Last Throw - Durham Deja Vu
Start and End
By Grockle
September 27 2009
We started at home with Durham and we end at home with Durham. A Pro40 game we still have an interest in at the end of September with lovely sunshine and a BIIIIIG crowd - who'd have thunk it? Ian Blackwell has been brought into the side at number 6 and we will probably go in unchanged. Good game and lots of praying for a Worcestershire glory day that's what we need.
v Durham Pro40 @ Taunton Sunday 27 September 2009
The side is as you would expect but Mark Turner is in and as he has a stress fracture of the back he will probably be replaced by Ben Phillips. Other than that;
Trescothick, Kieswetter, Hildreth, de Bruyn, Langer, Trego, Suppiah, Thomas, Waller, Willoughby.
Sorry guys and gals Max Waller has been pushed to 12th man by Omari Banks (someone please explain this one to me)
The sun is out. The sky is blue and there's loadsa a crowds to spoil the view at 12:15. I'm on the commentary for the first half and hopefully there'll be comments. 214 days from now to the start of 2010 so enjoy today. It seems there probably won't be a fixture at Taunton until the end of April because of building work so suck it up and absorb the fun!! It seems Somerset have won the toss and are batting.
More later...... Talk to you online.
Our 'Poke'
Looks good to start with as we have 16 off the first over...unfortunately 13 of them come from Trescothick who is dubiously given out LBW by Willey off the last ball. Craig K looks good but Justin sends himself in at number three...good move? History says not.
And it looks like history is right as Kieswetter is the next to go and we are witness to the captain and Zander (don't send him in until Langer is out for heaven's sake) scratching about to make singles against good tight bowling from Plunkett, Gidman (especially Gidman) and Evans. It is blessed relief when the skipper goes for a measly 13 off far too many balls but ZdB has scored 1 off his first 12 and in comparison, Hildreth hits double figures off his first 5. Once again the first 15 overs of our innings have absolutely no urgency about them - admittedly against excellent wicket to wicket bowling.
It isn't really until Ben Harmison and Gareth Breese are put on that the Somerset men get the chance to open their shoulders a little. Hildreth is in the 30's when Zander finally realises that they need to push on and just as he starts to put himself about, James goes into his shell and the South African almost passes him.
The introduction of Scott Brthwick gives us hope for better and the first example of Zander coming up the wicket to smack the all over the outfield for four. Bondaries are few and far between. James has the same idea - but fails first ballagainst the young spinner...up the wicket, miss the ball and then turn around to see his bails on the floor. In comes Peter T with orders it seems. However they probably included the phrase, "get your eye in and...". Trigger missed that bit, comes up the wicket to Borthwick's first and skies the ball so high that Gidman has enough time to make a cup of tea before it plops into his hands. Idiotic!!
Arul walks out with us needing big runs quick and Zander surprisingly heading for a 50 off someting like 60 balls! He gets there and makes his score look respectable though it was turgid in the extreme for the first half. But Suppiah has other ideas and takes Borthwick on and hits him for 18 off the first over he faces. But just as we think that it's going on at a better rate, de Bruyn goes with about 5 overs to go. And in comes.....Omari Banks!!!! Why? With Ben Phillips coming off a career best for Somerset in the last game of 86 waiting...Why?
Suppiah makes us respectable with a truly excellent 50 off 29 balls and gets us past 240 with a poor final over from Harmison and a four to take him past the half ton off the last ball. Omari does his part with 10 but he simply doesn't look like a batsman who should be there for these kind of games.
We are at least 25 short at 242 - very poor pacing of this innings and we've opened this up for Durham to ush through us. A good bowling perfromance is essential and we only have something to bowl at because of the work of Mr Arul Suppiah.
The Reply
Starts off as a massacre as Mustard and Blackwell push the score on at 10 and 11 an over against very poor and very loose bowling from Charl and Alf. There is nothing good to say about the bowling. Willow is taken off at the OP end after only 2 and we see Omari on at the River before the 9th.... no difference however as he goes for over 12 off his first. Mustard is caught by Trego at 79 but he has 39 to his name and it's only the 8th over!!
Things in Worcestershire look really interesting as the "Pears" are taking the Sharks on while we are throwing this one away!
