David Walters & Blackboys Cricket Club



One of Blackboys Cricket Club's greats, David Walters, passed away on the 22nd August 2007.

David and his family have been associated with the club since the 1950's. David, still an active player, was not only an outstanding talent with both bat and ball he was the ultimate clubman.

Club Captain 1970-72, 1975-78 and 1983-86.
Treasurer 1987-1991
Chairman 1989-2007
President in 1999

1959

The earliest record I can find for David playing for Blackboys is a match against Framfield on the 16th August 1959.
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Unfortunately, my records for 1959 are incomplete and no doubt David played in a match earlier that year. I have the complete scorebook for 1958 and I cannot find any references to David during that season. From the information I have I would suggest David made his debut for Blackboys in 1959.

1961

We move forward to the 29th July 1961. Young David breaks his run of low scores in his previous matches for Blackboys with a knock of 30 not out batting at number 9 in a match away to Mayfield.
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No doubt a very pleasing day for master Walters as he helps Balckboys enjoy a 101 run victory.

1964

I do not have the scorebooks for 1962 or 1963. And so we look at the 1964 season. By now David is a regular in the Blackboys team, quite often opening the batting. Similarly, DW is part in the Oakshott Cup squad. Blackboys in the 1960's were very strong in this competition and having won in 1959 and 1963, Blackboys triumphed again in '64 with a convincing win over Heathfield Park at Waldron.
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1965

On 20th June 2007, Blackboys entertained Uckfield and whilst David was out for a duck in a lowly Blackboys total of 97 he done his best with the ball taking 6 for 50. Unfortunately, his efforts were not enough as Uckfield won by 3 wickets. However, it was clear David was a very talented player and was now an integral part of the Blackboys set up. His allround talents were emphasised further as he help steer Blackboys to another crushing win over Mayfield. 80 runs, 4 wickets and a couple of catches.
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1966

It is 11th September 1966 and we have the David Walters one man demolition of The Invalids. Blackboys win the toss and decide to bat first. John Egerton scores 43 and Roy Axell, batting at 3, scores 46 not out; However, it is David Walters with 101, with his first recorded ton I can find playing for Blackboys, who takes the plaudits. Blackboys declare on 193 for 2 off 25.4 overs.
For The Invalids reply, John Egerton and Roy Axell open the bowling. After 8 overs The Invalids are 33 without loss. Walters is introduced into the attack and over the course of the next 18.4 overs he runs through opposition taking an amazing 9 wickets. John Nicholls taking the only other wicket. The Invalids are all out for 107 after 26.4 overs. A near perfect performance from David Walters. Magical.
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1968

The 1967 scorecards are missing and therefore we take a jump to 1968.
It is the 21st July and Mr Walters hits 100 not out and takes 3 wickets as Blackboys beat Seaford Seagulls by 77 runs at Newlands.
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1972

No scorebooks for 1969, 1970 or 1971 which is shame as David was elected our club captain in 1970 taking over from Roy Axell. David was still the club captain in 1972 and this first round match in the Maresfield Knock-Out Cup on the 20th June 1972 couldn't have gone down too well.
Being bowled out for 37 and losing by 9 wickets was probably a game to forget for Blackboys. However, I have no doubt David took the defeat on the chin and would have said well-played to the opposition.
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Gordon Thomson took over the captaincy in 1973 and 1974 but David was back in 1975 for another fours years which included an Oakshott triumph in 1977.

1973

The President's Match is traditionally one the most enjoyable games in the fixtures. In 1973 J.A.Thomson, Esq. was our President. For this season, the president had to concede that the Blackboys club side played the better on the day with David Walters the stand out player. David scored 41 in a Blackboys total of 196 for 5 and then took 5 for 21 as the President's men were reduced to 131 all out.
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1974

During the 1970's, Blackboys played in the National Village Knockout which was then known as The Haig. Blackboys beat Slinfold away by 74 runs in the third round with David Walters taking 3 wickets.

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Unfortunately, Blackboys fell to Glynde in the next round.

1975

David Walters is back as captain and the club enjoys some more deserved victories under his leadership. In this victory over Hellingly on the 10th August 1975, Walters takes 5 for 19 and hits 30 to help Blackboys win by 3 wickets.
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1976

David hit 105 in a Blackboys total of 202 for 4 in their win over Seagulls on the 23rd May 1976. On the 11th July 1976, it was his bowling (7 for 27) that was on a display in this drawn match a W G Gracefully.
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1981

David Walters led the club to another Oakshott Cup triumph in 1977; unfortunately, the scorebook is not in my possession. A jump has to be made to 1981 to pick up trail again and here find David hitting a ton against an overwhelmed Uckfield Fire-Station Team.
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1983

In 1982 David took 9 for 38 but without the scorebook I cannot say more than that. In 1983 David returned as Club Captain and would have certainly enjoyed this narrow 1 run victory over Five Ashes on the 7th August.
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1984

In a classic match on the 5th August 1984, despite David Walter's best efforts, Blackboys contrive to lose by 2 runs away to Waldron.
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1985

