With hindsight we've had an abject season so I was in need of some light relief. I was persuaded to go to the Bunbury match by the man standing as umpire in the photo below.

David Nash then said that he was also playing.

Attracted by the list of 'celebrities' that were listed as playing I saw the match as an opportunity to add to my autograph collection.

The match was advertised as taking place at the North Middlesex Cricket Club, Park Road N8. I live nearby and knew the area reasonably well so I thought I'd give it a go. I aimed to get there early in case it was sold
out by the start.

I left plenty of time to find NMCC as I wasn't exactly sure where it was, and when I walked down Park Rd N8 all I could see was rows and rows of houses. I ended up asking someone, walked a few more yards to come to a roadway between two terraces of houses that led to my goal............... A day of watching some 'fun' cricket. I was too early for gates opening (which was 11.00am) so I drunk in the atmosphere. NMCC is a picturesque ground set back from the road. The ground is not oval so the boundary is marked out by a series of cones.
There were various food tents on the boundary.

The fence opposite the pavilion divided this ground from (I think)Calthorpe cricket club. There was already a game in progress and judging by the size of the paricipants were quite young. I was later
told that it was the NMCC's U-11's playing The Barmy Army's U-12's. My eyes immediately witnessed a brilliant wicket keeper, barely taller than the stumps.

I paid my entrance then sat down outside the pavilion next to the sight-screen (almost behind the bowlers arm). I got talking to the guy next to me who turned out to be Derrick Worth who runs the U-11 age
group for London Schools. I asked him about the little keeper and he said that his name is Freddie Popplewell and that he was the best U-11 keeper in the country. However at present Freddie is none too hot with
the bat. I was introduced to the boys mother and I told her how impressed I was with her son. She told me that her brother-in-law was Nigel Popplewell who used to play for Somerset (I thought the name
sounded familiar). In between innings I then spoke to young Freddie (all ginger hair and freckles) and told him about our MB. I wrote the address down for him so maybe I've got us another convert. Freddie does already
go to our academy.I think it will be a watch this space for this boy.(When I spoke to David Nash later he said that he'd coached young Freddie and indeed he was very, very good).

The most exciting thing Derrick told me was that Middlesex are hosting a floodlit match at Southgate next season. Yes really! He told me that it was a match against the West Indies (I'm not sure but I think he said it
was going to be a 20/20).

I was then told that Billy Godleman and Rory Hamilton-Brown had arrived. I later bumped into Steven Finn who was looking for Billy and Rory.David Nash was also listed as playing.

A steel band was playing in the back-ground giving the whole place a carnival atmosphere. It took me back to the 'good old days' pre John Player league when charity/benefit matches were played on a Sunday (it
was at such matches that I met Fred Trueman and others).

The 'main' match Bunbury XI v NMCC XI all stars was due to start at 1.30pm a 35 over match but kicked off about 10mins late. There was a photocall and I did take some photos but they're a bit dark. I'll have a
go at lightening them and add them to the gallery in due course.

I had arranged to meet my friend Kim there, but as yet she hadn't arrived at the start. There were less people than I envisaged but a reasonable crowd nevertheless. Our Billy is opening the batting for Bunbury with Rory Hamilton-Brown. Our Billy scored 87 on debut last year in this fixture, and they were expecting him to do the same and he started well by cracking three 4's off the first over. What a contrast with Lord's with kids playing on the boundary and playing with dogs etc.

The most annoying aspect was the number of people walking or standing in front of me obscuring my view. Rory Hamilton-Brown was bowled second ball (steel band drowned out the pa and commentary so did not catch
bowlers name). Alec Chamberlain (Watford's goalkeeper now at crease, and hit a 4 which went through hole in fence to Calthorpe's ground. Billy showed why he's rated so highly with an array of shots. Alec Chamberlain
is now out (59/2 in 10th over) and Graeme Hick strode to the crease. I was checking on Middlesex's progress in the Pro40 and had to show our lads and Rory all the scores in the Pro40. Rory thought my phone was 'cool', however talking to them caused me to miss Hick's dismissal.

Finn is wearing his Middlesex shirt, as is Shaun Levy (Middlesex had got Northants 104/5 at that point). You could see who were 'old school' as they batted without helmets.Our Billy was finally out for 58 making the
score 100/4 after 20 overs. Steel band is quiet at present but the 'commentary' falls well short of TMS standards, and it is difficult to follow (who really cares who scores what........... The object of the
match is to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital!).Bunbury's even had an 87 year old batsman called Jack (don't know his surname).

 
I went for a 'comfort break' whilst the players had drinks and don't know how much I missed. The Bunbury stand had been set up and they were selling 'Bunbury Bunnies' for £25.00 each............... And I thought of Hippity and wondered how he'd take to a white cousin complete with cricket bat............ But I did not have the cash on me...........

Even the scorers lost track of proceedings and reckoned the score was 200 off 33 overs. Tuffers and Nashy still not arrived. At last my friend Kim has arrived. She had difficulty finding the place also, and had to
phone someone playing for Calthorpe to find NMCC.

During the break between innings Billy and Steven were very maty with Rory Hamilton-Brown and James Major. James Major and Rory were chain smoking so I launched into my spiel about being 'bad role models'. Rory
was well impressed when I said that I was a Pharmacist, and I offered to 'shock' him into giving up smoking by taking him onto an 'amputation' ward in a hospital (I have my contacts). He did ask me about stopping smoking and accepted that he had to want to stop. So maybe I've got a convert to NRT (Nicotine replacement therapy) in the future. James Major has aspirations for playing for .............. Yes……………………. Surrey............(can't win them all!).I don't know if we should be worried about James Major, as he must be at least 30 and hanging around with 17 year olds!

By fair means or foul

Bunbury then took to the field............. Hang on a minute, there must be at least 25 fielders with 5 slips. I don't remember NMCC all stars fielding that number. Our Steve opens the bowling to Shaun Levy. I can
see why people are raving over him. He was well impressive. Our boys and Rory kept coming up to me for updates in the Pro40 (Middlesex 68/3 after 16.1 overs in reply to 198 at this stage). The other opening bowler is our own Billy Godleman (bowling seam up........ He's usually a spin bowler) and Billy has just bowled Shaun Levy. It was announced that Shaun Levy has a contract with Middlesex next season (and Shaun told me later that Dan Housego has one also).

Kim then tells me that Daniel Craig (the new James Bond) is supposed to be there. We did look for him, autograph books at the ready but did not recognise him if he was there. Ther now seems to be 27 fielders (including 87 year old Jack........ Is he the oldest person to be playing cricket?).

James Major then did a somersault into the crowd trying to stop a 6 (was that his 'trial' for Sy?).NMCC all stars are 73/1 after 11 overs (Middlesex are 119/3 after 27.1 overs). David Nash has just turned up with his wife and baby. He handed me the baby for a cuddle (that made my day!) and as she settled on my shoulder he asked if I'd like to babysit sometime and I said 'of course'.

Middlesex are now 128/3 after 29.5 overs............... Can we do it........... I hope so.

At this point I am really distracted by talking to David Nash and Kim.  Kim then spots the puppy I saw earlier an 11 week old King Charles cavalier. We both went gooey over it. Oh it was soooo cute.

Back to the cricket Rory hamilton-Brown on a hat trick. How did that happen............ He's now taken 3 wickets in 4 balls. He ended up with figures of 7 wickets for 14 runs and he was made 'man of the match'. The last few overs were in really gloomy light and in the ensueing chaos I think they declared the match a draw.

In conclusion: A fun day out and £5000+ raised for GOSH.