Name: Ian Harris

(Photo above of the Sunday 2nd XI in the 1970s with Ian then, and now!)

Nickname:
‘Turnip’ - given to me by Brian Carter after my first game aged 15.

I was also called ‘Betty’, after Betty Stove, the Wimbledon runner-up in 1977. There may be others which are even less complimentary!

How would you describe yourself as a player?
Solid (!) Sunday 2s or Saturday 3s batsman, wicket-keeper and, more often than not, captain.

I had my fair share of decent scores with plenty of 70s and 80s but my biggest regret was never scoring a century. In a match v Beddington, I declared when I was 84 not out to make sure we left enough time to win the game. In the end we bowled them out in under an hour!

I also took some blinding catches in my younger days. When Chris Booth took 100 wickets in a season, I took sharp catches for his 99th and 101st victim. I am still waiting for him to buy me a drink!

Best cricket memory?
A Saturday 3rd XI league match v Honor Oak CC. I was skipper and batted at 3. Tea was at a set time but our score was well under par with 9 wickets down and I was still in. I told their Captain that I wasn’t declaring at tea, which did not go down well!

We put on another 40 for the last wicket, then bowled them out with three overs to go. Simon Binning (who went on to star for Addiscombe Hockey Club) taking five wickets and Neil Armstrong taking the other five. The decision not to declare vindicated!

Most embarrassing cricketing moment?
In my first year playing in the colts aged 14, I had an awful bus journey to Streatham CC, did nothing in the field and was down to bat at No.11 given my junior status.

The game was heading for a draw, but I had to go in to face the final ball of the match to save the game. A spinner was bowling with everyone round the bat. I thought the best plan was to go on the front foot get to the pitch of the ball to kill the spin. But I missed it, and was stumped.

Favourite player/cricket hero?
At Addiscombe, it has to be Terry Kent or Mike Burrows.

I only played one game with Terry when I was 15 and caught a good catch next to him in the slips. Terry was arguably ACC’s best ever club captain.

Mike was ACC’s star in the 1950s and 60s but he later made a comeback when his son Stuart started playing for the my Sunday 2nd XI in the 1980s. Taking a stunning catch at short-leg reminded us just what a brilliant player he was.

(see Chris Whitehouse's Past Player Profiles for more about Mike and Terry)

Favourite format to watch?
Undoubtedly Test Cricket. Friday of a Lord’s Test is just the best way to spend a day, and a great opportunity to show everyone where Addiscombe beat Cross Arrows in our 150th anniversary season! (see photos from 150th match at Lord's)

Best thing about Addiscombe CC?
The people. I have been going up to Addiscombe since I was born in 1955 and have made a multitude of lifelong friends.

Everyone who has played, supported, umpired or scored for any of the sides can see what a great club it is.

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