posted by John Winn
Chances to see championship cricket at grounds not previously visited come along rarely these days so as far back as November a trip to Southport had been in my diary for this weekend. Despite a forecast that suggested a late start yesterday offered the best opportunity so 7:30 saw me leaving home and following the A59 over Blubberhouses. The forecast was not wrong for precisely as a sign welcomed me to The County Palatine a blanket of drizzle and mist descended which brought the wipers into play until the outskirts of Southport but the skies began to brighten and when I parked up the sun was trying to break through.
The local newspaper The Southport Visiter (sic) was excited about the return of county cricket to Trafalgar Road and devoted three pages, with colour photographs, to the visit of Derbyshire but I was disappointed by its local cricket coverage. There were reports on Southport Trinity, New Victoria, Bootle and the hosting club Southport and Birkdale but no detailed results or tables. Street parking was available just three minutes walk from the ground and to give you a flavour of the area the property pages of The Visiter offered a seven bedroom property in the street where I parked for just over £1 million. The land of Hansen and Lawrenson I believe.
Southport and Birkdale CC
A queue had formed waiting for the gates open at ten and before the local officials had had time to straighten their blazers and check their club ties were straight, a pile of scorecards, which should have been sold at the gate, had disappeared from a table in the pavilion on the assumption that they were free of charge. Umpires Bailey and Cook took a cursory look but there was never any doubt that the call of play would be heard at 11:00 and Derbyshire stand in captain Godelman opted to bat. I was seated among a group of Lancashire supporters who although from various parts of the county were clearly good friends and familiar with each other's company. For a while Derbyshire's good progress went largely unnoticed while Preston North End's Wembley prospects were chewed over but with Godelman and Slater bounding along at five an over eventually it was agreed that this was 'not the morning we wanted' whereupon most of the group retired to the bar from where some had not returned when I left the ground at 4:30. Clearly that was the sort of morning (and afternoon ) we wanted.
Keeping off the wicket
129 without loss off 35 overs, yes 35 overs before lunch, added up to a good morning's work for Derbyshire and having accepted the invitation to walk on the outfield, but keep off the wicket, during the interval and eaten most of my packed lunch I felt a contented man and glad I had made the two hour drive to enjoy cricket at an 'outground'. My post lunch reverie was broken by the fall of Slater and from then on Lancashire chiselled away at the Derbyshire card with at one point Kerrigan, who a steward informed me 'doesn't take wickets' on a hat trick and the visitors finished the day on 335 for 9. That the day gave good value for money is emphasised by the fact that customers got a bonus over with 97 being bowled before 6:00 but by then I was well on my way home, despite the best efforts of the local highways department to keep all visitors to Southport in the town for at least one night by an incomprehensible road closure
Southport hosted championship cricket two years ago and if the new powers at the ECB get their way and the number of matches is reduced to possibly twelve, then 2015 may be the last time the well heeled post code of PR8 2HF sees first class cricket. Let's hope not.
Southport CC looking towards the railway side
* spell check doesn't like this and The Chambers Dictionary says it is rarely used but The Visiter was founded in 1844 so I think they should be allowed to keep this spelling
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