Ian Blackwell's return is cut short as he is skittled by a pearler from Charl (returning at the River end) at 94. His fans under the electronic scoreboard with their 'Welcome Home Blackie' banner give him a standing ovation and when Smith is caught by Thomas running around the Caddick Pavilion boundary at 106 we have ourselves a game on again.
The press is on and the Durham boys are finding it a little harder to get anything as the score from New Road keeps mounting in terms of Sussex wickets and Somerset put their backs to the weel and look to grind Durham out. Harmison goes for a second run and is run out comprehensively by Suppiah at 137 - about this time the main scoreboard packs up completely - announced by the tannoy system which gave up the ghost after about 5 minutes of our innings!!
At the halfway point this is a game again and it becomes much more of a game when Coetzer is bowled by Ben Phillips with 160 on the board and 22.4 overs gone. Durham still have this game in their hands but we are at least putting up something of a fight. Trego and Phillips are giving the Dynamos something to think about and in the 25th Zander is introduced to effect a change....hopefully.
But there is no change and although Worcestershire do their part of the deal and beat Sussex, with 4 overs to go at the home of cricket it doesn't look like the fairy tale is gonna come true. Durham on 224 with 3.4 to go look like they have weathered the storm. 19 runs off 3.5 overs seems good but at that moment Muchal smacks one straight into Tres's big hands and it's 224 for 6 - he goes for an excellent 61. Well done Zander de Bruyn. This brings Liam Plunkett to the wicket.
Great crowd and great atmosphere as ZdB finishes the over without conceding another run. 224 for 6 with 3 to go. Alf to bowl over 38 but it's to that man Breese!! He hits the first for four and scrambles a single off the second but Plunkett is beaten by the third!! The fourth is a clapped in full throated full ball which becomes a dot but Liam gets the fifth away and runs to the other end. Ball six is also clapped in but Breese gets it away and they run two. 232 for 6 with 12 balls to go.
11 off 12 with Ben Phillips on at the OP to bowl to Plunkett. Ball 1 is a dot. Ball 2 is a couple. Ball 3 is a huge belt to Wesley John Durston who takes the catch and Liam smacks his bat on his helmet. 234 for 7. In comes Gidman but Breese is on strike. Ball 4 starts and then stops because Gareth isn't ready. Then he's in and it's a dot as he tries to clip it to the leg side. Ball 5 he tries a reverse sweep and it is picked up by Omari and there's a single. Langer talks to his bowler....Ball 6 to Gidman produces a single and puts the ex-Gloucestershire man on strike.
Alf will bowl the last to singing and cheering from a partisan crowd.. They need 7 off 6!! Big organisation of the field and off we go. Four off a snick past the keeper. Not a chance but four runs. But it is followed by Alf taking out Gidman's off stump with the second ball. Bortwick in needing 3 off 4 240 for 8.
Ball 3 - dot ball! 3 off 3. Ball 4 Trigger loses it and they run 3 - game over. Pictures of Sussex celebrating in Worcester and we come second. Best we could have hped for really. Not the ending we wanted but the ending we probably deserved.
Second people prize money - Durham win by 2 wickets with 2 balls to spare. Thanks to Worcestershire fgor their efforts - we seem to think that becasew we beat them we get second even though we have the same number of wins.
Stroming end...but there'll be those who will find the black lining in the silver clouds.
No trophies but 2nd in this, 3rd in the Championship, Runners up in the T20 and quarter finalists in the 50 over? And all without Ian? I'd have taken that in April 2009....I'd have loved more but that will sustain me personally over the winter.
Winter well lvvies who now leave Grockle's shores for winter pursuits. For the resat of you - in the words of Ian Gillan of Deep Purple..."The Battle Rages on" and India beckons in a weeks time.
Till then my people...until then....
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:10:11:12:57:43 by Grockle.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
I will be sitting in my front room watching as far as possible with a few scrumpys. Give JL a cheer from me.
Please get in touch if you can.
Many thanks

Have one question for all, would you play hildreth? for me the answer is no. Had to many chances this season and to much of a risk for me in this game.

What's the convention for meeting up? Red carnations? Copy of the Times or WDP under the arm? On Gimblett's Hill - or the Banger Stand?
Most Grockles are on the Gimblett Hill Shep although they tend to dot about the place in their own favourite little haunts.
There could be a lot of people there tomorrow so there may even be some there we've never met before! Hope you'll all introduce yourselves to each other - it's a long time until April 2010.

