Graham Gooch and Phil Gill, ACA Grades President, at the Grades Dinner at Westhill Inn
Cricket great Graham Gooch addressed an audience of 200 at the Aberdeenshire Grades Association annual dinner at Westhill, near Aberdeen, last night and revealed the day he was bowled over by an Aberdeen player.
Gooch, a former England and Essex captain whose career spanned the period from 1973 to 2000, scored 67,057 runs and is one of only 25 first-class players who has scored more than 100 centuries, including the 333 he hit at Lords in 1993.
His 154 against the all conquering West Indies at Headingly is still regarded as one of the great knocks of Test cricket. He said: “I am delighted to be in Scotland where I have memories of playing a giant of an Aberdonian who knocked me over in a mid-wicket collision at Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow. I well remember Dallas Moir, though I never played at Mannofield.”
Grades president Philip Gill, in welcoming representatives from 18 clubs, said: “In a year of change for the grades we have become stronger.” Ellon Gordon captain Scott White, who led his side to victory in the Aberdeenshire Cup and third in Grade 1, was named cricketer of the year.
Cricket legend Graham Gooch bowled over by an Aberdeen giant
