^th in Surrey’s all time bowling list with 301 wickets. Mike’s best being 5 – 12 for our 60+ section and 6 – 24 for our 70+ section.

We have lost a great friend and an irreplaceable team-mate. Our heartfelt condolences go to his wife Marion and daughters Clair and Gail. A mighty oak has fallen.

March 2025 Latest News

Posted on 7 March 20257 March 2025

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Prostate Cancer Walks

Ron’s March with The Bob Willis Fund and Prostate Cancer UK

Sunday April 6^th 2025 Bedfordshire Walk Flitwick CC

Monday March 31st 2025 Malta Over 60s Tournament, Walk Venue tbc

Wednesday 9^th April 2025 Surrey Seniors Walk Horsley and Send CC

Friday 9^th May 2025 Essex Walk (v Yorkshire) County Ground, Chelmsford

Friday 16^th May 2025 Middlesex Walk (v Leicestershire) Lords Cricket Ground

Monday 23^rd June 2025 Edgbaston- Warwickshire Walk (v Somerset) Edgbaston Cricket Ground

Monday 30^th June 2025 Sussex Walk (v Warwickshire) Hove Cricket Ground

Sunday 17^th August 2025 Worcestershire Walk (Gloucestershire) New Road, Worcester

Friday 26^th September 2025 Hampshire Walk (v Surrey) Utilita Bowl, Southampton

Thursday 30th October to Tuesday 3^rd November 2025

Prostate Cancer Awareness Xl tour to play St. Peters CC- Vatican

On Saturday 1^st November 2025 we shall be in Rome to play St. Peters CC – Vatican Cricket Team, at their invitation, to support our Prostate Cancer Awareness Campaign.

We have matches against two local Clubs one on the Friday and one on the Sunday, whilst in Rome.

(An honour and a privilege)

The walks in Surrey, Essex, Middlesex, Edgbaston and Worcester have been confirmed, further details to follow on all walks.

Buckinghamshire CCC are arranging to walk in Malta during the Over 60s Tournament there, as above. Other Counties taking part in the Tournament will be invited to join us.

It is hoped we can arrange another walk at The Eric Morecambe Centre in Harpenden, Hertfordshire late in September.

We are hoping that Counties who have not arranged a walk, so far, will be able to in 2025, so by the end of the year all Counties will have supported this amazing campaign.

The total raised now stands at £55000 plus £7000 Gift Aid. We estimate nearly 1000 people have joined a walk.

Lifetime Achiever Award – Howard Smith Kent Seniors Cricket

Posted on 21 January 2025

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Howard started open-age cricket in the 1950’s when he was 14 for Dulwich Wanderers C C. He joined Cuaco C C in 1959 (now ODCuaco C C0 where he can still be found on a weekendkeeping wicket at the ripe old age of 82!

Howard’s skills as a cricket administrator soon landed him in a role with the Kent Cricket League Committee, with him becoming Chair of the League for 7 years. A notable achievement of his time with the KCL was that he obtained £10K sponsorship from Shepherd Neame in his second year of office.

His involvement with the Kent Seniors started in 2004 as a player and in 2009 he took on the reigns as the administrator, this being his 15th consecutive year at the helm! During his time Kent have gone from one 60+ Team to four 60+ Teams and three 70+ Teams which is a wonderful achievement for the County. With over 55 home fixtures a season to arrange including all the game logistics this is quite an achievement.
He is referred to as The Administrator which is probably true.

Howard’s experience and the time he has dedicated to cricket at club, league and county level is un-matched. If you haven’t played with him, you have probably played in a league he has run or a Kent team he has managed.. And if not, you have almost certainly heard him speak, as a resident MC of the KCL end of season dinner, or as an after-dinner speaker at clubs across the County.

Kent Cricket would like to thank Howard for everything he has given to the cricket community in Kent. It is unlikely that you will meet a more deserving winner of the Lifetime Achiever Award or for that matter a nicer man

January 2025 Update

Posted on 14 January 2025

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You maybe aware that our plan to cease walking and fund raising in September 2024 failed.

See below the walks arranged so far 2025.