But not your colleague.
Taunton Based EH

It would be perfect if my spelling was correct.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:09:27:13:49:08 by Mike BOS.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
I think we're at least 30 or 40 runs short of a good total. Unfortunately this can only be attributable to JL wasting 6 overs of a powerplay earlier. But let's hope we can start taking wickets soon. 51-0 off 4.3 overs for Durham doesn't look good. Especially since Worcs are in a pretty good position.
Fingers crossed.


Must be time to start rejigging the batting line-up for the Indian gig. JL has to stand aside and let Arul move up, for a start. And how about Wes in at 5 or 6?
India could still be exciting, if the selectors tweak the line-up just a little. We've also got Max and Steff on the sidelines. So with a bit of flexible thinking there's still hope for the very near future ...
But where are the wickets going to come from?
C'mon lads.....fight till the end.
On the one hand, our one-day team has improved, hand over fist, this season.
On the other?
Ever since the FP Trophy group games ended, Langer has been a liability with the bat in these games. 13 off 36 balls is, clearly, thoroughly inadequate.
So long as Tres can keep everybody on their toes for next season, we SHOULD be an even better one-day team with Kartik in it, rather than Langer.
(In practice, I know it will be Kartik for Banks and A N Other for Langer, but it should still be stronger.)
On paper, the bowlers Durham have picked for this one are NOT necessarily better than ours. Sounds as though they appear to have been much better on grass, though, although suspect our guys would have been fine bowling to Langer in 13 off 36 form.
We've already lost Edwards, don't want to lose Durston too. Or is that their faces simply don't fit?
There should be an unwritten rule that Langer and de Bruyn NEVER bat together unless there is no other alternative.
Why send Omari in ahead of both Phillips and Thomas with Arul gong like a train? What the hell did Peter T think he was doing - Ian Backwell at his daftest didn't do that...at least he waited a couple of balls.
This was a 250 minimum pitch but we didn't start to worry about that until about the 18th over - too damn late.
Thay are pulling it back into some semblence of a game but Durham are half way home with 13 down - can't keep pulling it out of the fire through sheer bloody mindedness.
Durham looked like a good bowling side...we don't simple as....and if our batting doesn't fire then.......

But there's still a chance, especially with Sussex 80-4 off 17 chasing 215.
Hmmmm - pulling this one out of the fire? Don't think we deserve to but who cares if we do?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:09:27:16:45:42 by Grockle.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Durham batting line-up looks quite short, since they used IDB at the top... but will we bowl anything like well enough?
So I think we can forgive him his innings, as well as some shortcomings as captain. He's given Somerset a solid base from which to progress for years to come.
But here - we need WICKETS!!
And Sussex's match.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:09:27:16:55:29 by Mike BOS.
Your point?
Anyway, Durham's fourth has fallen in the meantime. Still in it.
A couple more wickets and we're really back in the chase.
Two quick wickets though and you will be right back in it. Durham are playing the middle overs now and have two batsmen at the crease not known for their big hitting so this may bring the rate down too.
* For example;
"They are going to bowl Suppiah from the end with the short boundary, yet again, which is stupid as usual."
Phillips has recovered from a rough start, by the look of it.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:09:27:17:16:51 by Chinaman.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Come on, own up.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
FE will tell me I've got it wrong again, no doubt.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Sounds like Banks is letting us down badly with his fielding.
Always 30 short - good fightback after disastrous first 10, but the batsmen left us with too much to do.
So can we now see Arul up the order finally? And perhaps Wes given a go in India? (Sorry to bang on, but it's really about time).
Almost though Ben and Alfie had pulled it out of the fire.
Can't comment on anything but the last three overs, because I was watching encouraging things from England.
Still, second in this and third in the CC. It's all progress!
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:09:27:18:28:00 by Loyal of Lhasa..
Those pitches will probably be much like Taunton in that we will need all of our batsmen to score at better than a run a ball to win..
The place has cleared very quickly but it was a good day for the supporter even with the wrong result.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:09:27:18:37:24 by Grockle.
Surely they are allowed on the field now that the season is over; KT would like them to trample on the pitches, all thirty of them.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
End of a good season, could have been better but it could have been a hell of a lot worse.
Everybody have a good winter I am going to hibernate.
Have a good hibernate and keep us up to date with a few pics over the winter.
