LOOK at the determination on the batsman’s face, cheeks puffed in effort, as he sends the ball past the flailing arms of the wicketkeeper. Note also the snazzy shorts of his fellow batsman suggesting that cricket whites were not obligatory for this team.
This is Timmergreens Primary School from Arbroath beating South Morningside Primary School from Edinburgh to be the top Scottish primary school in a cricket contest organised by Sports For Schools in 1989.
Timmergreens really caught the cricket bug, and after being coached by Bermudan player Clarence Parfitt, arguably Bermuda’s best ever bowler, they went on to win the UK primary school championships in 2002.
Purists will no doubt wonder about the lack of cricket pads, but at that age the lads play with a lighter ball so that pads are dispensed with, allowing the players to attack the ball freely and be quicker in their running between wickets.
You might not know that Arbroath is a hotbed of cricket, but the senior team, Arbroath United, won the Scottish Cricket Cup last year and were Scottish Champions in 2013.
Perhaps some of the youngsters playing at primary level back in the day this photograph was taken, carried on their interest and continued to play, helping Arbroath win their trophies.
Sports For Schools is also still active, arranging for Britain’s Olympic athletes to visit more than 1,000 primary schools to inspire the youngsters.
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