h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

We've got the Cavaliers end-of-season bash on Friday (an actual proper formal dinner: tuxes, port, awards and everything followed by a nonced-up trip to a pub that's never seen a tie before), and I've just put the final touches to our 2009 video.

You've probably heard the story of how the Cavaliers started often enough by now, so I won't bore you with the details too much. But looking back at the summer, we actually did incredibly well. We started with about four of us, a pub and the back of a fag packet, trying to work out if we could get eleven hardy souls together who might fancy a game once in a while. We played four times last year and lost them all. Last winter, it all got a bit more serious; I managed to sort us out 16 fixtures, and on a wet day in Okehampton we took the field and got hammered by 145 runs.

Since then, we've got better. So much better, in fact, that some of us are actually starting to look like cricketers. My personal tally of 306 runs was fairly astonishing given that I barely scored a run in the early days. We won three times - once against one of the teams that comprehensively thrashed us twice last year. Chalky scored 50 one glorious day at Budleigh Salterton, and three of our bowlers took three wickets in an innings.

But we've also stayed true to the 'if you want to play, you can play' ideal. We play because we love cricket first and foremost, and if we do well it's a bonus. So we've had the delicious sight of old Bryan, who doesn't know the first thing about how to bat, playing six games for us and scoring exactly half a run an innings. And every run he gets is cheered wildly, because we share his happiness in being able to go out and play cricket. None of us could ever play for a club, I don't think, but thanks to the Cavaliers, that doesn't matter. If you've always dreamed of hitting a six or taking a wicket, you can play for the Cavaliers and eventually, you might just do it.

We've had 32 Cavaliers playing for us now - some just once, some turning up every week. And we're all mates, which is beautiful; everyone is a member of the family, or a friend, or a friend of a friend.

Putting together and watching the video reminds me what a beautiful thing we started. Our partners out there in the rain cheering us on. Our fat bellies wobbling around the field attached to huge grins. Our obvious delight in one another's achievements. And the ecstacy when we get something right for a change.

Some of the highlights for me have little to do with the cricket itself. Getting texts from our wicketkeeper, who was always the first to arrive, marvelling at the weather and the ground and urging me to get there quick to soak up the atmosphere. The curry-house in-jokes. One of our bowlers putting a winter's illness and strife behind him by taking a wicket in our first game and tearing off around the pitch in celebration. Someone who didn't like cricket until they came along one day running in and out of the clubhouse with updates on the Ashes score. Fifty people turning up for a barbecue at our midsummer match. And everybody smiling just about all of the time.

Yeah, it's a pretty special thing. We've got big plans for next year: maybe affiliation with a local club so we have a 'home', more emphasis on playing in the more beautiful clubs in Devon, maybe even a mini-tour somewhere one weekend.

It's going to be a seriously long winter, I think.

I'll post the video up on our website when the Cavaliers have seen it

Summer is for the best thing in life - cricket.

Winter is for all the second best things - rubbing linseed oil into your bat, poring over Wisden and listening to overseas tours on TMS

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I do envy you Rich. The Cavaliers is beginning to sound right up my street. I really have to try and get over during the season and attempt to put bat to ball. I might even chance my dodgy shoulder and have a crack at an off-spinner or two, although I don't guarantee the ball landing anywhere on the cut portion of the pitch

Nice round-up, Rich - will we see something in The Post?

I hope that when you do get into playing more competitively, you never lose the fun and camaraderie that you have now.

Icy

I can see you in a Cavaliers shirt, Gosho, probably the day after a day at Taunton and a decent curry the night before. Winter is going to be spent sucking up to all the teams we played this year, I think - particularly the ones that did a good tea.

There should be something in The Post sometime, Icy, but I have a tux to sort out for Friday first

I take it creams are not de rigeur then?

Clotted cream, custard creams, cream buns; they're all the rage, though. You can tell, looking around the field.

Those are definitely my kind of creams Along with a nice cream

Goes without saying! Every club with a proper clubhouse that we've been to has had a decent selection of ales, though that's no excuse for the regular and heavy defeats...

Not an excuse... but a rather heavy influence I suspect

For anyone interested, here's the end-of-season video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46IRK9B_9q0

And the presentation of the Clubperson of the Year award, live from Spain!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6otTMA-sILg

Incidentally, the rather dashing young man walking out to bat and then in every other photo in the opening sequence, then in mid-sweep just towards the end ('Boycott Blaggers') is me.

My brother is the one next to me in the thumbs-up photo (and with blood all over his face in another).

One of my cousins is vice-captain Chip, who has got posing for the camera with bat high in the air down to a fine art.

My other cousin James is the 'unlucky' bowler; the guy with his cap on backwards.

Andy is my uncle; 'Whaley' is my Dad. I've known Kev since I was seven and Chalky since I was 11. The women in the video are the 'WAFs' - Wives and Fiancees - of my cousins and me.

We're a real 'family and friends' club

That was hi-larious

If I ever get the chance to play I shall have to add some riders to my contract.
1. A large Melton Mowbray and several bottles of Guinness Extra at tea and after the match.

Er, that's about it really

Great video, Rich!

Yes, great videos, particularly the second one, you are fantastic.
But where in Spain were you?
Sangría Beach?

That's an impressive improvement, Rich. I'm glad it's going so well. I wish I had half your drive!

My uncle was in Alicante at the time we had the awards, Mar

Oh, by the way... for my stag do, I think my brother is planning to throw me into a van and drive me to the airport without telling me in advance. So I won't know when I'm going to Granada, if I am going to Granada, until I'm on the way


Just got the first fixture of 2010 arranged. It's 210 days away

Just got the first fixture of 2010 arranged. It's 210 days away <<<

why are you?

ea nene have this song to cheer you up:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RTjcKaSvGU

Thats really nice Mar - thank you

I thought it was going to be this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js0rKmv-0Iw

Azúcar!

I'm because it's still 209 days away. That feels like a lifetime!

Break out the !

We're now affiliated with a local club, and now have our own 'home' ground. No more mowing pitches with a garden lawnmower on windy hilltops for me!

Blimey, you're almost official

I used to find it wryly amusing when you'd see the word 'Affiliated' in brackets after the name of a... what was it you used to see that after? Working mens' clubs? Like The Wheeltappers and Shunters?