XL Club - Kent & East Sussex

Alan Luff

Nicknamed ‘Luffie’ or ‘Cabbie’ is an all rounder. Well known in celebrity circles after years in charge of the Connaught Hotel in Mayfair, London where he befriended stars like Sir Alec Guinness, Lauren Bacall, Katherine Hepburn and Lady Diana Mosley (his wife Dian was named after her). You might just have noticed that these stars are all dead – but Alan’s going fine. His present occupation is as a London Cabbie, having inherited the licence from his father and grandfather who drove hansom cabs many moons ago. He uses a heavy bat, in the Graeme Pollack class, except it always seems to be crossed-batted. An avid XL tourist, loved by airlines because he pays huge excesses for vast amounts of baggage.

Alastair Narraway

All-rounder and brother of Jeff – but claims to be the better batsman. He’d rather score a boundary than run between the wickets as he reckons it saves energy. Runs a joinery business in Sandwich and is a newcomer to the XLs. Quite often enjoys playing in the same team as his brother so he can blame him if something goes wrong! Another Broadstairs CC player alongside the rest of the Narraway clan.

Andy Pye

Left-arm slow bowler. Well known through his Old Colfeians (currently fixture and membership secretary) and many other cricketing links. Managing editor of the online industrial and scientific B2B publishers, Pro-Talk Ltd, and has just stood down after 10 years as the editor of The Kent Cricket League Handbook. That’s because he’s so much on his plate that he could be considered to have invented the 28-hour day and 8-day week 

Barry Adams

Medium-pace bowler who can add a few runs with some lusty blows. One of the few XL members who can claim a full head of hair, albeit in a permed mullet! Of a weekend he can be found playing in the middle of hop country, let alone sampling the ales.

Barry Smith

'Bazza' - wicket-keeper/batsman. Has played 1st and 2nd XI Kent League cricket for more than 30 years at Gore Court, Sittingbourne and later represented Kent Over 50's and 60's. Currently organises the Over 60's competition in the UK. Still stands up to the stumps for most bowlers and when required, bowls a useful medium-pace. His formative years were spent in the South Eastern Tavern in Ramsgate (one side of the bar or the other - his parents were the licensees) and his initial exposure to cricket was at the Warre Rec next to the town's railway station for (the now long-disbanded) St Georges CC.

Bob Green

Batsman. Plays local non-league club in Thanet. Prolific run-getter on his day. Head of PE at a Canterbury grammar school which does produce some reasonable cricketers, the latest one off the production line being Kent’s Simon Cusden who played against the XLs in their first match against the school. That day he was a little bit too quick for our guys when bowling and no slouch with the bat – did Bob really coach him?

Brian Scovell

Batsman. Author of 20 sports books including ones with Brian Lara, Sir Gary Sobers, Dickie Bird, Ken Barrington and Sir Clyde Walcott, reported 350 Tests and 420 international soccer matches in the 'Daily Mail' and now works as a freelance to play almost as many games as Cap'n Ron. He used to write Barry Richards' column and recently Barry told him 'keep cracking on with that sweep otherwise you'll never get the ball off the square'. Captains the English Press team and edits the XL Handbook.

Brian Solly

‘Sol’. Medium pace bowler who can fling the bat a bit. The Arthur Daley of the club so beware of buying a car in Broadstairs, especially a Vauxhall! And yes he does have a go-fa named Terry (Terry Kidd that is! - see elswhere on this page for his details). This new line of business in recent years has curtailed his appearances for both the XLs and his dearly beloved Broadstairs CC where he is the Chairman. Cricket has featured much in his life as his wife Diane will confirm – even the day they got married, the wedding was in the morning and the two of them were doing the teas at Broadstairs in the afternoon. Now guys, just how many of you would got away with even suggesting watching cricket on the day of your wedding let alone doing the teas – and still be alive to tell the tale????????????

Bruce Campbell

‘Brucie’. All-rounder who still plays Kent League for the village of Wye near Ashford. Ex-plod who’s played for Kent Police and other village and Kent League clubs around Ashford in the past. Bowls a useful medium pace but his son Max looks a better batting prospect – sadly Max is too young to join the XLs to make up the runs scored off Dad’s bowling!

Chris Faulkner

Opening batsman. Scored a 50 on his debut for the XLs in 2004. Teacher and qualified cricket coach – could be useful to a few of us – it’s about time we understood where we’re going wrong!

Cyril Davey

Useful off-spin bowler who’s played cricket for a variety of clubs in different leagues around Maidstone. Another retiree who is promoting cricket in school’s in the Maidstone area. Currently chairman of Loose CC who he plays for on a Sunday. Also now plays for Tonbridge on a Saturday. 

