Issue 40

Our European Adventure There is an early start next year for Carlton’s cricketers as they take part in ECL22 the so called Champions League of European cricket, to be held in Malaga in February. In a 3 day blitz, Carlton will play Turkish, Czech, Swiss, Romanian, and Italian club champions in a round robin T10 format for a place in March’s finals. Carlton is very grateful for the support of CALA Homes, Chambers Tutoring, Umair Mohammed Dentistry, and Ben Property in this exciting venture. There will be more on the opposing teams in coming Newsletters, but in the meantime here are some language tips for the players to add to their practice drills. Phrase Turkish Czech Romanian Italian Swiss (German) How's that O nasil Jakto Cum e Com’e quello Wei ist das Middle and leg Orta ve bacak Stred a noha Mijloc si picior Mezzo e gamba Mitte und bein Reverse swing Ters salincak Zpetny vykyv Leagan invers Oscillazione inversa Ruckwartssch wung Rain stopped play Yagmur oyunu durdurdu Dest prestal hrat Ploaia a oprit jocul La oggia ha semsso di giocare Regen hat aufgehort zu spielen @EuropeanCricket

PURPLE HAZE Scotland’s cricketers have returned with heads held high following their adventures in the recent T20 World Cup. Next year they do it all again in Australia. It is all very well strutting your stuff on the world stage, but how have the squad members fared at the biggest stage of all - Grange Loan? A number of the squad have yet to make their debut at Grange Loan - their careers have been based in the south or the west. While skipper Kyle Coetzer’s appearances may have been limited to pre-season friendly visits with his club Benwell Hill, others have came in search of league or cup glory. How have they fared against the might of Carlton? The table on the next page summarises their best performances. The most frequent visitor has been Safyaan Sharif with 12 appearances. He first came to Grange Loan as a junior with Largo in 2006. He took a couple of wickets but his Dad stroked 115*. Since then Safyaan has played at GL with a range of club and representative sides, most recently in 2018 with Glenrothes. Maybe it is no surprise that the best bowling figures are Mark Watt’s 5-30 in 2014, or that the best batting has been by George Munsey who has 2 GL centuries from his 7 visits. (Members of the 4th XI are confident that neither knock is a patch on his 110 at the Meadows when he turned out for Musselburgh 2 in a League 8 encounter in 2010.) Carlton’s own Ali Evans has made 127 appearances at GL with best bowling 6-19 v StewMel in 2021 and a top innings of 108 v Corstorphine in 2020.

Player Appear- ances at GL Team Best Batting Best Bowling Safyan Sharif 12 Largo Dunfermline Glenrothes Scotland u19 National Academy Clydesdale SCU President's XI Falkland 92 (Falkland) 28/5/16 7.2-1-19-4 Nat Acad 15/8/2010 Craig Wallace 11 Forfarshire National Academy SCU President's XI 62 SCU President's XI 6/8/2013 Mark Watt 9 Heriots 57 6/7/2017 13-1-30-5 16/8/14 George Munsey 7 Grange Watsonians 177* Grange 6/6/2015 101 Watsonians 5/5/2018 Michael Leask 6 Stoneywood Dyce Forfarshire National Academy 88 S/woodDyce 31/8/2013 11-2-42-2 17/5/2014 Chris Greaves 5 Glenrothes Forfarshire 162 (v2ndXI) 22/08/2015 81 (v1stXI) 14/05/2016 3.5-0-25-3 (v2ndXI) 28/6/2014 10-0-54-1 (v1stXI) 14/05/2016 Richie Berrington 5 Greenock Clydesdale SCU President's XI 101 (ret) (SCU President's XI) 6/8/2013 6-1-29-1 (Clydesdale) 2/9/2016 Dylan Budge 4 Grange 22 23/7/2018 6.4-1-28-2 5/8/2020 Matthew Cross 3 Heriots Aberdeenshire 41* A’shire 30/5/2009 Calum McLeod 1 SCU President's XI 5 6/8/2013 7-0-21-1 6/8/2013 THE PURPLE LIDS AT GRANGE LOAN

