49
perhaps 200 miles on the Friday evening to get to the Saturday fixture, then
in the car Saturday evening and drive anything from 120-300 miles for the
Sunday game, followed by a similar journey back on the Sunday evening, and
if you were really unlucky, the chance to field all day on the Monday! What
did the want cricketers or rally drivers!!
Some memorable trips followed, given that the Motorway system was still in
its infancy. It wasn’t much fun having to drive Brighton to Derby, Worcester
to Scarborough, Taunton to Manchester with the M5 ending at Gloucester.
There were numerous accidents due to drivers falling asleep, and after a
few years common sense prevailed, and we could have a relaxing night on
a Saturday. John Player not only put up a lot of money as sponsor but also
gave each team member 200 free cigarettes every Sunday for the season, so
the non smokers gave their 200 to their mates, I presented mine to North
Devon’s legend, David Shepherd-(Shep) as did John Mortimore who changed
beside him, so the old boy had 600 free ciggies for 16 consecutive Sundays!
In 1972 Benson and Hedges another U.P.O.D(unknowing purveyor of death),
not to be outdone, did similarly when they began a 55 over competition. At
least this was played on a regional basis which cut down the travelling. If
you made the final, which we did in 1977, you would have played another
seven games and received 1400 free cigarettes, possibly 10,000 --11000 free
ciggies for the whole of the season! Little wonder then that North Devon was
under smog each winter! Sadly, if we had only known then what we know
now.
Jack Davey
Devon debut at Exmouth v Cornwall 1964, & 1965.
Gloucestershire 1966 - 1978
Debut 1967 v Lancashire Old Trafford
1st Round Gillette Cup.
Last Game September 1978 at Bristol v Lancashire - Championship.
Devon 1981 v Leicestershire - Gillette Cup
Devon 1982 v Warkwickshire - Gillette Cup
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