TONY WOODHOUSE

A TRUE CLUBMAN

If you ever need to explain what a true clubman is then you have to look no further than Hythe's Tony Woodhouse.

Player 1947 -1999

Captain 1956 - 1992 ( Various Teams )

Treasurer 1984 -Present

Cricket Chairman 2000- 2003

Tony first played for Hythe back in 1947 when his father in law ( Walt Bell ) was captain of the Second XI at the time was one short and asked Tony to help out. Tony had no intentions of playing cricket at the time but the bug quickly caught on especially when you marry into a cricketing family.

His first game was against HMS Dilligence down at Shore Road on a cut out pitch used in the winter for football. Tony recalls that their were more injuries than runs at the time caused by the Shore Road pitch.

Tony played for the First XI on several occasions during the fifties even keeping wicket for one game. Though once was enough especially to the pace bowling of Phil Pick and Harry May.

During the sixties he captained the Second XI and in the seventies he vice captained to Alan Wiltshire on both Saturdays and Sundays. Alan Wiltshire described Woodhouse as the backbone of the Second XI for almost three decades.

The side in the seventies included Wiltshire, Woodhouse, one more adult and eight colts. Needless to say we were well beaten on many occasions yet Tony never complained. He use to bowl his slowies, chuck them up in the air and if the batsman connected then the colts got very good fielding practice.

By the eigthties he captained the Third XI for a few seasons in the Parks League and kept the Sunday Second XI going for many years after Alan Wiltshire retired.

In 1992 Tony handed over the captaincy to Tony North but continued as vice captain and played on until 1999 when his body could take no more.

When his playing days were over Tony umpired for a number of years then looked after his proud clubhouse on match days.

As a player Tony was a self taught spinner and over the years got many wickets. His highest score as a batsman was 86 against East Tytherley. He said he enjoyed playing at Tytherley because of it being a small ground and sixes were easier to hit.

Tony was happy to go in at number 11 and on many occasions hit the side out of trouble.

He also became a very good slip fielder and thanked Phil Pick for that. Tony says during the sixties he tried his hardest to get out of the slips but Picky kept putting him back in there.

But it was as a bowler that Tony used to curse his opponents. He once claimed all 10 wickets against Purbrook & Portsdown and claimed over thirty 5 for's during his long career.

His worst moment - Tony says was when over at Flamingoes he tried to hit a ball out of the ground and it struck the end of his bat into his mouth. Mary walked him around Eastleigh on a Sunday trying to find a doctor and afterwards he couldn't understand why no one offered to take him straight to A&E.When Tony returned to the ground some hours later he'd ended up having 5 stitches in his mouth

In 1997 at the young age of 69 Tony still topped the Sunday bowling averages at 16.2 - taking 14 wickets in the process.

The highlight 4 for 33 off 7.2 overs at Highcliffe in a game that was dead and buried after Hythe were all out for just 135. With the opposition 40 for 0 Woodhouse and Paul Summers 5 for 32 then bowled the home side out for 108.

So to all you young colts out there - whilst local footballers tend to swap clubs every other year 'a cricket club is for life' or thats as far as Tony Woodhouse is concerned - a true Hythe Legend.

TONY WOODHOUSE ' ALL TIME ' HYTHE & DIBDEN XI

Phil PICK ( Captain )

Dave CARR ( Batsman )

Brian BUCK ( Batsman )

John ASHTON ( Batsman )

George KNIGHTS ( Batsman )

Garth THOMAS ( Batsman )

Terry RAWLINS ( All Rounder )

Brian SEXTON ( All Rounder )

Wayne EFFENY ( Bowler )

Chris WHEELER ( Bowler )

Paul WHITLOCK ( Bowler )

12th Man - Ron Quibell or Eric Chambers