As I’m sat here writing this on a Saturday afternoon, I’ve been thinking about what brings us cricketers together. I can tell you one thing for sure, we all miss it when we’re not playing. I’m finding myself already checking Twitter for the scores, seeing if the lads have done the job. But it isn’t just playing the game we all love that I’m missing. It’s being part of a club like Carlton. For those readers who don’t know me, I’ve played for Carlton for the last few years, mainly opening the batting for the Two’s . Sadly, I’ve had to cut my Carlton career short, having moved to London half way through this season. You can take this passage as my note of thanks to you and everyone else at the club that will always hold a special place in my heart. That bond you feel towards the club you play for is special. We all feel it, and sometimes it’s difficult to explain to anyone not clued up on the sport. It’s not just about playing, it’s everything in-between, and Carlton Cricket Club embodies everything I love about cricket. It’s the one club mindset. Despite the huge depth at the club, putting out 6 sides every weekend (4 of which I’ve been lucky enough to play for), there are no divisions. We come together as one, challenging each other in training and helping each other become better. I remember being gutted after losing a 2nd team match, and then 10 minutes later celebrating with the boys when we heard the One’s had just won. It might be a team game played by individuals, but at Carlton we all thrive when our teammates do well. This, by the way, really helps when the Ump has triggered you early doors for the second week running. It’s also the club rivalries. There’s no better feeling than singing with your mates after beating that team you love to hate. I’d say the rivalries are healthy at Carlton. They motivate us to stay that little bit longer at training and work that extra bit harder in the middle. It hurts when you lose, but that just makes the beer taste so much sweeter when you win. Most of all though, it’s the people that make Carlton. The players, the members, your pals. The people that get the game on at the weekend, prepare the ground and pour the pints. The people that coach the juniors, run the camps and nurture the next generation. The people that make the moments you remember; great catches and grind-it-out innings’, last-ball nail biters and dressing room beers, big hits and bigger nights out. The people that are worth staying out with in Subway ‘til 3am on a Tuesday night, who won’t let you go home when you’re working the next day, who play the odd rain card (sorry Skip) dancing to Abba tunes the night before a game. This is what club cricket is all about. I was grateful to be asked to contribute to the newsletter. It’s given me the chance to say a proper thank you to everyone who’s welcomed me at the club and helped create memories I’ll have for a very long time. I miss playing already, but I’ll miss this club even more. It’s been an absolute honour. I wish all the teams the best of luck for the future and I hope to see you all again. Go well (and up the Arrows)! MISSING CHRIS We were sorry to see Chris McAllister’s career take him to London mid-season Another 50 for Chris

‘In the spring of 1871 matters were so much down that a meeting of the seven or eight remaining members was held in the Old Ship Hotel East Register Street to consider the questions of winding up the Club’s affairs. The question however was never mooted as J H I Macfarlane then and there proposed sixteen men for membership amongst whom were several well-known English public school cricketers; so the situation was saved and a capital season’s cricket carried out.’ Macfarlane, a physician at the Royal Infirmary, was an all round athlete - a brilliant short distance runner, long jump and hurdles champion who played rugby for Scotland at ‘quarter-back, half-back and forward.’ Macfarlane had earlier that year played in the first ever rugby international between Scotland and England - a victory for Scotland. As far as cricket goes, he is described as a steady bat and one of the last underarm bowlers. He was vice-captain of Carlton and had been leading run scorer in 1870. He died tragically young in 1874 at the age of 22. He had rheumatic fever complicated with pericarditis attributed to having lain on the cold ground for some time after dislocating his knee in a rugby match. Christie had suffered a leg injury on the football field and so was always granted a runner when batting. He bowled slow leg breaks, taking only two short steps of a run up. NL Stevenson records that Carlton’s match record in 1871 was 9 wins and 4 defeats out of 13 games played. After flirting with winding up, Carlton went on to prosper and in the subsequent year sponsored the Gentlemen of Edinburgh v United South of England match which brought WG Grace to Edinburgh (see NL 18) and restored the Club’s finances. THE PAST IS ANOTHER COUNTRY Historians will remember 2021 as one of the most successful seasons in Carlton’s history. We take a look at the history books to find out how the club did 150, 100 and 50 years ago. 1871 saw the opening of the Royal Albert Hall and the publication of Alice Through the Looking Glass. Carlton Cricket Club was a mere 8 years old. There had been successes, but the future seemed uncertain. In his 1904 Retrospect of the early years of Carlton, one time Secretary and skipper, Robert Christie records:

In 1921 as society gradually recovered from the shattering impacts of the First World War, cricket continued to emerge from its hibernation. MCC had toured Australia in the winter and suffered a 5-0 whitewash - and were to face a further 3 defeats in the Ashes series that summer. The Irish War of Independence was at its height. But under the captaincy of NL Stevenson, the early ‘20s were a golden period at Grange Loan. At the end of the 1921 season the Scottish Field attempted to establish a ‘Scottish Cricket Championship.’ The records of 43 leading clubs over the season were examined. They reported: ‘The Carlton Cricket Club have finished another wonderful season and must rightly be acknowledged the most powerful side in Scotland.’ Carlton played 27 matches winning 24 - losing only one (to Grange!) The Edinburgh Evening Dispatch reported: ‘The great side of the season was the Carlton. They have an array of talent such as many clubs must have envied. The Carlton play the correct Saturday afternoon cricket - quick scoring all the time. Even if they had to face a big total, which was seldom, they were always out to get the runs if it were reasonably possible.’ Vice captain CS Paterson was the season’s leading player - scoring 944 runs with a highest score of 138* at an average of 37.76. He also took 102 wickets @7.12. Paterson was capped 11 times for Scotland between 1913-27, captaining the side on two occasions. The batting was bolstered on occasion by the appearance of GW Jupp, one of brightest stars of pre-war Scottish cricket. NL Stevenson says - ’it wasn’t safe to hold a garden party within 100 yards of Grange Loan while George Jupp was having his innings.’ 1921 - A Golden Year

At the end of the heady summer of 1971, during which Chirpee Chirpee Cheep Cheep had topped the charts, Carlton finished third in the then East League behind Stenhousemuir & Grange. Under the leadership of Alun Davies Carlton played 10 league matches (suggesting a somewhat wet summer) of which they won 6, lost two, and drew two. Wins were against Edinburgh University, Watsonians, Cupar, Royal High, Heriot’s, Leith Franklin. Matches with Stenhousemuir and Edinburgh Accies were drawn and there were losses to Kirkcaldy and Grange. Outside the league, Carlton lost in the third round of the Masterton Trophy to West Lothian and in the first round of the National knock-out to Stenhousemuir, for whom Brian Hardie scored 31 (before going on to play for Essex for many years). Carlton also lost in the second round of the Rothmans Quaich to West of Scotland, for whom Pakistani Test cricketer Salahuddin scored an undefeated 101. Carlton First XI 1971 Back Row - Chris Paul (scorer), George Innes, Fraser Dall (Jnr), Eddie Harper, Tony Clarkson, William Borthwick, Gus Reoch, Frank Millar, Jimmy Jappy; Front Row Jeremy Weatherhead, Alun Davies (Capt) Fraser Dall (Snr) (Pres) Chris Smith, Bruce Dixon. Notable players not in the photo included Archie Gray Alan Kemp and Norman Shanks. 1971 Topping the season’s averages were: batting, Fraser Dall, whose 7 innings yielded 254 runs @ 50.80. His highest score of 84* at Grange Loan against Edinburgh University was also the highest score of the season. Top bowler was George Innes with 28 wickets @ 20.44. The best bowling performance was however by Tony Clarkson who took 8-20 (7 bowled) at Leith Franklin. Clarkson was an Australian medic. He spent 3 years conducting research in Edinburgh before returning to Adelaide via London. He became a leading specialist on kidney disease. He died in 2011 and is well remembered in this obituary. On 27 June there was an intra-club Single Wicket competition; Alun Davies defeated Chris Smith in the final. In the first round, AR Clarkson scored one run but defeated Bruce Dixon, out without scoring! The second XI also finished third in their league with 8 wins out of 11 matches. Ten friendlies were also played.