As long as people are prepared to walk, raise awareness and funds for our fight against Prostate Cancer, Pat and I will keep walking.

2025 has Counties arranging 2nd and 3rd walks and we are indebted to them.

We really hope that the 5 Counties who have not arranged a walk will be able to in 2025.

It does not matter how few or many walk and how much money you raise, it is making people aware which is the most important thing to us.

We are humbled and honoured to have been asked to play a match against The Vatican Cricket Team in Rome on 1st November 2025 as they help to promote awareness of Prostate Cancer. (we are indebted to Father Eamonn O’Higgins and Paul Bradley for making this possible)

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss arranging a walk.

Ron’s March with The Bob Willis Fund and Prostate Cancer UK

Wednesday 9^th April 2025 Surrey Seniors Walk Horsley and Send CC

Friday 9^th May 2025 Essex Walk (v Yorkshire) County Ground, Chelmsford

Friday 16^th May 2025 Middlesex Walk (v Leicestershire) Lords Cricket Ground

Monday 23^rd June 2025 Edgbaston- Warwickshire Walk (v Somerset) Edgbaston Cricket Ground

Monday 30^th June 2025 Sussex Walk (v Warwickshire) Hove Cricket Ground

8^TH or 9^th September 2025 Worcestershire Walk (v Nottinghamshire) New Road, Worcester

The walks in Surrey, Essex, Middlesex and Edgbaston have been confirmed, further details to follow on all walks.

Buckinghamshire CCC are looking to walk in Malta, during the Over 60s Tournament there, at the end of March, early April. Counties taking part in the Tournament will be invited to join us.

We are hoping to arrange another walk at The Eric Morecambe Centre in Harpenden, Hertfordshire late in September.

On the 1^st November we shall be in Rome to play The Vatican Cricket Team, at their invitation, to support our Prostate Cancer Awareness Campaign.

We hope to be playing two other matches while in Rome.

(An honour and a privilege)

We are hoping that Counties who have not arranged a walk, so far, will be able to in 2025, so by the end of the year all Counties will have supported this amazing campaign.

The total raised now stands at £55000 plus £7000 Gift Aid. We estimate nearly 1000 people have joined a walk.

Hugh Symes RIP

Posted on 31 December 202431 December 2024

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It is with great sadness that we report that our much admired member, Hugh Symes, passed away on Christmas Eve following a short battle with cancer.

Hugh played much of his club cricket for Leatherhead Cricket Club excelling with both bat and ball.

Hugh was, until last season our Surrey Seniors chairman and for many years a regular player in our 60+ and 70+ teams. Hugh was also an SSCA main committee member and auditor. We have lost a great supporter and a very fine man.

Our thoughts and condolences go to Hugh’s wife Diana, his daughter Rebecca, son Jonathan and the new baby grand-daughter.

PAUL MUSTOE RIP

Posted on 12 December 202415 December 2024

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All those who have played cricket with Paul Mustoe in recent years will be deeply saddened to learn of his death, on 26th November, after a long illness which was known only to his very closest and dearest. Paul, it seems, wanted to just get on with life and the game of cricket which he loved, squeezing the most out of every season.

Paul played with distinction for Bedfordshire Seniors, at over 50s, over 60s and over 70s levels. He was a talented allrounder, obdurate batsman, excellent fielder, with a safe pair of hands in the outfield, and he was a left arm spinner with a bit of mystery in his deliveries which often baffled the opposition batsmen, and, possibly Paul himself at times. In his enthusiasm he has been known to bowl six different balls in an over. He was regularly available to play the sport he loved and he gave his all to each and every game. Only two years ago he scored an excellent 147 against Norfolk.

Beyond this Paul was popular with his colleagues who shared his love for the game and also each opposition team, because Paul would readily engage in post-match conversations and reflections on the noble game.

Our Sympathies and condolences are extended to Elaine, Paul’s wife, and their family.

