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SOUTH
Devon's longest-running cricket competition, the Brockman
Cup, celebrates 75 years of providing the thrills and
spills of 20-over evening cricket to grass-roots players
in the area.
Hotelier William
Stanhope Brockman, owner of the much-lamented Rosetor
Hotel in Chestnut Avenye, donated an old golf trophy he
had won to launch the competition in 1933.
Mr Brockman, a keen golfer, cricketer, sailor and rugby
player, wanted to encourage cricket among junior clubs
and especially clubs with youngsters among their membership.
Seventy-five years on the competition is still going strong
while some of its contemporaries, such as the Sermon Cup
and the Torbay & District Cup have long vanished from
the local scene.
Cricket writer Conrad Sutcliffe has been looking into
the history of the competition over the past six months
while preparing a brochure to mark the anniversary.
He has come up with some fascinating facts and figures,
as well as stories about the people and personalities
who have contributed to the enduring success of the competition
over the decades.
“There are happy endings, heartbreaking stories and tales
that you wouldn't believe possible,” said Conrad, a Brockman
Cup-winning captain himself with South Devon Etceteras
in 2002.
“Among my favourites are some of the old cricketers who
have kept on playing for years and years, such as Bill
Scourfield and Dave Mitchell, who between them cover virtually
the entire competition.
“Bill played for Cockington when they beat Old Manorians
to win the cup in 1934 – and was a member of the
Chelston team who were cup winners in 1967.
“Dave Mitchell first played way back in the 1950s for
Torquay YMCA or Chelston – and played against me
in 2005 to make up the numbers for Chelston when they
were short of players.”
Another interesting tale relates to the 1946 cup final,
which Babbacombe won amidst much controversy at the time.
“The scorers' books didn't tally at the end of the match
and Babbacombe were finally declared winners even though
Narracotts had scored more runs than them,” said Conrad.
The brochure, which will be published in time for the
semi-finals later this month, contains reports from famous
finals over the years, a host of pictures archives and
a look back at some clubs and personalities who are no
longer with us.
“Old cricket scorebooks are
fairly dull things, which is why I have tried to find
out something about players like Bill Webster, Ernie Knapman
and Les Turl whose names appear time after time over the
years,” said Conrad.
“Most of the clubs who appeared in 1933 have long disappeared
– Old Manorians who won it, Inland Revenue, Abbey
Road Congs, Torre, St Matthias – and some of the
later ones like Shiphay St John and Torquay Nomads have
gone as well.
“I hope I have been able to throw a little light on some
of the players and teams who have made it such a marvellous
competition for so many years.”
Brochures
will cost £3 each and will be available at the Brockman
Cup semi-finals and final. To reserve a copy in advance,
click here
Available
by post at £3.60 including postage & packaging
.
