Well, the day arrived to make my Bunbury debut at Parkers Piece, the home ground of Sir Jack Hobbs against a strong Ashwell Crusaders.  I took my whole family along for the day, wife Abigail and two sons James and Ben, with a bit of backup as well from the grandparents John and Irene.

What a welcome it was from the main man Dr Dave, bellowing across the field to us as we walked towards him, fully loaded with double buggy, footballs and loads of nappies for our day out.  I must say, it was a lovely welcome from Dave and the day just got better as it went on.

The two captains tossed the coin and we chose to bat.  ‘Salesy, your’e in three’, no problem Loon’, ‘to get a hundred!’.  Well I tried but failed miserably.  The highlight of the day for me as when the Crusaders batted and my hero Graham Gooch walked to the wicket.  With my hero on strike and our opening bowler none other than Martin Johnson, Rugby World cup Winner, getting ready to steam in, I was looking forward to seeing the battle commence. 

So Johnson came steaming in off his long run and let Gooch have a nasty short ball, which he managed to middle and I flew towards deep square leg boundary.  Little did we expect Paul Coverdale, patrolling the ropes, was going to run and fly through the air and take an absolute pearl of a catch, dismiss my hero and pick up Johnson’s first Bunbury wicket.  Must have been the Carlsberg he was drinking!!!

Nevertheless we managed to win the match, but it was all about the fundraising and it was a brilliant day.  Dave, thanks for the great day and making my whole family so welcome.  Since then we have had another addition and future Bunbury, so if you’re ever short mate, I’m sure a Sales could fill a spot for you.

Keep up the great work and no doubt I will see you soon.