Richie FROGGETT

Richie joined the club in 1993 after playing for the Marchwood Regiment. He played for the 2nd XI vs Lymington top scoring with 19 & taking 2-48. During the 1995 season he was a key fixture playing for Martin Anderson's 3rd XI where he scored his maiden 51 vs North Baddesley and took to 5 fer's vs Redlynch 5-41 & Hordle 5-18.

The 1996 season Richie played a big part for the 3rds scoring 378 runs inc 69 vs North Baddesley & 65 vs Hyde & taking 31 wickets. The 1997 season saw Richie play mainly for the 2nd XI where he topped both the batting averages scoring 306 runs @ 30.1 & bowling 20 wkts @ 15.70 inc a fine 6-16 vs Swan Green. He also played 3 games for Billy Ogle's 3rd XI scoring 128* vs Ellingham III's & sharing in a club record 202* 5th wicket partnership with Andy Goodchilds.

By this time Phil Pick was calling for him to play for the First XI but he remained in the 2s for the start of the 1998 season where he again topped the averages for bat & ball with 208 runs inc 77& vs Langley Manor & 19 wickets . Making his First team debut in July he scored another 62 runs in 5 innings & taking 11 wickets. After scoring 88 vs Sarisbury in a pre season friendly there was only one team Froggie was playing for in 1999 where he scored 205 runs. But he found it tough going with the ball - taking just 11 wkts.

The 2000 season saw Richie score 172 league runs. In one crazy weekend he scored 51 took 5-33 vs Longparish and the following day scored 73* in a unbeaten 177 partnership with Tony North vs Kent touring side New Romney. The 2001 season was Hythe's 13-0 County 4 Championship year and Froggie played his part with 16 wkts @ 16.0 inc a best 8-12 vs Andover & 190 runs @ 31.7. The following season another promotion after finishing 2nd - Richie took 24 wickets though with Burzler & Effeny in fine pettle he didn't get much chance to shine with the bat (119 runs). Now in County 2 (2003) a good season with the bat saw Richie score 225 runs which included 64* in a tied game at Langley Manor - he also took & 21 wkts @ 24.

2004 saw Froggie captain the side for the first time - surrounding himself with South Africans he admits he didn't really enjoy the season though they finished a respectable 5th. Being captain he dropped himself well down the batting order. That season he scored just 101 runs however he did take 18 wickets. The next three seasons under Simon Dixon's captaincy whilst Richie continued to be a leading force with the ball (15-18 & 24 wkts) his batting suffered from batting to low -in 38 games he batted 26 times and scored just 240 runs. During the 2005 season he played for the Sunday 2nd XI and scored his first Friendly ton vs Sway 100*. Then during Aug of 2006 he reminded the first teamers what he could do with a match winning 56* vs Hamble 2006. He also with his wife Sue took over the Colts Section from Gary & Anne Howe - a job he's done with great success for the past 7 years.

The 2007 season the First XI missed out on promotion on the final day of the season losing by 2 runs to Ryde - unfortunately Richie unavailable. To get to that position Richie played a big part - 24 wickets @ 14.1 & 125 runs inc a match winning 65* vs A.S.S.C Hamble. 2008 he was very much back as an all rounder - scoring 296 runs inc 98 vs Purbrook (that game he also took 4-44 with the ball) & taking 19 wickets. To add to the return of his all rounder status in 2009 & with Paul Whitlock now retired Froggie was seen as the First XI's senior bowler. He didn't disappoint - 546 runs with an average of 49.6 & 2o wickets inc 6-10 vs Basingstoke & N/Hants & 75 vs Hungerford.

2010 with the side crippled with injuries Hythe finished a disappointing 12th Richie still produced 175 runs & 17 wickets. Another 157 runs & 19 wickets followed in 2011 but by this time Richie was starting to have knee problems and requested to drop down and play for the 2nd XI. The 2012 season saw him score 283 runs @ 45 inc 65* vs Burley & take 18 wickets @ 19.8 to help the 2nd XI to promotion to the County Divisions & reach the Stone Cup Final.

Over the past forty years Hythe haven't had many more consistant performers than Richie Froggett always giving 110 percent. To add to his playing career - Richie and his wife Sue have spent endless summer evenings building the clubs future with the colts. The training doesn't just start in May but January and goes through to August. To add to this a one year stint as Chairman in 2012 - No questions - Richie deserves to added into the Hythe & Dibden Cricket Clubs hall of legends.