In 2013 at the age of 43, I accidentally stumbled across a game of beach cricket on Lonsands Beach, which had been arranged by the Northumberland Cricket Board to encourage ‘young’ people to take up the game. 2 of the guys involved, like me, had never played cricket before but wanted to give it a try. We heard that Percy Main trained on a Thursday night so decided to give it a try.

We were given a very warm welcome and I was soon playing for the third team on a Sunday and the weekday Thursday evening team. I had been well and truly bitten by the love of the game bug.

Unfortunately work commitments meant I had to leave the North East in 2017. In 2021 to my absolute joy I was able to return to gods country and back to the Percy Main family. Age and injury took its toll and I only managed one full season of playing.

I had volunteered a few times to assist around the club when a call for extra hands was asked for, and I pretty much fell into assisting with ground preparation at the club. By 2024 I was helping prepare the ground 3 days a week throughout the season (4 when the wife wasn’t looking!) and under the tutelage of the ridiculously knowledgeable Rob Cooper, have become an integral part of a fantastic grounds team at this great club.