It's always nice to keep up with things in the dark months.
Have a good move as well!
I have a feeling there is going to be a lot of Somerset news in the winter months, could even be about cricket.
Today we did not,losing Tres early was a massive blow to us and Blackie and Mustards partnership always left us behind the 8 ball.
Great effort though in the middle overs to try and claw it back,but we were always 20 short.
Fantastic atmosphere down there and even better when the updates kept on coming through from New Road.
I would like to thank the boys for a entertaining season and we aint far away from bringing some silverware back to the home of cricket!!!
COACH
Last game of the season and we arent allowed on the field at interval or even more stupidly at the end of the game, why?
Maybe its so we cant throw all those cans we arent allowed to bring in at the players?
The tannoy system if nothing short of an embarrassment, its a running joke with most supporters but what must opposition teams players/fans think.
Scoreboards are no better, we have 2, 1 tends to work but is often slow, the other just seems to make up random numbers.
Shame to end the season on a sour note, lets hope we can win some cash in India to fix it all...
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Another sad thing at the end of the day was that the CA Pavilion was open until 7:30 and there were a few old lags there......we saw no players/officials of any kind before they shut down.
At least one long serving member said this was the reason he was not renewing next year. The Caddyshack was off limits to eager supporters. The CA seemed off limits to the players as well. There is no bar in the Caddyshack but booze is now being brought in and the players seem to congregate on the pitch outside after the games rather than with the supporters who follow them.
Not sure whether that is a popular aspect of the new regime with them or not but personally I think we've lost something because of it. They should have the choice...I don't think they do have.

LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
It was reading the comments of someone proporting to be passionate about our county who only posted his view on the Durham site and assessed today's game only in relation to the pathetic batting of Justin (can't really argue there I have to say) and the majestic six hit by that legend of Somerset we all seem to be missing IDB.
The replacement for Ian this season hasn't been Omari Banks. He isn't a top six batsmen (he showed that today) and his fielding isn't wonderful. We've got the wrong man.
The replacement for Ian this year is the man who has been asked to step up to the plate and get the side out of it's batting problems in the one day game more than once. He's the man that should have been asked more often to come to the plate with the ball but was passed over for the West Indian (though a better potential bowler IMHO)and he is the man who improves our fielding immeasurably by his presence.
That man is ARUL SUPPIAH and he is a man on a par with Ian Blackwell now. HIS innings today knocked the big man from Durham's into a cocked hat. HIS run out brought us back into this game.
You want to support an slow bowling batting allrounder in a Somerset kit? Don't pine for something that has gone. Support something that can be as much if not more. Support OUR slow allrounder and his 1200 first class runs, his stupendous catches that Ian could only dream of even before his shoulder injury and his bowling that needs to be developed.
We don't need Omari, we have our replacement from Mr B thank you very much and long may HE play for us.

I can't understand why he was picked ahead of say Waller.
He is a nice chap but I comment on his cricket ability, why the delay in announcing the decision on his contract baffles me.
It can't be for his batting - though he was considered a better bet than both Ben Phillips and Alf with about 5 overs to go.
It can't be for his fielding - he is no equal to Max
So it must have been for his bowling. He was considered as the 'go to' option when the opening Durham pair were going for runs in the first 5 overs.
Does Justin see more in him? Are we looking at him as a significant player in next year's plans? Has Max gone off the boil after looking like a real option in the one day game earlier in the season?
No idea. I think Omari is the real 'spinner' of the ball we have but that doesn't mean a lot unless he can use it to take wickets - that is all he has IMHO.

It sounded like an excellent game,a real thriller.
Sad that we didn't quite pull it off,but that's life I'm afraid.
Hats off to all for a fantastic season,a superb effort by all.
It's not all about winning boys and girls,it's about entertainment.
And I can assure you all,there are many thousands of people who have been right royally entertained by our lads this year.
We'll come back next year stronger and wiser.
I have a feeling it could well be a very big year for us all.
Omari's is to be decided along with Wes post India?
Waller is a better fielder, and in my opinion has done a better job for us when called on in the one dayers anyway.
As we shouldnt be picking a mainline spinner for their batting ability, i am baffled
Just wanted to say it's the best place in the world to be on a day like today - I was like a dog with two tails just soaking it all in, great to go back for the first time in a few years.
