Welcome back to Blue & Gold! This will be the final edition for this academic year. Arthur and I are excited (and slightly daunted) to step into the shoes of Will T, Thomas L, Henry H, and Charlie T. I’m delighted to be co-editor of the magazine and have thoroughly enjoyed putting together the Trinity Edition. We have worked hard to compile a variety of interviews, articles, and games for the boys, staff, and parents to enjoy. I’m positive that Tom M’s scintillating commentary on amateur cricket will provide some well earnt laughs, after the stress of exams. Or perhaps budding journalists, and soon-to-be team captains could gain some valuable insight from Alex Payne, or Mr Heard’s interviews. Whatever sport means to you, we hope that his edition of Blue & Gold has something to keep you occupied on these tranquil, exam-free summer afternoons. Have an amazing summer holiday, and we will see you again in the Michaelmas 25’ edition!
-Tom W (L6d)
Welcome to the fourth edition of Blue and Gold, and the last edition of the 24/25 year. As well as the first addition for lower sixth editors: Arthur B (L6d), Tom W (L6d) and Charlie D (L6m). I am incredibly excited to be taking on blue and gold and can’t wait to see where this goes. It has been very fun putting this edition together. This edition is packed with some incredible, interesting in-depth articles, exploring the wide plethora of careers in sport. Taking a dive into presenting in sport, cricket reports and interviews as well as an interview with the esteemed headmaster and the continuation of some sections from past editions. This term has been an incredible show of Shirburnian spirit as well as a brilliant show of sport this term for the school, so please enjoy!
-Arthur B (L6d)
P.S. Be a true Shirburnian: give us your opinions on this edition! We’re sure you’ll have plenty. Please feel free to send in any ideas, articles, or suggestions to our Instagram: @sherbornebluegold
ART L-P (3A)
Art L-P of the School House Third Form Shares His Experiences on his Time Playing Cricket in India.
Feature by Art’s Father, Interview by Arthur B (L6d)
This Easter, Art LP swapped the green pastures of the Upper and Carey’s for the searing heat of Mumbai, embarking on a three-week cricketing journey like no other. Invited and hosted by Arman Mallick Director of Wankhede Stadium and the Mumbai Cricket Association Art was given a rare opportunity to experience Indian cricket from the inside.
Arman Mallick, an ex South Africa Team Manager has spent time training Art in the UK, and is an influential figure in Indian cricket, having mentored international stars such as Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Suryakumar Yadav. Under his generous mentorship, Art was exposed to elite coaching and top-tier cricket environments.
Throughout the trip, Art trained under two of India’s respected coaches at an Academy run by Vinod Ragwan, Mumbai’s U23 and state bowling coach, and Kaleem Jaffer, batting coach of IPL side Punjab Kings. The intensity of playing in 38°C heat was a world away from the familiar Dorset drizzle, and Art rose to the challenge, even playing his first match on a traditional Maidan pitch for a local Academy team.
The experience extended beyond the boundary. Art was given a behind-the-scenes look at professional cricket, attending a Mumbai Indians training session, meeting cricket legends, and sitting in the President’s Box for IPL fixtures. He also got a glimpse of cricket’s commercial machine at the press launch of the new Mumbai T20 Premium League and watched India captain Rohit Sharma interviewed live.
From grassroots matches to elite-level insights, Art’s journey offered a unique perspective on the passion, scale, and professionalism of Indian cricket. It’s an experience he’ll carry with him as both a player and a student of the game.
What were the key takeaways upon your return?
Psychologically it is obviously a lot harder out there. It was 40-degree heat and that makes you a lot tougher on the inside, to continue persevering.
How did cricket differ in England vs in India?
On the whole in India, people are far more ‘into’ cricket. You can go and speak to a stranger on the street, and they will have a chat to you about the IPL. The pitches and conditions of play are very different too. There’s a higher general quality in India too, compared to over here.
What was it like behind the scenes of the IPL?
I was invited to watch the Mumbai team train and met Rohit Sharma. He was a really decent guy. They all do things very differently to here – taking things far more seriously than back here.
What has your county cricket journey been?
I started at the under-11 level. I was with Dorset as I was at a school here, and then for the last 2 years I have been with Somerset. It’s been really good – it really helped me developed with the high-level coaching.
What do you think about what you ’ ve seen in Sherborne’s cricket programme?
