Minor Counties, Sheffield Collegiate, England Over 60s.
Cricket is a time consuming sport, but it seems Nick exemplifies just how much – over more years, than most … essentially as an amateur.
The Devon born batsman played Minor Counties with them – getting a 100 at Lord’s – until moving to Sheffield when he was 35 years old. Thinking that his involvement was winding down, things took a different turn when he joined Sheffield Collegiate CC.
Is he the only player to have shared century stands with Matt Root, Joe and Billy? And to play for MCC in the European Cricket Championship in … Denmark? Coaching and teaching PE at Worksop College kept him busy in the game, as did assisting the Roots found their Academy.
That expertise was utilised in establishing the fabulous Desert Springs Cricket Academy in Almeria, Spain, which became a training base for England and numerous other professional teams.
Nick continued playing, further down the leagues and for Yorkshire Over 50s, Over 60s and, ultimately, England Over 60s. When they beat Australia 3-1, his century at Southport was one of only two in the ‘Grey Ashes’ history.
The story doesn’t finish there. He was the Barmy Army tour manager when the fans’ group went to Dharamshala, India, met the Dalai Lama (“seems a nice bloke”), and played at Bradford against Pakistan.
He said, “There seems to have been lots of once-in-a-lifetime moments and they keep on coming. It all seems ridiculous.” Never a truer word said, Nick.