Essex county cricket club enjoyed a golden period in their history during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Winning county championships and one day trophies became a regular event and much of this was due to the captaincy of Keith Fletcher. His county success was not really matched by his time as both England captain and coach, but he was obviously a major figure in the history of Essex cricket.
The squad seen here at the end of the 1985 season typifies the all round team effort needed to achieve victory in both one day competitions, with a mixture of players who were successful at Test level and those of somewhat lesser abilities who all contributed.
On the left of the back row is South African Ken McEwan, who could well have been a Test player if it were not for the apartheid ruling which banned South Africa from international cricket. He was an outstanding batsman who played for the county from 1974-1985, scoring prodigiously including 74 centuries. A Wisden player of the year in 1978.
David East, no relation to Essex spin bowler Ray East, was a wicket keeper batsman who played between 1981-1991. He often scored valuable runs and became the county's chief executive between 2000 and 2012, before taking up a similar position with the Emirates cricket board in the U.A.E.
Alan Lilley, was another wicket keeper batsman whose career ran parallel with that of David East. The tallest figure on the back row is Derek Pringle, now an experienced cricket journalist. He was a talented all rounder, who played as many as thirty Tests for England, with his fast medium bowling proving somewhat better than his batting at that level. He was with Essex from 1982 to 1992 and became something of a cult figure towards the end of his Test career, particularly at Headingley, possibly because of his rather un-athletic appearance.
Neil Foster, together with J.K. Lever, was probably Essex's main seam bowler, being very accurate and very persistent. Attributes which earned him 29 Test appearances and no end of wickets at county level.
He shared in five county championships and was a Wisden player of 1988.
Chris Gladwin was an opening bat for the most part on the fringes of the side between 1981 and 1987.
He then had a season with Derbyshire in 1989, despite being no relation of more famous namesake Cliff Gladwin, before ending his career with Suffolk in the Minor Counties.
Paul Prichard is the last man on the back row. An opening batsman who shared many big partnerships with Graham Gooch including the county's highest ever of 403 against Leicester in 1990. He captained the county from 1995-1998 and then did valuable work at the P.C.A. as well as playing for Berkshire in the Minor Counties before becoming coach of Dorset.
First left on the front row is Scotsman Brian Hardie from Stenhousemuir. Perhaps something of an unsung hero he was a consistent batsman during a twenty year career from 1970-1990, during which time he scored over 18,000 runs. Next to him is Stuart Turner, a very able all rounder in all forms of cricket. He played for Essex for twenty years, scoring over 9,000 runs and taking 820 wickets at first class level and lots more in one day games. His most notable achievement during eight years with Cambridgeshire was taking 10-11 against Cumberland in 1987.
Graham Gooch obviously needs no introduction after an incredible career with both Essex and England.
He had twenty four years as a player with the county and twenty years with England, where his top score was an incredible 333 against India at Lord's. Despite making a pair in his first Test he became one of the outstanding figures of world cricket and has carried on the good work in his coaching career ever since.
Keith Fletcher did not have the appearance of a born leader but his technical know how and 'cheeky chappy' approach obviously earned him great success at county level. It took him a long time to live down his first Test appearance at Headingley in 1968, where he was given the bird in a big way after replacing home favourite Phil Sharpe and then dropping several slip catches. May well have been underrated by the powers that be, but his reputation at Essex remains untarnished.
John Lever was a wholehearted left arm pace bowler who spent twenty seasons with the county and was a regular wicket taker throughout that time. While never really a regular at England level he did play in 21 Tests. David Acfield was an off break bowler as well as being an Olympic swordsman in 1968 and 1972 Games. A very consistent performer, he too had a twenty year career in county cricket.
Finally Keith Pont was an all rounder, a very useful seam bowler and a good enough bat to make seven first class centuries. He played for Essex from 1970 to 1986, and was another on the fringe of the side for much of the time, but a valuable player at all times.
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