I think that the more people that get involved with cricket, the better. I think it has already improved since I’ve started here. We have a really competitive team, especially as we have been playing very high quality schools, with lots of different county players.
YOU ASK, THEY ANSWER ALEX PAYNE
Interview by Tom W (L6d) & Arthur B (L6d)
If you could go back to your 17/18-year-old self, what advice would you give yourself?
I would tell myself two things: go after the things you love, and be prepared to pick yourself up time and time again. I’m a firm believer that I’ve been very, very lucky to have the career that I have. I’ve worked incredibly hard to get here, but I was also immensely fortunate to end up in the career I’m in now. I worked hard to be in the right place at the right time, which led me into sports presenting. I was reflecting on this the other day and realised that, although some people may be more successful than me careerwise, I’ve never had to work a day in my life because every time I get up, I get to do something I love so much. It’s been an absolute rollercoaster and the most extraordinary ride. Being able to do something you ’ re passionate about is a rare gem. Go after the things you love, sustain your passion, and just keep going. The challenges will come when you least expect them, but if you keep persevering, you’ll probably get to where you want to be.
How did you get into the career path you ’ re in now?
I’ve always been interested in sport. From a young age, I loved playing, and I was actually very close to going to Sherborne, to The Digby, because of the old Housemaster Mike Davis. He coached at a holiday rugby club called Rugby Class and convinced me to look around the school, but I ended up going elsewhere. I played a lot of rugby, and it was a real passion of mine, although I was never quite good enough to play professionally. I played to the best of my ability. Around 17 or 18, I started looking for work experience. I explored the army, advertising, and banking. One job interview really stuck with me. I had just returned from a work experience placement at Sky, and when they asked, "Why do you want to go into banking?" I launched into a passionate rant about how much I loved my time at Sky. At the end of the interview, the interviewer said, “You’re absolutely mad to apply for banking - I can see where your passion lies.” That moment helped me get my foot in the door early in my broadcasting career.
Growing up, was sport a big part of your time at school?
I was a pretty keen sportsman and definitely gave it my all. Funnily enough, I probably learned more about resilience through not making the teams I wanted to. I still loved sport and played a lot, but by the end, I was a more frustrated sportsman. That was probably my first real experience of resilience. Not getting into the teams may have pushed me even more toward a career in sport and helped me handle challenges later in life. I’ll always advocate for sport - it teaches you so much. Sport still plays a big part in my life, not in terms of career any more but more for health and fitness. I love staying fit and active. In fact, I actually did my first charity boxing match a few years ago, so I still roll up my sleeves when I can.
Was there anyone in the sporting world who inspired you?
Absolutely. I was obsessed with watching sport on TV as a kid. This was pre-YouTube, so I used to record matches on VHS to watch them over and over. I had hundreds of tapes. My mum once said to me, “You’ve got to get off the beanbag - you can’t make a career out of watching sport.” Luckily, I proved her wrong! There were a few key figures who really inspired me growing up - John Inverdale, Bill McLaren, and Steve Rider. They were the gods of sports television. When I started at Sky, I actually got to work with some of them. It was incredible to show up to work and present alongside my heroes. I was honestly hanging on for dear life in those early stages but having such amazing people around meespecially those I looked up to - helped a lot.
Was there a big leap from presenting on Sky to having your own podcast?
It’s quite an interesting story. I went into contract renegotiations with Sky, expecting another three-year deal, but they were in the middle of being sold to Comcast. As a result, they lost the rights to all the rugby, and they didn’t really need me any more. I was about 37 at the time, and it felt like a massive deconstruction of who I thought I was, because I identified so much with Sky. We ended up starting the podcast The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, which was almost the complete opposite of everything I’d been taught about presenting on TV. We’ve done a few rugby shows before, but this one episode in particular - where we were all quite drunk - just took off. Looking back, it was a bit of a car crash, but people loved the authenticity of it.
Podcasting has grown massively over the past 10 or so years. Do you find that surprising, and how do you see the medium evolving in the future?
