Evan Martin – still going strong at Hook Cricket Club

 
At 86 years young Evan Martin still lives in Hook, just a few yards away from where he was born opposite the village’s school, and in all that time he has been involved with the local club in a range of roles, especially with regard to playing his cricket, where he represented Pembrokeshire at youth and senior levels, and as club groundsman for many years.
 
Indeed, although he stepped down from the latter role just a few years ago, his experience is still appreciated after over 70 years of involvement, because even at the start of this campaign he was asked for, and gave, advice to David Petrie and Jamie Phelps, in setting out the pitches so that everything is in line.
 
As Jamie told PembrokeshireSport.co uk
“The tricky part of the job is firstly making sure that it starts off square and it is reassuring to have Evan double check our measurements because he has done it all so many times before.



 

An early start – and involved for well over 70 years

 

Evan first played in the Hook team (they only had one in those days!) when he was 11 and became a regular player until his 50s, when he thought it was time to retire – but by then Hook had a second team and he was roped in to help out there, not only as a batsman but wicket-keeper too!

“Even later than that I found himself roped in to help out when either team was short because my bungalow is just a boundary-throw from the ground so it was easy to come and fetch me – and I couldn’t say no, could I?”
 
It was a similar story when he and his late wife Ann took over the stewardship of the Hook Sports & Social Club, a role they took on for 16 years and during which the club continued to the social hub of the village. He continued his busy involvement with the club with regards to cricket as he took over the maintenance of the cricket field from Glyn Banner’s late dad, learning as he went on with help from his old pal ‘Hitch’.
 
“Nobody knows how many hours we spent on the square and cutting the outfield but we enjoyed it and all I can say is that at least it kept us out of mischief,” admitted Evan with a typical chuckle!



 

County youth and senior player

 
He and ‘Hitch’ played county youth cricket alongside another former star in the late Maurice Cole (Cresselly).

“The team was run by Ashley Warlow and he was held in cricket respect so that few of the players would call him anything but ‘Mr Warlow.”
 
Evan and ‘Hitch’ also played for the county senior team on occasions and again he played with some very good players against strong opposition at venues like Maesteg and Pontarddulais.
 

Two Harrison-Allen Bowl Finals – but disappointment in both

 
“When I eventually gained a regular place in the team there were players of the calibre of Roy and Glyn Banner, Jeffrey Phelps and Meurig Hughes – and we reached two Harrison-Allen Bowl Finals, but sadly lost them both.
 
“The first was against Narberth in 1958 and we should have won it but made a few mistakes and lost by three runs, which was a bit of a sickener because we certainly had our chances to win it – but the second, in 1964, saw us get well and truly beaten by a very experienced Cresselly side so we could have no complaints.”
 

All-round skills in evidence

 
Ask Evan about best performances and it is a hard choice because he played for so long and in a different era where the wickets weren’t as good overall as they are today – but he can recall a good 80+ that he made in Pembroke in league cricket and a century when he was playing for a works’ team in St Ishmaels, but with typical modesty says that doesn’t quite count as much!
 
He also had his share of 5-wicket hauls with his accurate pace bowling, and also had one hat-trick in his long career – and when he finally retired he took up umpiring on the league circuit and enjoyed his involvement there until he became club steward and wasn’t so easily available on Saturdays.
 

Family matters . . .

 
Evan is also rightly proud of the way that his family have stayed involved at Hook CC, where his sons Gary and Geoff were also very fine all-rounders.
 
Gary was good enough to become a player at Glamorgan and in his time on the staff there he played in a three-day match against the touring Australia team. He was an outstanding right-arm bowler and left-handed bat whilst Geoff was the exact opposite as a left-arm bowler and right-handed bat.
 
Both featured heavily for Hook, and since then the family tradition has been maintained because Gary’s son Brennan has become a very good all-rounder who captained the first team for some time!
 

Rugby his other sporting love

 
Evan’s other sporting love was rugby and he played for nearby Llangwm in his younger days as a useful three-quarter in a strong Wasps’ team where ‘Hitch’ was again involved alongside another cricketing pal in ‘Juno’ John and Dilwyn Lewis, who was another great friend.
 
But it is still cricket that remains as Evan’s first sporting love and he can be found on most Saturdays watching the club’s young teams taking part in local cricket. It is evident that even though there is a 60-year age gap he is held in total admiration by all of them alongside the rest of the club who have grown up knowing about the immense part he has played.
 
Having played against him for a number of years we have to say that he was a doughty opponent who never gave an inch on the field, but a gentleman that was held in huge respect – and still today it is a great pleasure to chat with Evan Martin around the boundary on our regular visits to Hook Cricket Club!