Colin Williams: Debut: 2009

The man known as Kenneth was recruited via the internet – not always the best policy – and produced a solid debut season for Offley & Stopsley. Despite failing to trouble the scorers in his first knock for the club (deservedly so really as he played the game in a pair of brown trainers), he quickly made an impression with the bat, leading the Second XI to a stunning victory over Preston as he hit an unbeaten 36 in a 10^th wicket stand of 45 with Cliff Large.

After that high point Williams’ batting displays tended to be rather hit or miss affairs. Displaying a willingness to flail away for the cause, Williams mixed a series of low scores and no scores with vital contributions down the order.

He produced a couple of expensive bowling performances but still picked up regular wickets with his seam bowling, although the two wickets he claimed on his debut were something of a false dawn and he regularly delivered some boundary-laden overs.

To be fair Williams did not restrict his tasty offerings to his bowling; he also made an impact with his sandwich-making skills. After sharing the tea duties with Matthew Freeman in a rain-wrecked game against Titanic, Williams took the helm against Preston, introducing his colleagues to the delights of brie, bacon and cranberry sandwiches or something equally exotic. He ruined the effect somewhat afterwards by suggesting the troops sit on the floor with their pints to get in touch with the earth but hey ho. He ended his first season in the same way he began it – out without scoring – before heading for a three-week tour of the Orient.