On behalf of Bedforshire Seniors

UAE Over 60s Cricket Festival

Posted on 31 October 202410 February 2025

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The Sporta Tours Over 60’s cricket festival will be held in the UAE in early March 2025. Sporta Tours is an official sponsor of England Seniors Cricket and have an excellent track record of delivering events of this nature to a wide range of clients including: ECB/MCC/English Professional Counties/HMC Schools/England Seniors.

The festival represents an excellent opportunity for some warm weather matches and practice ahead of the English cricket season.

Details here:- UAE Over 60s Cricket Festival

Any English County Over 60s teams (joint teams welcome) wishing to express an interest to attend should contact Roger Myall at [email protected] for more details

HISTORY OF THE HOME COUNTIES 60+ COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

Posted on 31 October 202416 December 2024

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(Historical playing records can be found here)

Summary of Home Counties Champions:

2004: Essex
2005: Essex
2006: Sussex
2007: Sussex
2008: Essex & Hampshire (shared)

Back in 2003 Barry Smith realised that a number of good club cricketers could no longer hold a regular place in the over 50’s County Championship and, like himself, were becoming a little disillusioned with regular League cricket. Hugh Milner of Sussex agreed that there was possible scope for an over 60’s competition but, after enquiring of other Home Counties, the only potential problem seemed to be whether there would be enough 60 year olds of sufficient standard in each county.

Hertfordshire, Essex and Surrey joined Kent and Sussex in the new venture for 2004 with the rules based on those which the over 50’s used. However, it was initially agreed that each county could play two 59 year old players in each game. As the instigator of the idea, Barry agreed to be the Competition Organiser and each county played home & away against each other – 8 games in the season with the two top teams playing in a final.
The objective was that the counties would stage the Final in turn and Surrey undertook this in 2004. On an excellent Sunday in September at Dorking C.C., Sussex played Essex and the latter won by 49 runs. As Barry was presenting the cup to the Essex Captain, we were all interrupted by the Royal Bypass of Spitfire, Mosquito and Lancaster as they had just left Biggin Hill Airshow to return to their base – where ever that was. A true finale to the first season.

In 2005 the same two teams again met in the final at Radlett, Hertfordshire and again Essex were triumphant by 6 runs – no airshow this year!!

By 2006 the message had spread and Suffolk and Norfolk joined to increase the competition to 7 Counties. Essex hosted the final at Brentwood but were not one of the competitors. Sussex again qualified but this year with Kent and in a close game Sussex won by 4 wickets in the final over.

By now many counties, even if not playing in the Championship, had a regular list of friendly games and this encouraged Worcestershire and Berkshire to join in 2007. It was no longer practical to play games on a home & away basis with 9 counties and so each county only played each other once.
This was gradually taking the competition outside of the Home Counties and distance travelling was becoming involved which some counties were happy with but others were not so keen. It was in 2007 that Barry managed to obtain some sponsorship for the Championship and this assisted all counties by subsidising the cost of the balls. Having played for 3 years and discovered that counties now seemed to have enough 60 year olds, it was agreed to phase out the under-aged players over the next two seasons.
The competition had basically resurrected social club cricket, although it was competitive, for many club players who may well have hung up their boots had it not been organised. The weather in 2007 was horrendous and of the 36 scheduled games only 14 were played on their original dates, a further 15 were replayed and 7 never even happened!.
Sussex again played Kent in the final at Sittingbourne and this match saw one of the highest totals ever scored – Sussex were 333 for 4 after 45 overs on what was described as a good batting track! Kent never managed to keep up the pace and were dismissed for 171.

In 2008 bad weather for 3 separate weeks during the season caused havoc with the fixture list but 43 of the 45 games were eventually played and the non-results of the two that weren’t had no effect on the finalists who were Essex and Hampshire, in their first season. Suffolk hosted the game at Copdock and for the first time in 5 years, rain struck. Hampshire completed their innings at 189 for 7 off 45 overs and in reply Essex got to 36 for 2 off 15 overs when drizzle appeared. All players wanted to keep going and Essex got to 100 for 2 in 26 overs when conditions were getting silly, if not dangerous, and the umpires decided that everybody had had enough. The two teams, with the Organiser’s agreement, agreed to share the trophy for 2008.