I think I was nine or ten, and living in Dundee, when cricket grabbed me and I acquired my first bat, pads and primitive gloves with spiky rubber. By the time I was at secondary school we had moved to Stirling. Alongside the school teams, I had begun to go to Stirling County’s Williamfield where a group of us played together on the outfield until we were old and good enough to graduate to the nets. It must have been 1959 or thereabouts when I first played regularly for Stirling County’s 1st XI but the following year I left for St Andrews University where I had a not very distinguished season (the only Scot in the University team!) before, in the following three summers, succumbing to persuasion to come home to play for the County from the start of the season. In the autumn of 1964 I moved to Edinburgh to start a civil service job in the then Scottish Office. The choice as to where to play cricket there was not difficult: since the FP teams were not then open to outsiders, it was either Carlton or Grange; and, having played against both in friendlies and cup matches, the decision was straightforward and soon confirmed by the warm welcome I received and the seven very happy seasons that followed. I was never a stylish or very good batsman (I think I should now say ‘batter’!!), had few bowling aspirations, and always enjoyed fielding. I usually opened the batting but was really a bit of a right-hand ‘hacker’ with a tendency towards impatience and getting out too early – but there was always much good batting to follow. During my time at Grange Loan we never won the East League but we were almost there or thereabout – second, third or fourth. There was a continuing turnover of players (medics, university staff or post-graduates, others coming to Edinburgh to work then leaving again) but some stalwarts were ever-present: I remember especially the redoubtable Alun Davies, captain throughout my time at the club, Chris Smith, a fine all-rounder, Fred Dall, barman and later President, Ian Ewen, club treasurer, 2nd XI captain and wit extraordinaire, Chris Paul, scorer, and Jimmy Jappy, umpire, groundsman and much else: without their commitment the club would scarcely have survived. /cont’d 50 YEARS ON SEVEN HAPPY YEARS AT GRANGE LOAN Norman Shanks (Carlton Cap 119) Vice Captain 1971 As his article recounts, Norman left the Civil Service in 1979 to train for the Ministry and enjoyed a distinguished Church career, including a number of years as Leader the Iona Community - full details can be found in this link.

/cont’d I have few particular memories apart from the occasion probably in the late 1960s when, in a cup match against West of Scotland at Hamilton Crescent, I scored a streaky and very lucky 50 that included six over long-off off Intikhab Alam, later to be Pakistan captain, by whose leg-spin and googlies I was totally bewildered. Looking back on my experience of facing the fastest bowlers of the time without the helmet, thigh- and arm-pads that are now customary (and only box and a hankie in my left-hand trouser pocket for protection!) sends a shiver down my spine! But my overall recollection of these years at Grange Loan is very warm and positive – the camaraderie, bonding and sense of shared purpose; laughter, mutual encouragement and support; the regular fixtures home and away and stimulating post-match conversations; sunny afternoons and evenings in that attractive setting. I had always said that my love of cricket was so strong that I would go on playing as long as I could run! So it was something of a surprise that the 1971 season was my last ‘serious’ one. By then I had been club secretary for a few years and that year was also appointed club vice-captain. But on top of that there were other significant responsibilities: our daughter was born in 1969 and our elder son in February 1971; church commitments were taking up more time, above all the opening, in May that year, of a community project, of which I was joint chair, involving a coffee house open late-night at weekends in the west end of the city centre; and my civil service work too was cranking up big-time, with extensive consultations and the preparation of legislation to reform local government. It was perhaps hardly surprising that my cricketing form plummeted that season: the runs dried up, and the joy went out of fielding to the extent that I could scarcely be relied upon to catch the simplest ‘dolly’; so, with some reluctance but a degree of inevitability, I hung up my bat. Since then my interest in following cricket – particularly at international and first-class level, and the history of the game - has never disappeared. As our sons were growing up it was a joy that they came to share my enthusiasm and to surpass my ability and achievements. When my appointment at Glasgow University led to a move westwards, they decided to join not West of Scotland but Hillhead, which played then in the Glasgow and district league. I cannot resist recounting my pleasure when, in a Scottish Cup match at Hughenden (I think in around 1991) Hillhead defeated Carlton and my younger and elder sons scored respectively 84 and 54: I still have the cutting from The Herald, when Monday’s edition faithfully reported all the weekend scores! I am glad to say that the youngest of our grandsons, aged 10, has inherited the family enthusiasm, has joined Hillhead’s excellent junior section, and shows signs of considerable promise both as a batter and a left-arm quickie: I always found them the hardest bowlers to contend with! Sadly our daughter’s two teenage (footballing!) sons in Edinburgh , despite my intermittent efforts, have never really ‘caught the bug’; but there may still be time. And our elder son, who now lives not far from Grange Loan, has become a fairly regular spectator there and invariably sends me texts to keep me up to date with what is happening. My very best wishes to you all.

