Sad to see old club close

I was told the so very sad news over the weekend that Seaham Harbour Cricket Club was to fold after 150 years by former player Steve Robson.

I then read the piece in the Echo and saw so many familiar faces and recalled so many great times and incidents, fun times.

I played at the Harbour for many, many years and had a great time every match, every season.

Not just a team but a group of mainly local lads that gave their all for each other.

The Harbour has had some great servants over the years including Malcolm Slee, Bob Walton, Peter Weston, Ray Ambrister, Michael Sennet, Tony Mayhew, Derek Leslie, Jim Dyson and so many more.

If you cut them in half and you could have read SHCC.

I have Malcolm to thank for help in my early years. He gave so much to the younger players.

Then came coach Gordon Fairly. He helped produce a great junior team.

A special thanks to Peter Weston. We had some great times. Always had a great night in the club. The banter, the darts with former players such as Mick Sennet, Stuart Musson, Jim Whittington and so many more it would take forever to mention them all.

I may have left Seaham in 1987 but Seaham never left me.

It also provided me and my family with one of the greatest of friends you could wish for – Brian Forster. It was an honour to get to meet and know his family.

The late, great bowler Frank Forster was also another great Seaham lad.

I could go on forever but will close with this is a great loss to cricket, the community and for anyone who looked to find a truly friendly, family club.

All the very best to all those that tried to save the club, those that played and those that gave the club such support over the years.

Good luck

Neil Forrest