The Leicestershire side of 1958 under a new captain in the form of Willie Watson, double international signed from Yorkshire, made quite a significant improvement to twelfth place, after finishing bottom by a fair distance the previous season. However it was something of a flash in the pan, as apart from reaching the dizzy heights of 9th in 1961, Watson's tenure was not really successful. The first significant improvement came when Tony Lock was appointed captain in the late 1960s and even more so when Ray Illingworth arrived in the 1970s.
Indeed it could be said that one of the minor players on the photograph, Mike Turner, became the most significant figure in the county's history through his role as county secretary for over thirty years, in which time the county's stature in the game increased significantly. In addition he could be said to have been the prime mover in the setting up of one day cricket for the counties with the founding of the Gillette Cup.
The strength of the 1958 side could be said to rest largely with the front row. The back row contains a fair few passengers, as well as several consistent county journeymen. We will start with Robin Gardner, first left on the back row. He played for Leicester from 1954 to 1962 as a batsman, making exactly 1000 runs in his best season of 1959.
Next is Jack Van Gelovan, a Yorkshireman, who played a handful of games for his home county in 1955. He gave excellent service as a genuine all rounder between 1956 and 1965, doing the double in 1962. He then played Minor Counties cricket for Northumberland before becoming a first class umpire. Alan Revill, a cavalier batsman, had a long career with Derbyshire before coming to Leicester for three seasons in 1958.
Brian Boshier was a very tall opening bowler who took 510 wickets between 1953 and 1964. A consistent performer with the ball, he achieved very little with the bat and was plagued with injuries later in his career. However he played league cricket for Harrogate for a while.
Jeff Goodwin, from Staffordshire, was a left hand bat and left arm medium pace bowler who took 335 wickets for Leicester, including a best performance of 8-81. John Savage, a Lancastrian, was one of the best off spinners in English cricket but his lack of batting ability counted against him. His best season was 1961 when he took 122 wickets, including a hat trick against Somerset. After ten years at Leicester he returned to Lancashire for a while, before becoming second eleven captain and then coach at Old Trafford.
Mike Turner was a right hand bat and a leg spin bowler, but achieved little success in ten first class appearances. However his ability as an administrator, with thirty three years as county secretary, brought him considerable fame and rejuvenated the county. He was awarded an M.B.E. for services to cricket. Edmund Philips was a batsman from Shropshire, who played only 32 matches before leaving in 1959. His highest score was 55.
The five stalwarts on the front row start with another Yorkshireman, wicket keeper Jack Firth, who played just eight games for his native county. He joined Leicester in 1951 when already 32 years of age and gave outstanding service until 1958, He took 373 catches and made 95 stumpings. His highest score was 90 not out against Essex.
Then we have Gerry Lester whose career started before the war in 1937 and went on until 1958. A consistent opening batsman who played 373 matches, he scored 12,000 runs and took 300 rather expensive wickets with his leg breaks. He became second XI captain and coach.
Willie Watson, played 25 Tests for England and earned four soccer caps during his career with Huddersfield Town and Sunderland. He was a left hand bat who scored over 25,000 career runs during his time with Yorkshire and Leicestershire. He was with Yorkshire from 1939 to 1957 and Leicester from 1958-1964. After retirement as a player he emigrated to South Africa where he took up coaching.
Maurice Hallam was Leicestershire through and through. He played 500 matches as an opening batsman between 1950 and 1970, scoring 24,000 runs and captaining the side for four seasons during the 1960s. Finally we have pace bowler Terry Spencer, a most consistent opening bowler from 1952 to 1969. He sadly died earlier this year and is probably best remembered for his part in the famous tied game between Yorkshire and Leicestershire at Huddersfield in 1954 when he took 9-63.
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