2016 Preview: 5 Minutes with Hopey
It’s not just current players we’ve been speaking to – some ex-House players and WAGs coming this week!
Who is your favourite all time Lowerhouse Amateur and why?
Batting Blez without doubt no one come close to him to be fair.
Bowling Jez. His wickets speak for themselves but also helped me a lot especially when I was captain.
Who is your favourite all time Lowerhouse Pro and why?
Corrie Jordan without doubt a pleasure to be in the same room as. No really it is close between Andrew McDonald and Ryan Harris. Andrew was amazing for us both on and off the field and was a major factor in our first ever league win. With both bat and ball he won numerous games for us and was a big help to us all on the field as well. Ryan was probably the most committed pro I have ever seen and his enthusiasm shone through and also passed on to others in the team. It is a real shame Ryan was not with us for a full season although don’t think my liver could have coped with that.
What was your favourite game of the all time?
Got 3 cracking games that will stick in my mind for a long time.
Firstly the semi final against Enfield in 2004. They scored what felt like millions and Alviro Peterson was smacking it around for fun and at the interval we were up against it needing 300 plus. But as the saying goes its not over til the fat lady sings and she certainly sang that night. Just remember the way the game swung both ways and Blez and Charlies great partnership and also how Joe and Ben finished it all off. Great day and night if I remember rightly.
Next 2 are very hard to split. Personally and for the club the winning the cup was a great day. Another game that went one way then the other until once again the partnership of Blez and Charlie so us home. Cant forget the wicket of their pro caught behind in his stomach off Jez was another massive part of the win. To collect the trophy in front of thousands of spectators on behalf of the team and the whole club was a very proud moment and one that will live with me for ever. Shame the I cant remember the celebrations to much in the bar after to be honest think it took till the day after to actually sink in.
And finally the game we clinched the league in 2005 at Rawtenstall. Again in front of a large LHCC following we were a long way ahead of everyone else but to just get over the finishing line was such a relief and a fantastic feeling to finally win the league for the first time. On a personal note I managed to pick up 5 wickets in the game so could not have gone better and was even more sweet to remind on RCC player who on the day said “He has just cost you the league” after our skipper had put down another sitter at Mid Off of my bowling. How wrong he was. Now that was a good night after just a real shame Andrew McDonald was not with us to share our celebrations but we managed without him.
What are your predictions for 2016?
Hopefully we will be challenging on all fronts and the pro can have the influence needed.
