This match was the final one of three that was arranged for Courtney's Testimonial year with Gloucestershire (the first one, at Milton Keynes in June, was very badly rain affected)
Datchet is a pretty village just outside Windsor in Berkshire. The match was between Courtney's XI which was his Gloucestershire team mates- the team were all on their way to Lords to start a Championship match the following day- and Datchet Cricket Club. The club ground was a small but very well kept village ground, where a benefit match has been staged for a county cricketer for about the last 14 years if my memory serves me correctly. The M4 runs just to one side, and the main flight path out of Heathrow is just overhead, the planes having only just taken off.
A 30 overs a side match was played, which Courtney's team won. His side batted first, and the batting order wasn't quite the usual Gloucestershire order! Courtney batted, and seemed at first to be in 2 minds as to whether to bat left or right handed. He made about 20, having been dropped once.
Even more strange things happened when Gloucestershire fielded. After a few overs, Jack Russell decided he had had enough of keeping wicket, and proceeded to hand the pads to Mark Alleyne. Jack then had a bowl and got a couple of wickets too. There was an ice cream van on one side of the field, and Jack decided that an ice cream was a good idea. So he went and got one and stood on the outfield to eat it. Courtney spotted it, and signalled to Jack to get over the boundary to field! In fact, he went into the ice cream van. I have a photo of Jack with ice-cream to scan in.
Courtney had some fun bowling too. He bowled a few overs of (gentleish) pace, and a few of spin. For those who have never seen him bowl spin, there is a huge whirring of arms and legs and you can be forgiven for thinking it is an octopus! When he was bowling pace, he wandered down the wicket to the batsman a few times for a good humoured long hard stare. He also decided at one point that his run up wasn't long enough. So he went back to the sightscreen and had a look. Then he stepped over the wire fence and onto a lane at the back of the ground and went and stood at the end of the drive of one of the bungalows on the lane. He ran across the lane, stepped over the fence and ran the length of the field to the bowling crease. Then he delivered a very gentle slower ball. Very amusing to watch.
Most of the spectators of the match were corporate sponsors in marquees. Courtney took the time to walk round all the marquees, chat to the guests and signed endless autographs. How many professional sport people would have taken the time to do that?
Then I had yet another magic moment. I had sent copies of his Testimonial brochure to 2 friends in Jamaica, Flavia and Paula and neither had recieved them. I was desperate to get two more but the shop at the county ground in Bristol had sold out. Luckily there were a few on sale at the match. So I was not only able to get them each another copy, but got them both signed too. Then, while Courtney was signing, a photographer from the local press came over and said to him "Could I take a photo of you with this lady for the local paper". Courtney agreed, and he took about 3 photos. He also very kindly took 3 with my own camera. Just for a few moments, while they were being taken, I had my arm round Courtney's waist. He asked for my name and where I came from, and I got his phone number so I can order some reprints. Obvioulsy I won't be able to use them on the site as they will be copyright, but to see the ones that were taken with my camera
3 photos of Courtney and his biggest fan
A big Thank-you to Datchet Cricket Club who have very kindly sent me a copy of the scorebook entry for the match.
Last update 18th Sep 1998