Thanks to Grockle for the comp ticket and his company during Durham's run-chase, and brilliant to meet Doncaster Dud, Bagpuss, bloke (thanks for the pint) and maybe others I've forgotten - but I couldn't forget the big man: Tractor, no-one supports a team like you support Somerset, good on you buddy you were special today. Hope to join you all and others to do it all again (with more success) next year.
We seem to have offered a one year extension.
It seems highly likely that Steff will go to Derbyshire in some capacity next season but will be in the Somerset squad for the India trip

I hope that we really look at our resources and make every effort to retain our best playing assets this year. I think it would be a shame to lose Wes who never seems to have let us down and, unless we sign a FM bowler with a clean bill of health, Stef should still be worth his place in the squad although I suppose if Derby offer him something longer than a season he will go. I just hope we learn from past events,I know we can't change them.
So here's looking forward to a stronger squad next year bringing home at least two trophies including of course the County Championship in what (in common with LoL) will be my 62nd season supporting Somerset.
But it doesn't change the fact that we would clearly have been better off with IDB in the team than we would Omari Banks.
In my opinion, the only reason the club said last season that Arul was being picked ahead of IDB was because they thought it would reduce the chances of opposition to IDB being left out. I think they thought - rightly - that if they said Ian was being left out in favour of Banks, there would be total uproar.
There is NO logical reason whatsoever why IDB and Arul could not have played in the same limited overs side.
Perhaps we should too?
A more pertinent question for this year is whether Arul should have played higher up the batting order in the short stuff?
What a great game that was, in every way but the result. Fantastic weather from start to finish, a huge and excited crowd, some scintillating cricket at times, a very pleasurable sprinkling of Grocklers (incl SP - a nice suprise), and a firm reminder how enjoyable and fulfilling a day at the County Ground can be.
Comedy moment 1: Bobo. He came out of the Caddyshack, paused halfway to the crease, dropped his bat and did some fairly impressive warm-up routine. This guy meant business. He gets to the crease full of intent, first ball gets whacked, straight up in the air, cheerio.
Comedy moment 2: Streaker. An entirely non-hirsuite non-clothed character bounds from the Somerset Stand, onto the pitch, over the stumps, and across towards the Caddyshack, straight into the arms of a security guard who was desperate to look the other way.
I took my Mum, Dad, Sister and assorted ankle-biters. We all sat in the Somerset Stand (a triumph, in my opinion). My mum, who has never attended a game before, enjoyed herself from start to finish, and the rest of my family did too.
Oh, and I wasn't driving, so was permitted some cider. It was a pleasure to meet and buy you a pint SP. Tractor bought me one later on, for which thanks. So, LoL, could you buy Tractor a pint next season and we're all quits.
What an advert for cricket, and for Somerset.
Quote:could you buy Tractor a pint next season and we're all quits
Provided my lad doesn't kick it over!!
And I can assure you all,there are many thousands of people who have been right royally entertained by our lads this year."
For me, this has been a most enjoyable season. The highlights were watching Somerset in the flesh - for the first time in many years - for one day of the CC game at Hove and for all four days of the return fixture at Taunton. And the best part of that was the company of some of the stalwarts of this site. I have also seen the team several times on Sky and on the YouTube highlights.
I have been very encouraged by the progress of a number of our players. Arul Suppiah heads this list: when I saw him bat in the first innings at Hove, he looked distinctly scratchy; but as he has gained in confidence throughout the season, he has blossomed into a most attractive and effective batsman. I have also hugely enjoyed Marcus Trescothick's annus mirabilis - he has taken over Ramprakash's mantle as the most effective batsman in county cricket. Craig Kieswetter has batted splendidly and his keeping continues to improve. Others to have made progress this season include David Stiff - it is great to have a genuinely quick bowler in our ranks and he has the potential to become a real handful - Alfonso Thomas and Max Waller.
Any team should always strive to improve. Among other things,this may mean bringing in some fresh faces. But I would not want us to bring in a whole set of players, with no affinity with Somerset, merely to make us a marginally stronger team, at least on paper. I am pleased that a number of our players are local lads (at least from their school days) and that others have been here sufficiently long to have become adopted sons.
Of course, the season would have been even more enjoyable if we had won a trophy or two. Nevertheless, I have thoroughly enjoyed almost all of it. As I look forward to India and then next season, my cup is at least 90% full.