When we started, there were only two other rugby-focused podcasts. Now, there are probably more rugby podcasts than there are rugby players! We’re all paddling around in a fairly small pond, but there are a lot of boats in it. I don’t think podcasts are going anywhere, because people love them. There are so many options now. Our podcast continues to grow, and we average between 150,000 and 250,000 weekly listeners. Some smaller podcasts struggle to grow due to the competition in their niche. Anyone can start one and everyone is starting one. That makes it harder to achieve real commercial success. That said, there are layers to this. For example, we currently rank around 40th in the UK for viewership, but we ’ re in the top three in terms of commercial revenue. So, you don’t need the biggest audience to be commercially successful. I don’t think podcasts are going away, but I’m not sure they’ll maintain the same position in social media as they do now. One thing we ’ ve learned is not to focus solely on the podcast, but rather the brand. The Good, The Bad & The Rugby isn’t just a podcast, it’s a brand. We’ve expanded into live theatre tours and other strands of content.
Do you have any advice for the younger generation trying to break into sports presenting?
Start as soon as you can. Don’t stop and really push for what you ’ re passionate about. If I were presenting in another field, I don’t know how successful I’d have been. I wouldn’t have been good talking about something I didn’t care about. Find what drives you and pursue it - regardless of the challenges. You need to be resilient and push through the tough times. There are so many opportunities now, so getting momentum early can take you far. Be resourceful, use your school, but also reach out to people yourself. It’s a competitive field. Lots of people want to do presenting, which makes passion so important. If you ’ re talking about something you ’ re not really interested in, someone more passionate will take your place.
SHERBORNE 1ST XI
VS
RGS HIGH WYCOMBE 1ST
This was a good win against a positive RGS team. Will T and Charlie R capitalised on full balls through off side and compiled a key opening partnership of 64 until Will was bowled by a low one and Charlie suffered the same fate. After Jordan was caught off a leading edge Ferg holed out from a full toss, Sam nicked off, Pat played round a straight one, Ollie nicked to keeper, and JP was LBW we had been reduced to 117-7. Some late resistance from Ben L helped a recovery till he holed out to square leg off another full toss and a pleasing partnership from our debutants Ben D and Tom M took us up to the vertiginous heights of 157.
XI Sherborne 157 off 38 overs RGS High Wycombe 126 off 21.1
Won by 31 runs
We needed early wickets but put down their gun opener off Ben D. Will W also on debut steamed uphill into the wind to claim 2 early victims with lack of bounce. RGS were steaming along themselves at over a run a ball until Oz P removed their opener caught at mid wicket. Oz mostly avoided the yellow brick road of straightness with 8 wides and a full house of extras in one over, but he did take 3 crucial wickets including one with a slowest ball that nearly defied the laws of Physics. Charlie R and Ben L offered the most control of the bowlers and Will T took an excellent slip catch off the former while the latter picked up 2 cheap wickets. The RGS collapse was akin to a teetotaller spending a first night on the ouzo, sudden and spectacular and was ended by the whirling arms of Tom M whose debut wicket aided by the soft hands of the excellent debutant Sam G with his first stumping. So we failed to fire in the middle order, we leaked too many runs with the ball and we can field 30% better, yet we still won by 31 runs and showed good team spirit into the bargain. Report by Mr Reynolds.
IN SCHÖFFELO, ERGO SUM
In which a father shouts, a dog watches, and a child wonders what’s for supper.
By Tom W (L6D)
Half Time: Your son ’ s team is 0-7 down against Marlborough – or was it Canford? No. Bryanston surely?
Step 1:
Stop pretending that you don’t know who they are. You know exactly which school is humbling the Mini Colts Ds football, but you don’t know exactly why it hurts you, standing on the sideline, cheek by jowl with Winston the Labrador. Oh, that will be it – your nephew goes there, and you ’ re not quite over the fact that your brother went to Durham, and you went to Exeter (although you had a better time though, I’m sure…). Got all that? Once you are over the sibling rivalry that definitely ended twenty years ago, it’s time for the next step!
Step 2:
Shout. That’s right – do it. Don’t be embarrassed. After all, it’s worse to be hammered by this ‘fish and chip’ school, I’m certain! Before shouting, you have three options: target the referee, belittle the opposition, or if all else fails give your son some much-needed tactical advice. Option three is the safest, in my humble opinion. Why not option one? Well, the referee is knackered. He’s already daunted with having to greet the parents with a smile on his face – before driving a coachful of schoolboys along the A303. Just let him get back and mark the Third Form Spanish quiz. Option two is just a no-go. Not only will your Schöffel and wellies be mocked, but your son will be mortified. Option 2 really is a seductive evil. This leaves us with the final, safest choice: tactical advice! These callow youths just don’t understand that if Horatio cuts in past the burly centre-half at just the right moment, Vlad can square it to Cyril to bring one back for the mighty ‘Borne’.
