Ups and downs of life at our world class cricket club
FIVE Trophies and a Funeral, a new book published on Thursday, tells the remarkable story of the rise and fall of Durham County Cricket Club.
Formed in 1882, it was more than 100 years later the club decided it was time to leave minor counties cricket and set off on an incredible journey.
Just 15 years after joining the first-class game, Durham set off on a trophy-winning spree by winning the Friends Provident Trophy at Lord’s, only for financial troubles to drag them down in 2016.
Author Stuart Rayner has spoken to a host of key figures to explain the twists and turns in the road, and where the Riversiders plan to go next. Here, some of them tell the story in their own words: “I wasn’t surprised Durham were able to raise so much money so quickly because (chairman) Don Robson was one of those people who could do things. As far as he was concerned, there was no way it was going to fail.” “It was a case of, ‘I’m not sure if I can compete at this level,’ because I was 30. Batting-wise the game had passed me by... but it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so I was really pleased to grasp it.” “I wasn’t playing (in Durham’s first competitive game, against Lancashire) so I was basically there to help out with the big boys. The ball kept disappearing into the river! When I finished bowling I went to sit on the bank to watch.” “I remember certain members of the committee saying, ‘Just go out and have a good day and enjoy yourselves.’we said, ‘We’re here to do a job.’ I don’t know who wrote the script, but it worked out well.” “Not very often do you get an opportunity to stop and look at how we do things. Durham’s in that stage. The same outcome would be great but it’s hard to get another Michael Hussey, because there isn’t another one.”