Another one bites the dust: John Inverarity, lbw b Underwood, fifth test v Australia at The Oval, 1968.
Derek Underwood’s death elicits tributes from many, the word “unique” for once justly employed. “Modern players would try to bash him with their big bats but, trust me, they would have no chance” writes Sir Geoffrey in the Telegraph.
There are affectionate memories, too, from Stephen Brenkley – one of the Barney boys – whose illustrious cricket writing career began with the Kent Messenger. “To have watched him bowl at Canterbury year after year was a delight and privilege” he writes on Twitter/X. “Unique bowler, lovely man.”
Then there’s a lovely message from blog reader Mike Floate, author of many memorable books on football grounds, now on the North Yorkshire coast but educated at the same Kent school as the man they called Deadly.
The school, says Mike, seemed little bothered by their old boy’s success. “No meaningful coaching was offered to those in the nets after school. Looking back, I suppose that countless England caps was nothing compared to aspiring to be an Oxbridge Blue.”
Underwood remained his hero. “What a bowler he was, unique and often unplayable, and how good it was to see him struggle (but often spectacularly succeed) as nightwatchman with the bat. How proud I was that he played for Kent, and that I attended his school.”
Years later, Mike attended a sports meeting in Sevenoaks, the dozen or so in attendance invited briefly to introduce themselves. “Mike Floate, secretary of Clockenhill FC” he said.
Then the guy next to him – “Derek Underwood, local cricket.”
“I turned, recognising him way too late. I could have said much but said nothing, respecting his anonymity, I suppose the kid in me too nervous to speak.
“Sadly, today’s news means that Local Cricket is one man down. RIP, Deadly Derek.”
*Having watched another emphatic West Allotment Celtic victory at the weekend, blog reader Peter Chapman emailed to wonder how long they might hang on to their management team. The answer came today – after six years, Jay Bates and his assistant Barry Rizzi are leaving at the end of the season.
“The decision has come as a shock but it’s understandable as he seeks a new challenge” says a club statement.
WAC have no ground of their own, no social club income, absurdly small crowds and yet still do well in the Ebac Northern League first division. If football ever had an award for the club which most spectacularly punches above its weight, they’d win it by a mile.
*Ah yes, No-brainer. Published last Thursday, formally to be launched at Midlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium on May 7, my book on the amazing and ultimately tragic life story of former Boro defender Bill Gates – and of his widow’s inspiring attempts to raise awareness of the life-threateneing peril of repeatedly heading a football – has had some greatly encouraging early reviews.
“A heart-breaking but still inspiring insight into the real-life impact of the biggest issue facing the world’s biggest game” says Jeremy Wilson, the Telegraph’s chief sports writer.
“A fabulous read, a beautifully stitched story-mosaic” says a learned lady in Manchester.
“A meticulous and moving read that exposes the cost of football’s collective failure to protect players” says Warren Manger, of the Mirror.
The only problem is that approbation’s not reflected in early sales. The Northern Echo‘s greatly generous two-page spread on Saturday failed to produce a single expression of interest in this direction.
Available on Amazon and elsewhere, the book (£14 95) can also be ordered directly through me – mikeamos81@aol.com – ensuring that every penny profit goes to Dr Judith Gates’s Head Safe Football charity.
*Finally, news from the wonderful world of 5s and 3s. The Brainless Britannia B, it may be recalled, avoided bottom place in the bottom division of the Darlington and District League by virtue of having one more individual chalk all season than the team with whom we jointly ended adrift.
Tonight, however, we reached the knock-out cup semi-finals by beating a side from the A division without losing a single game.
The semi-finals and final take place next Monday at the New Bank Top pub in Darlington. Very likely it’ll be all-ticket. Apply now.
Grass Routes 