Geoff’s early sporting successes were at Manston School in Leeds, where he achieved several notable feats, including a 10-fer and 36 not out in a resounding win in a schools’ cup final.
Although on the books at Leeds United, he knew he wanted to play cricket and soon he was in the Yorkshire nets under the legendary coach, Arthur Mitchell. The hardest of hard taskmasters, the players countered his shouting by hoping it meant Mitchell was interested enough to re-sign them for the next season.
He was selected to play in his first match for Yorkshire at Bradford Park Avenue. Immediately, he saw the step-up in grade – the hard white pitch, his heroes around him in the dressing room … including Fred Trueman. Geoff had the warmest words possible for Fred, who seemed almost to take him under his wing, off and on the pitch. There he offered his sage advice, such as to bowl into Colin Milburn’s legs, “because he won’t get bat round belly to bray thee”. Geoff then had Milburn out, but Colin at least said “well bowled” to this youngster as he walked off.
Another huge influence was Johnny Wardle, a genius in Geoff’s view. When problems with his action emerged, Trueman suggested he approach Wardle, who, Geoff said, “taught him the lot”. Johnny offered specific advice on bowling, but on occasion he imaginatively suggested that their session should just include a walk and a chat, nothing more. Johnny seemed to develop a genuine empathy with him, even saying that any future progress would be to Geoff’s credit and he (Wardle) would take the blame if his advice did not work.
Geoff got to know many cricket journalists, including E W Swanton, the Yorkshire-based John Helm (a long-time friend and supporter during his bowling action tribulations, and later during his eyesight problems), and the incomparable John Arlott, about whom he shared many amusing anecdotes.
This was an entertaining and very moving talk by a dyed-in-the-wool cricket man, who loves both the game and YCCC, which he has served with such distinction in many roles, including having a major hand in helping to save the club from its serious financial problems of the early 2000s. While happy enough to tell us about his cricketing exploits, he seemed even happier to pay full tribute to those who, in different aspects of his life, had helped and supported him. But his own resilience brought him through his problems as a player, without affecting his decent good nature and affability. These qualities shone through on a memorable evening. (Reg Goodchild)
Geoff went on to become the President of Yorkshire CCC and is a very well loved and respected former player. Despite his vision impairment he gets to many YCCC matches – Home and Away.