GORDON SMITH

Gordon Smith, who died in early September 2003, played his first game for the Ramblers against Royal Navy, Lythe Hill at Brook on June 15th 1961. Batting no.3, he was out for 1 run (the second of 6 wickets secured by a bowler named Osborne, who in a remarkable 5.3 overs spell took 6 for 12 - all bowled). Gordon had earlier caught Osborne behind the stumps to secure the first of what would become a club record for dismissals by a wicket-keeper.

The following week Gordon - batting this time at no.5, scored his first and only half-century for the Ramblers - also at Brook - against South Hants Touring Club. It took exactly 75 minutes and included 5 fours.

Gordon Smith was born in 1917 in Suffolk and played professional football for Ipswich Town at 'A' Team level. He married his wife Connie in 1939 and after WWII-he having qualified as a an engineer, the couple moved to Guildford where he worked for a company in Walnut Tree Close. The Smiths first lived on the Bushy Hill estate near Merrow where Gordon joined the local cricket club.

He played first against the Ramblers in the last match of the 1948 season - Sept 26th - at Merrow in which Lionel Wood, 'Mac' McClintock and Winton Dean - who all happily continue to thrive -  also appeared. He did not bat but held a catch to dismiss David Gilby who had opened with Charlie Izzard.

Gordon played next against the Ramblers in 1950 when, in the first of 2 matches between the clubs, batting no.5 he scored 40*, helping to put on 63 for the 4th wicket. Ramblers used 8 bowlers to little avail, Merrow declaring at 203-5. When Ramblers batted, Gordon stumped both Lionel Wood, who made 62, and 'Mike' Gauntlett. Ramblers settled for a draw at 152-7. Gordon also played in the second match on October 1st.

He had 2 stumpings in the 1951 game - Norman Lock and Tony Wood were the victims; again in 1952 he caught Tony Wood for a duck to the fiery pace of Wesley Gardiner in the July match and secured a catch and a stumping in the September game. By 1953, Gordon had taken to opening the innings for Merrow in Ramblers' matches - with no notable success, however. Behind the stumps, he continued to perform well securing 2 catches and a stumping in the 1959 game which was to be his last against Sydenhurst Ramblers.

In 1965 and 1966 Gordon Smith kept in 3 matches per season without conceding a bye. Two of the games in 1965 - against Cranleigh (121-1) and Guildford (106) were consecutive. On the 1966 West Midlands tour he set an new Club record in the game v. Moseley Ashfield, Birmingham where he did not concede a single bye in the innings which consisted of 249 balls and 194 runs. This record stood for seven years until Malcolm Wiseman improved on it in 1973.

Gordon was a fine wicketkeeper. He was seen at his best in the '60s almost always standing up to the wicket to the pace of Chris Terry, Gerry Cogger and Andy Hart. His 164 dismissals over 213 matches will take a lot of beating.

His career record and an interesting photograph follow:

Waterlooville 1968

Back row (l-r): Gordon Smith, Ron Etherington (umpire), Andy Hart, Don Barnes, Tony Wood, Alan Castell, Graham Parr, Hugh Gauntlett, Roy Hardy, Julian Ince, Nick Pearse, Norman Thoday (scorer).

Front row: ?, Connie Smith, Peggy Etherington, Alison Gauntlett, Lionel Wood, Roz Wood, Mary Barnes