Issue 9

My Match to Remember Hugh Parker shares happy memories of Carlton's first League win in 1988. The 1988 team was very different to the youthful sides of today! It was however a talented and very experienced (old!) team ranging from a young Jim Govan through to Alun Davies and George Innes who were in their 50's. 1988 was a very wet season so our two spinners were key - George had a year to remember taking 49 wickets @ 12.59 while Jim took 51 wickets @ 20.98 Although having only one defeat, we trailed Kirkcaldy towards the end of the season. That changed on the second last game when we bowled out Watsonians at Myreside in the last couple of overs to win while Kirkcaldy were beaten by a batting blitz from Omar Henry at The Tryst. So we were top with one game to go! It therefore all came down to a last day shoot out at Grange Loan vs Kirkcaldy. It was a bright but windy day and we batted first. A solid opening from Bob Marsden and Parker laid a base. There followed a fine innings from Richard Swan to get us to 187 for 6, which was a competitive total in the days of uncovered wickets. In reply, Richard Dickinson and Jim Govan did a sterling job bowling up the hill and into the gale! George Innes provided the key moment bowling their Indian Test player Wookeri Raman, who was looking dangerous, through the gate with a beauty. Grange Loan went wild and I thought the roof was going to come off the old pavilion with the roar of approval! Wickets fell at regular intervals with George ending up with five and Jim four as Kirkcaldy were bowled out for 128. Our first league title won and with an all amateur side. Having already defeated Heriots to win the Masterton Trophy, we were crowned Famous Grouse Scottish Team of the Year. George won the Bowler of the Year and Jim the All Rounder of the Year. All this in our 125th anniversary year, and fittingly, Margaret Masterton was still alive to see it. Seven Carlton players played in the district side that year which won the District Championship and went down south and all the way to the NCA Cup Final losing to Kent at Canterbury. A year to remember especially that day, and night, at Grange Loan!

There was one game in 1983, the year before I joined, when Carlton played at Grange Loan against Stenhousemuir who had Derek Stirling, a young, quick test bowler from New Zealand. Hugh opened with Mike Evans, who, helmetless, tried to hook a short ball from Stirling in the first over and was badly hit in the face. A bloodied Evans had to be helped from the field. Scotland captain Richard Swan joined Hugh and a big partnership followed. Hugh scored 86 not out (3 fours, one six), RG was bowled Rycroft for 79 (1 six, 9 fours) after sledging Derek Stirling. Swan knew that if he wound Stirling up, his accuracy would go to pot as he tried to knock his block off. Hugh, at the other end, was not amused as he copped his fair share of the flack from the fired-up Kiwi Test opener. But in characteristic fashion he kept finding the gaps. Hugh also played for the East of Scotland senior side in the old 4 district competition. Captain Hugh Hugh was an old school captain - every run saved in the field was like gold dust. Any run needed to be earned, just as he had to do when he batted. With no fielding circles in those days, he was not frightened to push fields back to give singles to top pros who were batting well to deprive them of the strike. We could play a different game against the local amateurs. At times this drove pros mad, but often worked in our favour. Andy Macpherson tells us about Hugh Parker the player and skipper Hugh was an opening bat throughout his career and he loved that role. He was a brave, tough, well organised batsman, who played quick bowling well and sold his wicket very dearly. I don’t recall him wearing a helmet and in the 1980’s some of the international pros we played against were genuinely quick. Hugh played quick bowling by moving back and across to off stump as his pre-delivery movement and was very adept at dropping short balls into gaps with soft hands, and running quick singles. Taking quick singles was a big part of Hugh’s batting and he placed the ball well into gaps. Against spin he was not one for coming down the wicket and I never saw him get out stumped! Again he played the ball well into gaps and when in he would make good use of what is now known as the slog sweep.