SCHOOLS / SPORT Graham Napier to set up cricket academy at the school on retirement at the end of the 2016 season which saw him crowned Player of the Year. The moment that will spring to mind for most Essex supporters, however, was his innings against Sussex Sharks on June 24, 2008. When Napier came to the crease, Essex were 13-1. When he returned to the pavilion at the end of the 20 overs, Essex had reached 242-3, and Napier had smashed 152 off just 58 balls. He set his original sixes record in the course of that innings. Cricket committee chairman Ronnie Irani paid tribute to the long serving all-rounder. “Graham has had a fabulous career in all three formats of the game for us, and has been the very definition of loyalty over the past 19 years which is what Essex County Cricket Club and its supporters are all about. We naturally wish Graham all the best with his next career move and he will be sorely missed.” Essex County Cricket Club stalwart Graham Napier has announced his plans to retire from the professional game at the end of the 2016 season. Napier will take up a role at the Royal Hospital School (RHS) as director of the Graham Napier Cricket Academy as his 19 year FirstClass career with the county draws to a close. Napier made his debut for the club in 1997, and has gone on to play 157 First-Class matches, 213 List A games and 97 Twenty20 clashes for his county. A bowling all-rounder, Napier boasts impressive statistics; a batting average of 29.86 in all First-Class cricket, with a bowling equivalent of 31.40; a batting strike-rate in Twenty20 of 148.27, with 142 wickets at 24.38 in the shortest format; and in List A cricket, Napier took 287 wickets over his career, at 26.04. Many Essex supporters will remember Napier for specific moments in his career; his equalling of his own world record 16 sixes in a mammoth 196 made against Surrey in 2011; his four wickets in four balls against the same opponents in 2013; his efforts in that year,
Graham said: “The opportunity at RHS is one that I could not turn down. I feel the time is right to move on, and give back to the game that has given me so much. I have loved every second of playing for Essex, and will be doing my best to make sure I retire with a bang at the end of the season.” The Graham Napier Cricket Academy at the Royal Hospital School launches in September 2016 with the aim of establishing a high profile centre of cricketing excellence which develops young cricketers to fulfil their potential as well as promoting participation at all levels and ages. Headmaster of the Royal Hospital School, Simon Lockyer, said: “We are delighted that Graham has agreed to work with the school building upon the excellent reputation for cricket built up over the past 23 years by Don Topley and his team of coaches. With Graham’s extensive experience the academy will take provision at the Royal Hospital School to the next stage, widening access to the sport for both girls and boys throughout the region.”
CAPEL PLOUGH FOOTBALL CLUB The football club has been forced to call off several home games during the past month because the two pitches on the playing field have been unfit due to the wet weather. This is nothing new to the club and it’s hoped that the club and the community trust that owns the field can sort out the ongoing drainage problems during this year.
league win of the season by beating Grundisburgh 1-0 thanks to a Joe Bigmore goal. Gideon Spencer and Oliver Miller have been playing well at the back while Daniel Dixon has worked hard in midfield. Our Sunday morning team beat Northam Celtic 9-2 with Abdul Kaium scoring five of the goals, but lost 2-1 to the same team in the Junior Cup. Funny old game.
On the field of play, the Saturday First team continued their excellent season gaining a hard earned point after a 1-1 draw away to Ipswich Athletic with our equalising goal coming from a penalty scored by Stephen Morrison, before beating Grundisburgh at home 3-0 thanks to goals from new signing Ben Baldwin, Shaun Webb and a 30-yard piledriver into the top corner from Adam Rawthorn. The three points from this game saw the side remain in second place in the Senior League. Tom Williams has been playing well in goal with Chris Stewart putting in some classy displays in midfield.
Finally the charity match played on the training pitch on Christmas Eve was well supported by the players who raised £100 which was passed on to our youth teams. This game replaced the Married versus Single match that used to take place on Boxing Day when the good old Plough Pub, run by the legends that were Ivor and Jill, was open several years ago. Divorced against Partners didn’t sound right so we now play a charity game instead!
After losing 1-0 to Old Newton, the Reserves recorded their first
Bob the Ploughman
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