HISTORY

Now 2nd team captain, Westy gives his memories of days gone by and how he's come a long way from being that annoying little fat kid...

My first memories of the club will always be of those long sunny days, standing in the sparkling white pavilion at union park, watching my dad play cricket.

I can remember every detail of that old wooden score board that had to be awkwardly carried out of the changing room by the unlucky few that where given the task. Every week I would find myself with the same job of updating the ‘overs’, ‘wickets’ and ‘last man out’ score on the bottom of the board. I was too short then too reach the top and change the runs as well. Although in a few years and the aid of a bar stool I would be able to reach!

My payment would be a box of smarties and a can of irn bru. But of course the real payment would be learning all the colourful language and hearing the stories of previous on and off field achievements being regaled by the then Corstorphine 1 st XI.

Back in those days the club had a proper family feeling with everyone pitching in where they could. All the wives and girlfriends would appear around teatime ready to enjoy a drink in the late afternoon sun. I even remember my mum coming down to help Nancy with the teas. And yes, Nancy’s scones were as good then as they are now.

The charity days were always the best with Union Park a buzz with cricket, good food and b-list celebs that fancied themselves as cricketers!

I always remember one particular day though. The sun was beating down and we were staying nice and cool in the shade of the pavilion. My dad, who was waiting with his pads on and bat in hand, was with Surrinder Khana who was the pro at the time. I was leaning against the fence listening in awe of Surri, although he had just got out, as they were discussing the game and how to play one of the opposition bowlers over a packet of polo mints.

It didn’t take long till a wicket fell and my dad had to get his gloves on and make his way down the slope to the wicket. I watched the first couple of balls. Both of which were played at with a nice forward defensive.

I lost interest for a second and finding more excitement in tying my shoe and took my eye off the game.

Then ‘BANG’, the ball rattled of the fence right in front of me. Needless to say I got a bit of a fright at the tender age of 8. I’m convinced to this day that my dad had seen me not paying attention to his innings and had, in a rather dramatic fashion, spanked that third ball up the hill for a one bounce 4 into the fence.

Surri was on his feet clapping and encouraging my dad onwards. The game plan was working and I’m sure they went on to win.

Around the age of 9 I would join the junior setup at the club making it 3 generations of the West clan to have played under the Corstorphine name.

I always remember netting at Craigmount and Mikey Whelan hitting one out of the net and the ball clobbering me in the back of the head. Another lesson learned – don’t turn your back on a jambo!!

I continued to follow my Dad down to the club on a Saturday and moved on from scoreboard maestro to being handed the scorebook every week for the 2 nd XI.

It was at the time when Ricky Finc and Ronnie Wharton were running the side. I was about 13 and had turned up every week with a large bottle of lemonade and a mars bar to see me through the innings. I think it’s safe to say that only the late great Geoff will have spent more hours in that Green Tin Score hut than me!!

I’d played a season at U13’s and we’d had few games this year but I hadn’t really found my feet yet. Some would say I still haven’t – is he a batsman, a bowler, a keeper or none of the above? The one thing that has always kept me in good stead is a good pair of hands and the enjoyment of fielding. I think this is what got me my first game for the 2 nd XI.

Well that and a late call off!! The 3 rd XI had left for their away game and there was no one else.

It was near the end of July and we needed to win this game to stay in touch with the top teams. I can’t remember who the opposition were but they scored about 160 and we only needed a few runs to win with 4 wickets in hand.

One wicket fell and I had to get my oversized pads on as I was in at 11, preceded only by the legend that is Paul Chapman. We all sat on the hill, under the tree, next to the score hut watching with great hope that the next wicket wouldn’t fall before the target was reached.

I remember Chappers was sitting shaking, as the situation was so tense. The overs were running out and the pressure got to him. He told Ricky that he was terrified.

I quickly stood up and pronounced that “I’ll go in next, I can do it”, I think Chappers was more than happy to let me go in ahead of him! Ricky didn’t hear me at first but Ronnie had. “Ricky, young Westy will go in!” Ronnie said in his unmistakable Yorkshire accent.

Ricky looked at me and asked if I was sure. I nodded and he looked at my dad who told him that I’d be fine.

Obviously they were all hoping it would be a done deal as we’d reached 159 for 8 with 8 balls remaining. But disaster struck. A wicket fell and it was down to me to stride out there and get the last 2 remaining runs that would win us the game and keep us in the hunt for promotion.

Of I strode, with no real idea of the pressure that was actually on me. Although I remember it took an eternity to get out to the middle.

Soon as they saw this kid walking out to bat, the field came in with everyone close round the bat. I smiled at them as they closed the gaps as I found it really exciting to get my first proper innings for a senior side. At last I would get the chance to try and emulate my old man who I had watched hit boundary after boundary for years on this very ground.

The sun was setting and the fielders where crowded round my bat waiting for me to spoon it up to one of them.

As the bowler came charging in I watched the ball like a hawk and swung my bat as he sent down the delivery. I somehow managed to send the ball sailing back over mid off’s head! The fielding side gasped as it just made it over mid off’s grasp and after the initial moment of shock that I’d actually connected with the ball, I was called through by the other batsman.

I made it back for a second and kept running up the hill in celebration. The guys on the hill where whooping and cheering me on. I’d kept us in the hunt for promotion and at the end of the season we went up a league. I don’t think my dad had to buy me a can of irn bru at all that night as the boys where all delighted and made sure I didn’t go thirsty.

That’s my lasting memory of our club. The camaraderie and welcoming nature of the club to new and junior members has been what has kept me involved and captivated by cricket at Corstorphine. It has also made me many lifelong friends.

Of course we’ve moved on from Union Park and we have a lot of new faces but that same spirit was as prominent then as it is now. No matter who you are or where you come from we still always try to make you feel part of our club. That alone sets us apart from many other teams in Edinburgh.

It’s great reminiscing about the good times – but there won’t be many other opportunities to do it with our former teammates.

I would love for guys like Ricky, Ronnie and others who have left the club to be involved this year in some way. There are many great players who have passed that can’t.