Bev and I moved to Devon
in 2002 from Yateley in
Hampshire where I played
my cricket. I played my fi rst
game for Yateley in 1954 aged
13, and my last full season
was 1997. We have two sons,
Stephen and Neil, who both
played at a bett er level than
me. Steve played for Yateley,
Wokingham and Eversley, and
Neil played for Yateley, Finchampstead and Lansdown (Bath). We
have 5 grandchildren, aged from 6yrs to 12yrs., three at Yateley and
two in Germany. Four of them have been to Devon games.
My other love is table tennis, and play for Newton Abbot in the
Torbay league. Bev plays golf at Bovey Tracey Golf Club.
We started to follow Devon in 2008 the year we won the One-day
Trophy at Lords. Bev has a good knowledge of the game as she
scored for me when I captained the 2nd XI at Yateley (and made
fantasti c teas) and has also become a very keen supporter of Devon,
so much so that when I could not att end the Wiltshire match in July
through illness, she decided to do all three days herself. I received a
match report aft er close of play each day.
Of course we never get a season free of rain. The second day of our
Championship game at Sherbourne was completely rained off , and
Bev and I had to spend the aft ernoon in the local pub playing cards
with two other Devon supporters.!! The other memorable ti me was
at Sandford when for three days alternate sunshine and rain played
havoc with the game. The ground staff were magnifi cent in very
diffi cult conditi ons enabling the completi on of the match.
We both look forward to the release of the years fi xtures in Jan/
Feb so we can plan our weekends away supporti ng Devon at other
grounds in the country.
The matches that stand out in my memory are the 2011
Championship play-off fi nal at March against Cambridgeshire where
we were victorious, This match had something that I have never
seen before or since where a Cambridgeshire batsman was given
out LBW and he refused to walk. Aft er a long delay he was allowed
to remain at the crease. The other match that I remember well is
when in June 2014 we beat Dorset inside two days at Bournemouth.
The Dorset side included three contracted Somerset players. Josh
Bess and Trevor Anning both taking 6 wickets in the match and Matt
Golding scoring 100 runs. The best individual performance from
a Devon player I have seen was in 2016 – Zak Bess, almost singlehandedly
beat Cornwall inside two days at Sidmouth by scoring a
wonderful 166 plus taking 7 wickets in the match.
On the playing side of the club we conti nue to make progress with
Keith (Director of Cricket) and Josh (Captain) at the helm, things look
good for the future. On the non-playing side I think we have a very
good committ ee of forward thinking members striving to raise the
profi le of the club.
We both like our home games at Sidmouth overlooking the sea,
and eati ng their delicious ham, egg & chips, and at Sandford in the
beauti ful countryside. The fi nal match of the of the 2017 season
v Berkshire had a real county match feel to it with a large home
and away support, the ground was in superb conditi on, well done
Exeter CC.
Bev and I are looking forward to next season, and meeti ng up again
with our Devon supporter friends.
Mike Coxhead
Following our Adopted County
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