CRICKET OFF, FOOTY ON

I was going to write about Lady referees since Ms Frappart is officiating in the Supa Cup Final today, but with a Test Match in the offing, I fancied this next news! Read on.....

On August 14th 1980, Essex County Cricket Club "borrowed" Stamford Bridge for a one day-night cricket match against the West Indies. A crowd of just over 11,000 made it into the "oblong"  with an artificial pitch "pitched" into the middle of the ground.
The short boundaries on either side allowed Graham Gooch to score a 100 in 77 minutes and Viv Richards, a footballer of course, swiped 53 in 18 minutes.
Richards played for the West Indies at cricket as you know but he also played soccer for Antigua in a 1974 World Cup qualifier.

I have written about double sportsmen playing soccer and cricket before; here are two more-Ron Nicholls and Barrie Meyer both turned out for Gloucestershire CC and played for Bristol Rovers FC in the 2nd Division.

Nicholls was a 71 appearance Rovers' goalkeeper, who held a Gloucestershire CC record scoring 217 runs out of a wicket stand of 395.

Meyer who scored 60 goals in 139 league appearances for Rovers, also took 826 dismissals as a wicket keeper in 406 games.

On 7thJanuary 1956, both he and club mate Nicholls played for Bristol Rovers in a 3rd Rd FA Cup tie at Eastville in front of over 36,000 against Manchester United, beating them 4-0.
Meyer scored in the game, a great claim to fame, but he may regard standing as a test umpire in 26 Tests as a greater achievement.

The United team was very much one of Busby's growing teams, who were ALL ENGLISH!:
Wood, Ian Greaves, Byrne, Colman, Jones, Whitefoot, Berry, Doherty, Tommy Taylor, Viollet, Pegg.

Sadly Rovers then lost to Doncaster Rovers in the 4th Round.

Inevitably the change of sports in August/September 1958 created a few issues and the two lads were keener to play cricket at the turn over rather than football. They got "eased" by the footy club, so  Nicholls went on to play for Cardiff City and Bristol City and Cheltenham.
Meyer moved on to Plymouth Argyle, Newport County. Bristol City and Hereford.