Has there ever been a greater leader of men?  A tactical leader?  A more dynamic captain?  Inspirationalist?  Chairman of selector’s?  Chief bottle washer?  Coach driver?  Opening bowler?  Opening barsman?  Number 3 batsman?  The skipper is simply “the guru”!!!!!!

How he organises 20 players to turn up throughout the country, all knowing that they will bat behind him, bowl behind him, chase every ball that goes past him, listen to his stories (again!) before falling for one of his gags, is really beyond me, but year after year, he manages it!!

Perhaps I am gullible, as “the skip” tells me that it is an honour and is also the most vital position, to bat at 24 for the Bunbury’s!  He states that it is the key component of a successful side, so I am honoured to fill that role!!  And no doubt, that time will come for me to bowl that  you keep telling me your are saving me for!!!!

I suppose having played for the Bunbury’s when I first started out in my professional career, that it was inevitable that I would get the “yips” having to bowl behind the pace of “the skip”, John Altman and the flight and guile of Bill Wyman, fag et all, and the “lob and drop” artistry of Joe “the hat” Cuby.  I had no “mystery ball” left in my locker that could baffle anybody after the onslaught they had received from those demons before me!!

I hope beyond hope that batting would be my saviour, but alas, batting behind, Steve Smith-Eccles, Steve Tomkinson, “The Skip, Neal Foulds, Tony Meo and Gary Headley and anyone else who had a letter in their surname, continued my downward spiral!  I even heard mention that Surrey were keen to replace me with Joe “the hat” for the remainder of my contract!!!!!

I have to thank the skip for really pushing me into my post playing career.  My choice was taxi driving (after travelling the Country to field for him!!) or pursue a coaching career, utilising all the skills I had witnessed from the legend himself!!

“Medders, take your sweater and **!! Off down to the boundary!  Can’t have you in the slips.  You don’t smoke!!” or “If you guys don’t sharpen up, I will get Gary Mason to have a quiet word with you” were valuable coaching tips I put into my locker for future times!!!!

The only real disappointment of my time coaching was the lack of opportunity to play for the Bunbury’s in recent times, but I do hope to be available to play some games this season, watching the “Skip” take the new ball with Zimmer frame at the ready at one end, then watching him wield the “wizard” for his four innings when we bat!

Playing with the Bunbury’s is a life experience and one that many of us have gained from, and the amount of money raised by the fantastic club, is testament to the fact that many thousands of spectators have enjoyed.

David thanks for all you have achieved and look forward to taking them all on again this year!!!