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So how many faces do you recognise on this picture?

All Areas > Sport > Cricket

Author: Roger Jackson, Posted: Wednesday, 1st August 2018, 09:00

Gloucestershire County Under-16s against Sussex in the mid-1970s Gloucestershire County Under-16s against Sussex in the mid-1970s

Mike Edwards is very well known is sporting circles in Gloucestershire, particularly when it comes to cricket, rugby and horseracing.

But what may not be so well known is that he is also chairman of the Upper Windrush Local History Society, a body that he founded.

As such Edwards, who lives in Guiting Power, is given lots of things of historical interest, including the cricket picture that accompanies this story.

“It’s a team photo of Gloucestershire County Under-16s against Sussex in the mid-1970s,” said Edwards, who was the team manager. “I think it was taken at the Gloucester City’s Spa ground.”

And Edwards can remember all the names of the people in the photo except one – the person in the middle of the back row.

The others are, back row, from left, Mike Edwards (manager), Paul Williams, David Edwards, Gavin Little, ‘Unknown’, J Page, A Toomey, Roly Gabb (umpire) and Tim Smith. Front row, from left, Grant Richards, John Cropper, Gary Courtice, Nicky Hanks, R Hoult and Glyn Picton.

“The teams were run by the Gloucestershire Club Cricket Federation which was the precursor to what we have today,” said Edwards.

“In those days it was all run by volunteers and it was very good because we produced three England players – Jack Russell, Syd Lawrence and Steve James.”

None of the players on the photo which Edwards sent to The Local Answer reached those heights but they were still very decent cricketers.

“John Cropper still plays and is chairman of the youth section at Cheltenham,” said Edwards. “Paul Williams is secretary of Rockhampton and Gary Courtice played for both Cheltenham and Gloucester.

“Gavin Little is the brother of Minchinhampton golfer Stuart Little. He was a prolific runscorer and in my opinion was a county cricketer lost. He was one of the best youth cricketers I saw.

“Grant Richards joined the RAF and I think played for the Combined Services while Nicky Hanks was a really good wicketkeeper but unfortunately for him he was around at the same time as Jack Russell.”

If anyone knows the name of the ‘Unknown’ cricketer, please email sport@thelocalanswer.co.uk

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