Step 3:
Realise that you may be able to herd sheep, perhaps even cats, but schoolboys (especially Shirburnians) are a different beast. Now you can remember why you ’ re really here. Your son made you proud, in victory and defeat. You see a flicker of your teenage self in him, as you look back on your sporting career – that wasn’t quite as impressive as you ’ ve had people think. This is what it’s all about! A chilly afternoon standing on a 13-degree slope in the backwaters of Carey’s. You pile into the defender; your son, Winston, and his three friends that you ought to know the names of by now. They don’t seem to care too much about the result – instead only what this evening’s social entails. It rubs off on you. Suddenly 0-9 to Marlborough (yes, it was Marlborough) doesn’t seem quite as humiliating.
In comes a WhatsApp notification: “Barney told me about the game. Well played to Cecil. See you at Easter”. “It’s Cyril” you murmur under your breath, as you drive past Wincanton services.
TIPS FROM THE TOP EDWIN L (L6E)
STAY CONSISTENT IN THE GYM: Off pitch S and C is vital in progressing on the pitch. Luckily at Sherborne we have amazing facilities and coaches to support you off the pitch.
DON’T UNDERMINE RECOVERY: Being able to play sport multiple times a week and to perform with 100% intensity requires you to maximise recovery. Recovery can be done in many ways but sleep is the most important.
NUTRITON IS VITAL: Being able to maximise performance on the pitch, it starts when you fuel correctly. Fuelling well is the biggest performance limiter at this age.
MASTER THE BASICS: The fundamentals of any sport are the most important. You can’t develop as a player until your basics are mastered.
TRAIN HOW YOU WANT TO PLAY: Practice with a purpose, your habits in training will carry over into your performance in games.
LEAD BY EXAMPLE: Your actions on and off the pitch is the best way to lead.
PLAY WITH FREEDOM: Mistakes are inevitable, don’t let them define you and use them as opportunities to learn from them.
ENJOY IT: You’ll create memories for life playing with you mates. Just have fun and take all the opportunities to play with your friends.
DO YOUR WORK EARLY: When balancing sport and school, sports can get out of hand and being ahead on work allows you to not get behind on work.
OUR NEW HEADMASTER’S HISTORY:
MR H
INTERVIEWED BY AR
How did your skiing journey begin?
I have always downhill skied and wanted to continue. At too, I enjoyed a lot of shooting and managed to get into the British rifle teams After this I started training w Marines, left, and wondered what I should do with m decided to learn how to cross country ski. I went to spe season with my friend out in New Zealand during the Eu summer. As I knew how to shoot and was fit and because of my time in the Marines, I managed to j territorial Army’s ski team. At the end of that season, I g the British development squad, which was when it al started.
What did your training programme look like?
I was training full-time – going to New Zealand European summer, and coming back mid-September, g to Scandinavia We would gradually move down south i Alps and occasionally Russia for biathlon championship snow came. I have done eight more winters in my life have summers, although I am hoping to address this im at some point. I mixed long-distance, three/four-hour short – depending on what my goal was for that da British squad and the American cross country ski team expert coaching for us. We would do anything from hour to three hours, twice a day, six days a week, three d a month. I would do this to compete in all sorts of d distances, from sprints to 1.2km sprints, up to 70km races.
What sports did you enjoy
I was never very good at ru get snapped in half. Inste although I would have love all my children play. Mainl and shooting at school, w later career.
How did it feel to represen
Although I skied for three amazing, it was still a mino With Biathlon, most athle with mountain troops, pai the Territorial Army and r was not glamourous. I drov biathlon events to cross-co It was semi-professional in Eurosport and the Territor although I still loved it an Britain.
What was your most unique skiing experience?
The European Biathlon Championship in Novosibirsk (Russia) really gave an insight into the Russian psyche There was a minimum temperature of -20 degrees for competitions – otherwise they would be cancelled We saw the temperature in the morning, and it was -27, and we all thought there was no chance of it going ahead. However, we got to the stadium, and they all showed -19, as there was no way they weren’t going to let us compete. It was absolutely freezing, being at about -45 degrees with the wind chill considered, and I lost a bit of skin off my ear because of frostnip!
Are there any coaches/teammates who may have left a lasting impact on you as a person?