Looking back, I feel one thing that distinguished 2009 from 2008 was that it seemed a particularly happy season, as evinced from the obvious esprit de corps on the part of Langer and his men.
And Bloke: consider it done. Tractor certainly deserves an extra pint for his massive efforts in maintaining collective morale at the ground (and I don't think his innate modesty would stand in the way of accepting a small libation).
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Is that the new cider he's drinking?
I'm sure he'd rather a large one.
As it were.
Yesterday was very enjoyable - the atmosphere created by the fans was terrific and I think the new flats (love them or loathe them) actually help by reflecting the sound back across the ground.
A real nail-biting finish. But I ended with the feeling we had not quite pulled it off rather than had it in our hands but dropped it. My cup ended certainly 90% full rather than 10% empty!
Players gave JL a respectful send off at the end - holding back and allowing him to exit the field to their applause. I was was however sickened to hear fans chanting at the end 'If you all hate Langer clap your hands'. It was totally inappropriate and offensive. He has done great things for Somerset cricket and deserves our unstinting thanks. (Even if some of his team choices, tactics and batting have sometimes left us bemused).
Sorry that the club decided to ban fans from outfield at the end and said no kit would be thrown from the balcony. Bad PR - and sounds as tho' they would not let players mingle in the Colin Atkinson pavilion after either. Shame on them.
Ans so to India...
(Edited to add negative in last para)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:09:28:12:00:44 by Sloop John B.
It has been a brilliant year.
And as Tory Blair famously said,"things can only get better".
Forward now unto India;
"Mother of Cities to me,
For I was born in her gate,
Between the palms and the sea,
Where the world-end steamers wait."
Well,it's the right country.
I think the fans would have drowned out the 'moaners'.
It would have been good to see the team on the Caddyshack balcony acknowledging their fans and give the fans a last chance to say 'Thank you' to JL.
Take great pleasure if I am wrong.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
A couple of good additions in the winter and maybe we will become the "finished article" that Mr Hurry craves.
On to India now...come the the Somerset
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
I keep trying to catch up but always seem to be one year behind you.
I only told him last year to go to work on an egg,because happiness is a cigar called Hamlet and not to be vague,ask for Hague.
I tell you,he was do do do do do we're lovin'it.
Have a nice day now.
You missed the second ) there.
Fragrant no doubt, but slipping.
Cheers,
VtF.
What a fantastic finale that was to the domestic cricket season. Sure, not the result we wanted, but the game was entertaining to the last, and what an atmosphere. I chatted to one of the genuine Bobbies on the ground who said they'd been informed there were over 4000 in the ground. Correct! I reckon there must have been almost 7000. I've never seen such a long queue at the OP bar (snaking round the bar and outside the double doors). I managed to time my queuing to miss both Banger's and Trego's innings, but managed to see a lot in between and after!
What a lot of Grocklites as well (many thanks SP for your kind words earlier). There were probably enough to have a dedicated Grockles Bar on the ground!
After Durham's fantastic start didn't we do well to claw them back and nearly snatch it? Great stuff, and so nearly, but not quite. Truly, an incredibly successful season, trophyless (so far) but we came so close in ALL competitions.
Really hope the lads do well in this Champions League wotsit, both this year and next as defending champions. I’m unlikely to make it down to the OP for my (and Lol’s) pie & pint – surely some ambassador chappie could rustle up some Ferrari Rockets for afters?
I’m gonna try and have a go at one or two of Bloke’s new Cryptic Pic Tricks (try saying that after a few apple juices), and before I know it, it’ll be the start of another new season.
Cheers.
Thanks for your occasional company this past summer, Tractor, and all other Grockleites. The season went by far too quickly and let's hope the winter months do too.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Quote:Tractor
I chatted to one of the genuine Bobbies on the ground who said they'd been informed there were over 4000 in the ground. Correct! I reckon there must have been almost 7000.
I don't know what the official capacity of the ground is, but assume that it must be much higher than it was following the construction of the two stands on the western side of the ground. Interestingly I was delving into Wisden yesterday evening and noted that in the penultimate home JPL match of 1979 (the year we first won it), A crowd of some 10,000 added £8000 to Moseley's testimonial fund.
If it's in Wisden I am inclined to believe it. Does that mean Tractor's figure of 7,000 is an under-estimate or were people smaller and more sardine-shaped thirty years ago?
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