When the message slid into my DMs a month ago, I couldn’t help contain my excitement. Finally, my time had come to share the story of my first season back at Carlton after some time out. I was deliberating about whether to lead with a ball-by-ball account of my 6 for whatever at Inch Park for the 3s, or whether to start by explaining how I had managed to make my way through a full season without being required to bat once(!) Alas there seemed to be no interest in hearing my tales of tearing up the ESCA leagues. No, what the Newsletter was after was a behind the scenes scoop on my first attempt at stadium announcing, DJ-ing and how I chose such a banging playlist for the Scotland v Zimbabwe T20 series in September. So starting with stadium announcing - if there is one thing you need to perfect in this game it’s pronunciation. Growing up with a name like Rittoo, I understand how infuriating it can be when people get it wrong, so I was determined to get everyone’s name right. Looking at the Scotland squad there were plenty of household names in there. The likes of Evans, Watt and Sole - all familiar faces who have made their way up through the ESCA leagues. What I liked most about the aforementioned individuals and the rest of the Scotland Squad for that matter was that their names were predominantly easy to pronounce. MOnosyllables all! In comparison, the Zimbabwean team threw up sterner challenges. After many a sleepless night - waking up in a cold sweat trying to remember how to pronounce top-order batsman Tadiwanashe Marumani, I eventually got the hang of it. This was down to a great chat I had with the Zimbabwean team manager one hour before the first ball. He went through every squad member’s name with me, told me exactly how to pronounce each one and advised me to write names down phonetically to make them easier to read. A huge help and a great tip for future! In terms of the music - that was a slightly simpler task. Press play. Press pause. That’s what all DJ’s do right…? In all seriousness, picking the playlist proved a time-consuming, and thought-provoking exercise. Much like playing the front foot drive - balance is crucial. Crowd pleasers, traditional Scottish songs, a couple of 'proper bangers' as resident Carlton DJ - DJ RuMac (Ruari Macpherson) - would describe them all featured. Mix them in with a couple of weather-related songs - Umbrella (Rhianna), Here Comes the Sun (The Beatles, Why Does it Always Rain on Me (Travis) - and some ABBA classics (at the team's request) and there you go. You can listen to Gav’s playlist here! Choosing the song was only half the battle. After each boundary or fall of wicket, we would play on a short sting of music - so the night before each match was spent skimming through each song to make sure the music was cut at the perfect part of the track. Again, much like the front foot drive – timing is everything. All fun and games off the field, and on the pitch - three entertaining and closely fought games which makes the task of "entertaining" fans a whole lot easier GAVIN RITTOO Playing to the crowd at Scotland v Zimbabwe The only blemish in what was a thoroughly enjoyable experience? Having to drink out of a Grange Cricket Club mug.....but I’ll live with that.

Brian Adair Brian Adair, Carlton cap 31, played twice for Carlton at the age of 17 in 1952 before beginning his long association with Watsonians. He played over 400 games for that club and was a past Captain. He was a past President of the Scottish Cricket Union and President of the East League. He was Senior Partner of Rydens who sponsored the East League for many years. Brian was also a great friend of Carlton – a club Patron who also gave a generous donation towards the fundraising for the new pavilion. David Macpherson David Macpherson, Carlton cap 74, played 40 matches for the Carlton First XI between 1959 and 1961. Better known at Grange Loan more recently as the father of our Immediate Past President Andy and grandfather of Kyle and Ruari, David was seen proudly following their progress through the junior ranks into the top teams at Grange Loan, modestly taking credit for imbuing his love of cricket in them. David was a dashing left-hand middle order bat with sound technique. Although only an occasional bowler, his accurate medium pace proved useful from time to time. David has the distinction of a 5 wicket haul (5-14 v Edin City Police in 1959). Since Andy achieved this on several occasions, David is part of the only father and son combination at Carlton to share this honour. In Memoriam Carlton has been saddened to receive news of the recent passing of two good friends and holders of First XI Caps. Deepest sympathy is extended to their families.

A few issues of the Newsletter ago, the question was asked which Carlton player could be considered Scotland’s most successful skipper, boasting a 75% win record? The answer is none other than new father and Director of Cricket, Fraser Watts. Fraggle took the reins 4 times in 2008, leading the side to victory against Canada, Bermuda and Lancashire but narrowly losing a rain affected match to Derbyshire. Grange Loan Goes into Hibernation An expert squad recently enjoyed the Autumn sunshine as they put the ground onto its winter footing. Are you sure this thing will fly? Solving the Rubik’s cube for another year. Skipper Quiz