The US ski team took me under their wing and helped me a huge amount and to them I owe a great debt of gratitude. Although some of the best conversations I have ever had was with an Australian groomer driver. He drove one of the piste-basher machines and would go out in the night to prepare the courses for us to ski on. I would go out with him, and we would chat, and look out at the stars when he would turn the engine off and it was complete silence.
What role do you think sport plays in one ’ s character?
I believe that in life all things need balance Although I spent a huge amount of time skiing, I spend a lot of time reading, too. It is really, really important to use your brain whilst also thinking about your body. It is why I love Sherborne, as it provides a balance, between sport, music, and thinking. So yes, sport is very important to be a healthy human being, but it is also crucial to enjoy what the world has to offer. I would struggle if I only had sport, you need to balance being able to think about life, and to learn.
What crossovers are there between a competitive sporting environment, and managing a school?
Both are always about people. Competitive sport, by its very nature, is quite selfish. You have to sacrifice everything else. To get to a high level, you need to be ruthlessly determined and single minded, which is very different to heading a school. Every decision is made for the good of the school in the long-term, and the good of the pupils in the short-term. It’s genuinely not about me, and all good Headmasters I’ve known, its never been about them, but instead the good of the school and its pupils There is a lot of crossover in terms of being able to have quality interactions and relationships, although there is a very different part, which is being able to think about the wider community
What is your opinion on the current sports programme at Sherborne?
Lots of people have spoken to me about this, and this is obviously the primary question for the magazine. Some people have said there isn’t enough participation, and others have said there isn’t enough elite-level stuff. What I have said a few times to different people is that I think we can do both. What is important is that everyone feels comfortable in their own bodies, and has an understanding of sport, exercise, and health. Everyone needs to have the ability to take sport on in their life in whatever capacity they want to do to live a healthy life. That said, we can definitely do more in order to support and help the pathways for other sports. I will be looking with the new director of sport and the Girls’ School to see what we can do as a group to really enhance the sports provision here. We look for an improvement for everyone, but also for those elite level pathways too.
THE SPORTING AUTOBIOGRAPHY: A LITERATURE OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT
In the grand library of human expression, somewhere between James Joyce’s Ulysses and Russell Brand’s My BookyWook there lies a literary genre that is often relegated to the top-shelves: the sporting autobiography. Routinely dismissed as locker-room humble-bragging, shallow self-aggrandisement or nostalgic score-settling for ageing legends, over recent decades the sporting autobiography has revealed itself to be worthy of reappraisal, and, perhaps, more generous esteem.
The sporting autobiography is a peculiar literary gumbo: a pinch of confession booth, a fist-full of war diary, a generous knob of self-help manual and a splash of motivational diatribe against mediocrity. Yet beneath the crowd-pleasing cover shots and ghostwritten gloss, these books often reveal a raw, surprisingly literary account of character under pressure. They’re not simply about who scored the most, sprinted the fastest or served the best. They’re about who figured out how to get the best out of themselves, and what it cost them. They are about the values that shape lives. They are about leadership, resilience, failure and redemption.
I remember reaching for Open by Andre Agassi on the dusty ‘book exchange’ shelf in a French B&B, and I consumed it in a couple of sunny hours. It proved to be a formative read for me; a tennis memoir with the rhythm, colour and texture of a novel. It begins with a shocking confession – “I hate tennis” – and from that moment on, the reader realises this is more than a puff piece. It is a reckoning. The glitz, glamour and glory of the Grand Slams is interlaced with reflections on childhood trauma, the pressures of expectation, and the search for identity far beyond the baseline. Agassi’s book is a meditation on purpose. Sartre with sweatbands.
Another sporting autobiography that comes to mind –very different, but no less memorable – is Playing It My Way by Indian cricketing deity Sachin Tendulkar. Where Agassi’s work is intimate and unguarded, Tendulkar’s is modest and stately. His narrative is a study in how extraordinary sporting greatness can coexist with grace, calm and humility. Tendulkar doesn’t need to shout about his legacy; there is something deeply poetic about his restraint.
Not all sports autobiographies, however, are paeans to perseverance. Some are socio-political manifestos in disguise. Consider Rise by Siya Kolisi, the first black captain of the South African rugby team. Kolisi’s story has become a kind of national parable. Born into poverty in the turbulent Cape Town townships, in the blistered heart of the apartheid blast zone, Kolisi’s rise to lift the 2019 Rugby World Cup is laden with symbolism. Through his experiences and in his own words, Kolisi is able to articulate a visceral understanding of the way in which sport can be a vehicle for societal healing. His identity and leadership was forged in the white-hot furnace of the South African rugby dressing room. This is sporting narrative as sociocultural critique, with a deep moral authority and an immense generosity of spirit.