Duncan Innes

‘Dunky’. Very tight opening bowler who can bat on occasions (has been known to get the odd 50). Probably one of the most consistently accurate bowlers in the district. He works for an organisation that is the national regeneration agency, helping the Government to support high quality sustainable growth in England - claims to have sold ‘The Dome’ in recent years. Chairman and Secretary of Tonbridge CC.

Gary Allen

All-rounder who retired early from the IT industry. Last heard of heading off to live in Barbados for a while but no one’s sure what happened to the Ferrari F55 he used to drive

Geoff Pine

'Porno' - there's an interesting story behind this one if you ask him about its origins! Opening batsman. Even though he lives on the outskirts of London he’s another Broadstairs player – probably because he’s got a weekend property there. As a staunch supporter of the Broadstairs Folk Week you might encounter him in one of the hostelries in the town or (as a closet Morris Dancer) with bells tied to his ankles and a lump of wood in his hand – or is that a description of him dancing around on the pitch trying to bat (can anyone enlighten us?)

Gordon Watts

All-rounder. ‘Flash’ is the ultimate dresser, often to be found in a Moss Bros suit. Quite partial to the odd beer or two. Clouts the ball sometimes when he sees it, bowls in the Bob Appleyard style and fields anywhere, except the more dangerous positions, such as slip. He’s skippered village sides and is one of the most reticent of our members. In one press interview he said “often I am seen admiring the cloud formations when playing a shot and sometimes when fielding!”

Ian Farthing

Useful batsman and leg-spin bowler who can keep if needs be. Another player who’s plied his trade in the Kent League, latterly for St Lawrence & Highland Court. He’s also got a great pair of hands in the outfield or even close to the wicket as a few recent matches have shown. The ‘legal eagle’ of the side who can be found practising in Dover – as some have said ’you can’t get too much practise but what about putting it to use!’  He’s toured with the XLs and on one tour managed to play in one of the early matches and injure himself badly enough not to play for the remainder of the tour. The cost of the tour turned out to be the biggest match fee anyone has paid to date! 

Ian Lewis

‘Lewey’. Another accurate XL Club opening bowler. Suffered with knee injury late in 2003 and didn’t play any cricket again until 2005. Plays his cricket at Wye near Ashford alongside Bruce Campbell and for the XLs when his shifts as fire-fighter allow. So God forbid anyone being trapped in the Channel Tunnel, but it might just be Lewey who gets you out.

Ian Robinson

All-rounder. Another Thanet man who’s proved his worth to the XLs in his first couple of years. Very ACTIVE in the Thanet sign-making business – he’s got his own! They’re also the UK Sign Business of The Year with a huge list of big name clients including B&Q, M&S, KFC, etc. Leaves most of the day-to-day stuff to others so that he can concentrate on his mid-week cricket and his golf. Plays taxi driver at weekends to his son who’s an up and coming off-spinner and batsman with the potential to go places – sadly too young to qualify to play for us!

Jeff Narraway

All rounder and brother of Alastair – but a better bowler or so he claims. Can be found with fingers in many pies to make money or alternatively the small fruit pies at a cricket tea. One other interest he has is Bowls where he is no mean player and is captain of the St Lawrence Bowls club in Ramsgate. Plays cricket for Broadstairs CC along with God knows how many other Narraways of all ages.

John Bates

Wicket-keeper/batsman. ‘Batesy or ‘Big Fella’ in XL and Tonbridge speak, or ‘Basher’ around East Kent where he’s played most of his cricket.  Lightning-quick hands: sometimes even too quick for the umpires to have seen (yes they are blind). Joined Tonbridge on a free or put differently, it was the only way to stop Ron Helyar keep phoning him up! If a batsman finds a dark shadow hovering over him, it’s because the big guy is standing up to the stumps like he does more often than not. 30+ years with his previous club before Tonbridge CC, held most offices and was unpaid groundsman, claiming over 600 victims (431ct, 207st) with a personal best of 52 victims in 1993 (23ct, 29st). Since 1999 has played in all the top 6 divisions of the Kent Village Cricket League (except the 2^nd) representing two clubs in that period. Author of ‘150 years of Cricket in Minster: 1848 – 1998’.

Webmaster for the Kent & East Sussex District of the XL Club and assistant for the Wales District. 2005 season totally decimated by injury and serious illness. 

John Burnage

Typical determined opening bowler hailing from Yorkshire where he played league cricket for Altofts CC before heading south to teach in Canterbury. Has played Kent League cricket for Chestfield CC and Kent Village League for Mersham-le-Hatch near Ashford. Also into rugby and coaches the sport as well.  Often found playing in XL representative sides (when picked).

John Simmons

Useful all-rounder who plays at Tonbridge CC.  If you need a garden makeover, Simmo’s your man – just make sure it’s big enough to make it worth his while. He’s a Chartered Landscape Architect and golf course architect. Rumour has it he’s even designed golf courses in China – a bit too far to go for a take-away for most folk!

Mark Winter