Dave Bridgeland Template

Dave Bridgeland

Club Chairman

Career

Dave Bridgland: Debut: 1998. Saturday Captain 2007- 2010

Over the years few players have come close to reinventing themselves in as many roles as the club’s current chairman. Bridgland began life at Offley as a wicketkeeper who excelled in standing up to seamers and spinners alike and recorded 21 stumpings. At that stage he complemented his keeping with some notable displays in the top order, enjoying one of the greatest days of his career with a sensational performance at Hitchin to lead Offley to victory against the Cricketers during the successful Millman League campaign in 2000.

After hanging up his keeping gloves, Bridgland turned his attention to his bowling and provided the club with a reliable and effective spin bowler while allowing his batting to take something of a back seat. He broke the 100-wicket mark for his career at Offley and showed flashes of considerable ability with his blend of leg breaks, googlies and flighted filth.

He continues to be a safe catcher of the ball and is particularly adept at holding on to any attempts that may be lashed back at him off his own bowling and is also effective in the slips.

After a couple of seasons of decline with the bat his form returned in 2005 as he became only the second player at the club to score 3,000 runs and take 100 wickets. He maintained his resurgence with the bat in 2006 as he finished third in the averages but his season will best be remembered for his efforts against Houghton Town.

Bridgland marched out to bat with his side in tatters on 11-6. By the time he walked off Houghton Town’s resistance had been shattered and Bridgland had scored an almost nonchalant half century to clinch victory and the Performance of the Season award. It was the high water mark of a distinguished career and if Offley & Stopsley Cricket Club lasts for another hundred years people will still remember that day as the club’s finest hour.

Bridgland’s resurgence as a batsman has been carefully chronicled by his better half, Hillary. Since deposing the numerically-challenged Dennis Day as scorer, Hillary has brought a calm and effective air to Offley’s score book. Yet while she never has any problems in making sure her book adds up, even she is powerless to stop her other half from smearing the occasional long hop straight into the hands of a fielder.