Similarly powerful is Black and White: The Way I See It by Ebony Rainford-Brent, the first black woman to play cricket for England. Rainford-Brent’s memoir is filled with humour and heart, but also searing honesty about racism in sport. Her writing challenges the reader to see cricket as a microcosm of society, and to recognise that success is often about navigating complex institutions and communities The reader bears witness to the way in which she was able to bring her talent, her experience and her passion to bare in key moments, often despite – or perhaps because of – daunting interpersonal and structural obstacles
Sometimes the most exuberant, exothermic sports personalities use their memoirs to explore the quieter truths of life. Brian Moore’s Beware of the Dog – from the legendary English rugby hooker –is one of the most candid accounts of trauma and masculinity in sport. Moore writes with brutal humour and unflinching honesty about childhood abuse and its psychological toll. What might have been a chest-thumping tale of scrums and scuffles becomes, instead, a moving exploration of emotional survival. It is through the courageous writing of icons like Brian Moore that the sporting world has been able to evolve, offering better support for young people seeking to enter the professional arena. Some of the best sporting autobiographies were not written by athletes or players, but by managers and coaches. My Life in Red and White by Arsène Wenger ranks among the best sporting autobiographies I have read. It is nothing less than a love letter to football, written with the philosophical grace and wisdom of a sage. Surprisingly funny and disarmingly provocative, Wenger’s memoir reflects his leadership style: quietly, playfully, uncompromisingly revolutionary. It’s a masterclass in how to lead with dignity, attention-to-detail and an unwavering adherence to principle.
So, at its wonderful best, the sporting biography is a bildungsroman in boots – a journey through adversity toward some hard-earned truth. A sporting autobiography can reveal how values like perseverance, humility, ambition, and compassion are not born fully formed, but earned through trial, recalling that eternal truism – hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. These stories can be transformative. They show that champions are not perfect, but persistent. That champions show up. That failure is not fatal. That identity is not a jersey you wear. And that leadership isn’t always about being the loudest in the huddle - it’s about being the clearest in conviction and most purposeful in action. In the end, the sporting autobiography reminds us that sport is not just a game. It is a stage, a school, a sanctuary. And sometimes, it is the only place where the truth can be told plainly and loudly. Who can argue with someone holding a World Cup, or the Wimbledon trophy, or a gold medal, or The Ashes Urn? So, the next time someone scoffs at the idea of reading “just another sports book,” hand them Open, or Rise, and tell them: these aren’t just stories about athletes. These are stories about what it means to be human.
WRITTEN BY MR. GORDON
Long before Dr Wild championed the ICT department and Sherbot development at Sherborne School, he had a key role at Livingston Football Club. Currently in the Scottish Championship, Livingston FC are based in a town of the same name that is sandwiched between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Dr Wild did his PHD in Edinburgh and stayed in the area while lecturing at the university and getting started in the software industry. It was then when he attended his second ever professional football game: Hearts vs Livingston. He was hooked. At this point he started regularly going to both home and away games, all the while being a director at a software company in Livingston. Dr Wild then started to do a small amount of sponsorship for the club, and with the club looking to have more fan representation on the board of directors, it was Dr Wild’s moment to step up. They chose a well-known supporter – and the reason for his notoriety is rather unexpected.
At Washington D.C. airport, a man had parked his car and set up a sniper rifle before both shooting and killing people. It just so happens that Dr Wild had to go on a business trip –landing at this very airport. Whilst he was flying across the Atlantic, the pilot came over the intercom: ‘The Government has advised that you do not walk in straight lines as you depart this aircraft’. Two minutes before landing the FBI caught the shooter. This was hugely lucky for both Dr Wild and Livingston Football Club. From this moment onward –he became renowned amongst the supporters as Agent Wild.
The fans played into this – creating a Tifo, or a banner, with a picture of Dr Wild headed with his new nickname. For this reason, he put himself up for election as the fan’s representative on the board.
A software whiz, and the man who single handedly caught an airport shooter? A perfect fit for the job – as he was overwhelmingly voted in favour of in the election.
However, at this point in the mid-2000s, the club was struggling. Falling further down the Championship - despite playing in the Premiership and Europe only a few seasons prior, mirrored that Livingston was still a relatively small club with a modest but mighty group of fans.
