This month will see the start of a County
representative career for Luke Wells when he plays for the Under
10 squad. He joins a list of players whose fathers have played
a professional sport. His father, Alan, played as a young cricketer for Newhaven with
his brother, Colin. On July 15th 1976 St. Matthias CC Under 15
side played Newhaven CC . Matthias put into bat faced the opening
bowlers C.WELLS and A.WELLS and in their allotted overs made 69
for 5. Newhaven's opening batsmen C.WELLS 32* and A.WELLS 30*
knocked off the runs in 14 overs.Indeed one has to search hard
to find Alan failing but he - and his side- did so on May 23rd
1978 in another game v St. Matthias. Opening the batting he was
bowled 2nd ball for a duck.Newhaven collapsed for a total of 24.
Matthias went on to win by 9 wickets. Alan stayed with the Sussex
Schools side until 1980 as an Under 19 player. He then went on
to play for Sussex CCC and England before joining Kent CCC.
In the 1960's Peter Graves was a young schoolboy at Hove Manor Secondary
School. His teacher, Reg Bates, had great faith in his ability
as a left hand batsman and forecast a possible future in professional
cricket. One has fond memories of taking a cricket side from Shoreham
to Hove on a double decker public service bus to play an afternoon
game of cricket in school time in Hove Park. The memories are
not so good when one recalls the high scores of young Graves.
Peter went on to make 10 centuries for Sussex CCC. His son Jonston
played County representative cricket at under 14 and Under 15.
Three years ago Patrick Spencer
- at present in the Under 19 side - hit a six off the last ball
to beat Essex in the National Under 15 competition . Sussex went
on to win the final against Yorkshire. His father, John, now Deputy
Head teacher of Brighton College very nearly missed selection
for the County Schools representative side. John played throughout
the trial in red socks which caught the selectors eye rather than
the quality of his bowling. At the end of the trial it was only
after a lengthy discussion about socks that John was selected.
John also had a distinguished career with Sussex CCC.
Paul Parker left Sussex CCC to follow a career as a Classics Master at Tonbridge School. Paul had attended Collyers School , Horsham and played numerous games at school level both for the County and at National level. His son Jamie played for Sussex for several seasons and also for the South of England side. Jamie, however, is multi talented and golf has often taken priority over his cricket.
After several attempts to gain a place Hugh Warmisham, son of Roger Marshall, Sussex CCC, has been selected for the Sussex Under 14 squad.
Some player's fathers were professional footballers and , in the case of James Hassall his grandfather had a long career in the winter sport. Michael Brady , son of Liam, has been close to County selection this season.
This season, 2000, sees a remarkable father and sons success. Oliver Gatting Under 10 and brother Joe, Under 12 have both been selected to play County cricket. Their father Steve, no mean cricketer, had a long career in professional soccer and their uncle, Michael played for Middlesex CCC and England.