Judging by the surprising reaction to my two recent blogs on Boxing Day cricket this seems to have created far more interest than I ever envisaged. So on several counts I thought a third instalment might be called for.
One item of interest related to the record number of appearances in this long running fixture. This I believe is held by Johnny Lawrence, formerly of Somerset county cricket club and numerous league cricket clubs in Yorkshire. I am reliably informed that he made thirty appearances on Boxing Day but am not sure whether these were consecutive or not. Be that as it may, but it was mentioned at the game this week that the redoubtable Barry Singleton of North Leeds CC is close to beating this record of appearances.
I am hoping that Steven Bindman, who has been doing considerable research on the career of Johnny Lawrence, may be able to add more information on this topic. He may also be able to confirm whether Mr. Lawrence ever took a hat trick in the course of his thirty games.
However one amazing record which I am able to confirm is even more remarkable. That is held by my candidate for Cricket Watcher of the Year, Jennifer Ellison. She attended her first Boxing Day game, at a very young age, back in 1957. Since that time she has missed only one game (in 1964) which I calculate as fifty nine matches in all !
Jennifer Ellison
Jennifer is still a regular at Headingley and Scarborough, but really prefers to follow the Yorkshire Academy and 2nd XI sides, which she has done for many years. She travelled the country together with her late husband, John, watching 2nd XI cricket when very few others did.
In addition she also finds time to be a very accomplished proof reader for all my entries on this blog, which can be prone to the occasional spelling mistake.
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