Whilst Dr Wild was on a business trip, the club went into administration. This caused a storm of anger and disappointment amongst the fans, that Dr Wild (as the fan’s representative) had to convey to the board. It was at this point in the interview where certain names could not be mentioned due to the threat of legal action. The club owner at the time was ‘ very gung-ho’ – which manifested itself as being overly reactionary to these negative changes whilst lacking any real longterm strategy.
Agent Wild was to the rescue with two clear goals: first, how can the fans help the club? And second, was there a way to create shares for the fans to invest in? He was overseeing the generation of funds - as fans made donations, bought season tickets, volunteered to paint around the stadium, and attempting to save the club money. The club managed to come out of administration, largely due to Dr Wild’s innovative fund-raising techniques.
Dr Wild, with such extensive first-hand experience, had some profound things to say about the structural cause of the financial issues that are plaguing smaller football clubs:
“The Premier League is immensely wealthy. Worth billions and billions. Foreign owners are purchasing clubs, whether that’s good for the game or not, I don’t know. But football clubs a long time ago were purely community based. A lot of clubs have lost touch with that. Instead of going to your local pub you’d watch your local club. Smaller clubs will rely more-and-more on gate numbers for revenue, but there was also an increasing cost of success with managers being fired and replaced, or players cycling in and out more frequently. It’s the same as buying something on
There’s a pretty common idea - usually from l who’ve suffered fielding at deep fine leg for that school cricket is boring. And fair en your only experience is an U13 match; 14-ba coach captains, and keepers in long sleeves. T be about as exciting (and enjoyable) as w paint dry on a wet day. But at higher standar something entirely different. You get guys who treat it like a serious busin shows up in a compression shirt and R another spends half an hour shadow-battin changing room. The warm-up involves o stretching, twelve others sitting on a roller, coach standing there like he’s captain of th team. If your first throw of the day isn’t per ready for a heartfelt lecture from the questioning your commitment, your love game, your attitude, your family life... Firs bowled, an outswinger landing on the next and someone shouts “great areas ” co
Every ball that gets a wicket is immediately judged by the fallen batsman; either “terrible” or “amazing,” usually depending on how much they fancied slogging it. Meanwhile, the medium pacers, given the immense speed at which they bowl, chuck a handful of overs at full tilt before announcing they need to “take a rest,” - aka a ten-minute chat by the boundary while the "mystery" spinner gets smacked over cow corner by the aggressive number 9 (or 10 on a bad day).
And then there's the part-timer who’s bowled one over this season and acts like he’s nailed both off-spin and the side-arm. His off-spin includes a juicy full toss that he insists is 'part of the plan', while his side-arm stuff has a questionable amount of control, despite his self-proclaimed proficiency.
Innings usually end with a classic middle-order collapse always including the first ball stumping of a lad wielding a £500 M&H trying to "put the pressure back on the bowlers".
The fielding side can’t seem to get much right, and there’s a slip captain who barely touches the ball but claims every wicket with the classic 'that’s from the pressure boys'.
Glorious sun and beautifully prepared grass courts welcomed our returning Pilgrims. It was another afternoon of the more seasoned and experienced players showing our boys how important it is to anticipate, intercept at the net and only take risks if justified. Billie B did another fine job captaining our other players and he, with his partner Henry W, won their first match against Justin T-G and David C-E (OS d) 6-3 to maintain their unbeaten record so far. However, in their second match, Nick L (OS d) and Benjamin L (OS a) got the better of them with a 6-3 win. Determined to make up for this loss, our first pair went into their final match against Henry Field (OS c) and Seb Fender (OS c) determined to find form, which they did in their second set, which they only just lost with an overall result of 6-1 7-6 (7-5). Our second pair, Charlie S and Rupert D had a tough start by losing against Henry Field (OS c) and Seb Fender (OS c), although they put up a great fight with plenty of closely fought games along the way. It was good to see them win their second match against the Pilgrims third pair 6-3, our second and final match to win during the afternoon. Our third pair, Xav C and Ollie S, fought hard but did not quite muster enough points to take any of their matches. A similar result against the Pilgrims compared to last year with the satisfying compliment from them that we were a stronger team than last year.
A massive well done to everyone involved in fixtures this term, and the 3rd XI for going unbeaten!
Acknowledgements
Thank you to the following for their help with the magazine:
