The Sixties : RCC Annual Dinner & Dances

RCC Annual Dinner programmes from 1960-1964, 1968-1969

Teams from the 60s

Rayleigh CC in the Sixties Back Row - L-R : Norman Perriman, John Garrett, Michael Jackson, Joe Watson, Gerald Barnes, Mickey Sparks, Frank Entwistle, George Headland Front Row - Albert Coker, M Graham, John Monk, David Morgan.

Back Row - L-R : Tony Tanton, Jack Webster, Jack Pyle, Allan Olley, P McCormick, Albert Coker, John Dowling Front Row - M Graham, Phil Phillips, Bob Pinkerton, Ron Brewin, Young Tanton

The First Rayleigh Tour – Ireland 1969

Back L-R : Dr Fred Emery, Bob Pinkerton, Alan Olley, David Pinkerton, Mike Davill, Don Abbey, Phil Pillips, John Dowling Front : M Graham, D Thomas, unknown, Marjorie Blower, Ron Brewer, P McCormick

The Port-O-Call at Donaghadee

Tour Report from 1969

The Rayleigh Nondescripts touring party returned home recently having spent a most enjoyable four days in Ireland. In between matches against Northern Ireland C.C, and Queens’s University, the party paid a visit on an ex-resident of Rayleigh and a great favourite with all Southend United supporters, ex-skipper Sam McCrory. Sam and his wife have a delightful public house, the Port-O-Call, at Donaghadee, a charming little coastal resort just a few miles from Bangor. For anyone visiting the Port-O-Call the draught Guinness is highly recommended by sixteen Rayleigh cricketers.

The opening game against Northern Ireland Cricket Club proved, as expected, to be a strong fixture. On winning the toss Rayleigh elected to bat and found runs difficult to come by against an accurate attack supported by some first class fielding. Thanks to good knocks by skipper Bob Pinkerton and Ray Pilkington the score reached 107 all-out.

In reply the home team lost an early wicket and in turn found runs hard to get against the bowling of McCormick, Davill and Pinkerton. After a cautious second wicket stand which added some 30 runs, the Rayleigh bowlers were rewarded for their efforts with three quick wickets. However, with the Northern Ireland score at 47 for 4 wickets, rain ended what promised to be an interesting finish.

The second fixture was played in the beautiful grounds of Queen’s University situated just a few miles from the centre of Belfast to make the occasion as enjoyable an possible the day was warm and sunny. Once again Bob Pinkerton won the toss and Rayleigh batted first. After a somewhat slow start against medium paced bowling, the batsmen began to push the score along thanks to John Dowling and Albert Coker. By the tea interval Rayleigh were all-out with 126 on the board of which John Dowling had contributed a very welcome 50.

In reply the University batsmen went for the runs from the start of the innings, although they found it no easy taskagainst Thomas and McCormick. However, the persistence of the Rayleigh attack had its reward and with only 70 runs on the board the University were running out of both time and batsmen. At this stage Michael Davill, who had agreed to play for the home team as they were one short, came to the wicket. In a matter of two or three overs he completely changed the state of the game by scoring a quick 30 runs, However a brilliant catch by Robert Coker ended the onslaught which had particularly been directed against Ron Brewin and theremaining wickets fell quickly leaving Rayleigh the winners by 22 runs.

News Clippings

RCC 1965 Handbook

Thanks to Mrs Anne Graham & Gerald Barnes.