Folkestone 2007 - A Stroll in the Park 
On a glorious summer's afternoon the Strollers returned to the "home of cricket" and scene of some of their most embarrassing defeats to date. Inexplicably, and raising serious commitment issues, only 7 men made the journey, among them long-awaited comebacks for Graham "The Willow" Willis, overseas player and Paddy's nemesis Andrew Carey and former captain Tom Fletcher.
After much discussion Rick Bristow was handed the captaincy for the day by default, allowing him to fulfil his lifelong dream. Lost for words for once in his life there was no rousing team talk, though fortunately the opposition captain's reminder of Strollers record against St.John's ensured there was no need for one. It was time to banish some demons.
To a chorus of groans Rick's first noteworthy act as captain was to lose the toss consigning the Strollers to the field in sweltering conditions without even so much as an over-exuberant fielding practice session. L.Fletcher and A.Carey were handed the new ball. In amongst some now increasingly common dross, Luke did produce one straight delivery to dismiss the dangerous St.John's opener. However, despite 2 beamers which threatened to bring the game into disrepute, part time Stroller Alex Finlow who had opted to play for St.John's was once again proving to be a thorn in the
Strollers side, adding fuel to the theory that he saves his best performances for when he's playing against the Strollers. Despite some unorthodox shots Alex rode his luck to retire on 25.
Carey was working up some pace at the other end, causing problems for all of the batsmen and taking a richly deserved wicket in his 4th over.
Behind the stumps Willis was defying his critics with acrobatic dives and solid glovemanship which had fans and players alike gasping in admiration, and Macca and Youngy fearing for their places. Quite what Andrew Maurice, sitting on a beach in Thailand, would have made of it is anyone's guess as he saw himself rapidly slip to 4th choice keeper. Johnny "The Sphinx" Allen produced arguably his finest display with the ball in a Stroller's shirt, keeping Tom out of the attack until the death, yet fnished wicketless, perhaps proving that fine bowling is not always justly rewarded at this level. Meanwhile Bristow recovered from some slips in the field to finally remind Strollers of his worth to the team with a competent spell which produced 2 wickets including a contender for catch of the season from Tom Fletcher.
The former captain was looking sprightly in the field, visibly relaxed after being unburdened from the heavy weight of responsibility of captaincy. An experienced death bowler, he bowled tidily before a late flurry of boundaries left him fuming.
Inbetween, Alex, returning to the field to help out the depleted Strollers produced a direct hit to run out St.John's Kosovan batsman, the second run out of the afternoon. Mark Fletcher, after a series of elegant orthodox looking defensive shots had previously failed to ground his bat coming back for a suicidal second. The decision seemed to take time to register being met with disbelief from the batsmen.
With no third umpire to refer to, the debate about whether to make use of modern technology at Stroller's games looks set to be ignited once more. Luke returned to bowl the final over ("spin")setting a leg side trap and tossing up a few juicy full tosses to tempt the batsmen. Uncharacteristically however, Carey, bringing back memories of Crocker at Cowden, put down 2 catches in the deep and misfielded to add insult to injury. St.John's finished on a competitive 119 from 25 overs.
After a hearty tea, Tom Fletcher, keen to shine in his only Stroller's game of the season got the team off to a flyer with a series of graceful boundaries.
N.Tubman was happy to play the anchor role at the other end before being given out plum LBW by Carey for 1. Tom raced to the retirement score of 25 and was joined later by Luke, who after a steady but untroubled start hit 3 boundaries in an over off his Dad's bowling to retire.
However, as inevitable in life as death and taxes we were again sadly to experience a Stroller disputing his wicket and a batting collapse. Though he could perhaps count himself unlucky, Johnny Allen did his future captaincy chances few favours when he refused to walk after being adjudged caught behind. The irony, given his recent outburst questioning the Stroller's "spirit of cricket" ethos, was lost on no one.
After a promising start A.Carey became another Finlow victim, yet remarkably Alex added a further 2 scalps (ringers kindly lent to Strollers by St.John's) in consecutive balls to record an astonishing hat-trick.
The stage was set for a captain's innings and sadly Rick failed to deliver, offering an easy catch to the fielders early on. The game looked set for a nervy finish when Willis, who looked as if he could finally be the answer to Strollers search for a wicketkeeper/ batsman, was bowled. However, the returning Fletcher brothers, led by dashing strokeplay from Tom, held
their nerve to calmly steer the team to victory with 3 overs to spare. Captain for the day Bristowe accepted the winners shield on behalf of the team and summed up the mood accurately but predictably in his acceptance speech when he said cricket had been the winner.
The teams adjourned to the Ship Inn, though not before the braver Strollers had swam in the sea, and then on to the Fletcher's garden for a barbecue hosted once more by Mark and Debbie with the usual legendary hospitality. Lively banter ensued.