Foreword
It is my honour and pleasure to have been asked to write this foreword during this, the fortieth year of Woodpeckers cricket. Having first arrived in Ashleworth towards the end of 1970 I missed the first twenty years when, in social cricket terms, the Woodpeckers was a much sought after fixture by Clubs of all cricketing levels because of its pleasant ground and facilities and the members ability to entertain its guests. Those criteria still exist today. Of names from the past Roger Dando comes first to mind, a man much admired in local cricketing circles at that time. Gloucester cricket was changing however and true to form the woodpeckers changed too. Its major successes in its first twenty years had been to win the Gloucester Knock Out Cup in 1955 and the Tewkesbury Hospital Cup in 1959, 1961, 1962 and 1966. When the Gloucester Club Cricket Federation (G.C.C.F.) was founded and Leagues were formed the Woodpeckers Club uas among the first to apply. Needless to say, success followed and between 1971 and 1973 though the Club was twice unsuccessful semi-finalists in the Gloucester Knock Out Cup competition, it did win the Tewkesbury Hospital Knock Out competition in 1972 in which same year it uas G.C.C.F. League champions having earned promotion from the Second division in 1971. As prime movers in the formation of the G.C.C.F. the club introduced the Woodpeckers awards for Batting and Bowling performances and in 1978 the Club was delighted to see that a Woodpecker, Peter Underwood, had pulled off the season's best Bowling performance. This individual achievement had followed Bill Nicholls' excellent wicket-keeping which earned the premier award in 1971. Ten years later Peter Cole, keeping for the Club second XI followed in Bill's footsteps.
Whilst individual performances abound, it is team effort which has exemplified the Woodpeckers throughout its years. Whilst the likes of Ossie Robinson, Jim Saunders, Alan Probyn and Henry Dallman are names from the past there is still active involvement from the likes of Mike Edge, Dave Jones and Ernie Wilkes. At present, however, recent deeds in earning promotion from the Second division of the Bablake County League are memory fresh. It's the sons of past players who are producing the results and that's good to see. The Woodpeckers has always been a family club and long may that continue. In congratulating the Club and its members on its 40th Anniversary I wish it every success in bringing cricket to local kids for at least the next forty years!
Tom Boore
A Woodpecker and Chairman of the Gloucestershire Cricket Association