Another all-round performance as this time David leads Blackboys to a win at home to Maresfield on the 14th July 1985.
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1986

David's last recorded century in Blackboys' colours was scored at home in a drawn match against Ridgewood on the 20th July 1986. This was David's final year as Club Captain.
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1987

Gary Funnell took over the club captaincy from David in 1987. However, David remained very much part of the Blackboys set up and beacme the club's chairman in 1989. In this game against Seaford Seagulls on the 24th May 1987, David showed off his talents once again with ball taking 5 for 42. Unfortunately, like the team's, his batting was not quite up to the mark on this occasion.
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1988

In another classic game against Waldron at home on the 31st July 1988, there are wickets and runs for David as Blackboys have to hold on for a draw.
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1989

David Walters top-scores with 67 not out and then takes a couple of wicket as John Shipley's President's XI fall by 47 runs on Sunday, 30th July 1989.
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1990

On the 10th June 1990 Crowborough III's are comprehensively beaten with Walters helping himself to 40 not out and a brace of wickets.
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1993

With no scorebooks for 1991 and 1992 a jump is made to 1993 and a hastily arranged end of season match against Patrick Russell's President's XI. David Walters wraps up proceedings with 4 wickets.
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1994

David hits his top-score of the season with 71 not out as Blackboys beat Chalvington and Ripe at home on the 17th July 1994.
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1995

On the 2nd July 1995, David rescues the Blackboys score with a knock of 60 in this close drawn game away to Five Ashes.
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1996

With his bowling boots now at the back of the cupboard, David turns to wicket-keeping. Multi-skilled Walters, helps to beat Brighton Beamers behind the stumps and a rapid 47 not out on the 9th June 1996.
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1997

From 1997 to 1999 Blackboys C.C. went on tour to the West Country at the end of July. With Jimmy Rogers jnr driving the tour minibus it was certainly an experience. Getting to a venue was a result in its self; undaunted, David Walters played in all three fixtures and scored 59 against Bridestowe, 51 not out against Bude and in the last match, against Tavistock, his 32 runs helped set up a decent score to allow Blackboys enjoy a victory.
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1998

1998 ushered in a new era for Blackboys C.C. as the club joined the Cuckmere Valley Cricket League. During our first few seasons, David was unavailable for Saturday cricket and his experience was left to the friendly games on a Sunday. Back on the second West Country Tour, David top-scored with 39 as Blackboys beat Bude on the 29th July 1998.
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1999

1999 Saw David turning out for the Saturday League XI and duly helped the club to the Cuckmere Valley Cricket League's Division 2 title. 1999 also saw Mr Walters notch up 40 years of playing cricket for Blackboys. David was our President but his team had to settle for a draw against the club side on the 11th July 1999.
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2000

Everything went Blackboys way in 2000 and the team lifted the Cuckmere Valley Cricket League crown in their first season in the top-division. David Walters very much part of the winning squad, keeping wicket and batting low down the order in a strong batting line-up. Strength in depth was quite handy when you slip to 5 for 14 in the seventh over. In this classic match at home to Preston Village on the 5th August 2000, Matthew Bradford and Mark Dann put on the rescue act with David Walters providing a final push to a secure an important league victory.
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2001

The achievements of the previous year could not be repeated. However, Blackboys put up a strong defence to their title thanks to their strong squad. In this match, on the 26th May 2001, not for the first time, Blackboys, at home to Nutley on this occasion, were in trouble with the score 25 for 4. It was the turn of Colin Albright and David Walters to help post a modest total to allow Mark Dann and Chris Turner enough room earn Blackboys a 68 run victory.
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2002

Blackboys came a very close second to Alfriston in the Cuckmere Valley Cricket League in 2002. The early rounds of the league's Tommy Lusted Cup were played at the start of the season and this match on the 11th may 2002, David Walters opened the batting and top-scored with 65 not out as Blackboys scored 180 for 6 beating East Dean by 17 runs.
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2003

It was a long way from 1959 but David Walters was enjoying his cricket more than ever. Joining the Cuckmere Vallley Cricket League gave the club a new focus and in the cut and thrust 40 overs win or lose matches there were some cracking matches.
Another excellent match on the 5th July 2003 saw the visitors Firle triumph on this occasion. With just 3 runs required off the last over and with 2 wickets in hand, Blackboys really should have won. On this occasion David's experience was used in the top order when it was probably needed at the end.
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2004

Blackboys finished third in the Cuckmere Valley Cricket League in 2004. Denton were the champions but on their way to the title they ran into a Blackboys side on the 29th May 2004 who gave them a bit of a thrashing. David Walters hit 46 and put on 129 runs for the first wicket with Nick Rogers as Blackboys won by 9 wickets.
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2005

The 2005 Season was one of the best for Blackboys Cricket Club. Not only did we win the Cuckmere Valley Cricket League but after a wait of 28 years the Oakshott Cup finally returned to Blackboys. David was very much a suporter of this long running mid-week knockout cup and to get his hands back on the trophy that he won in 1977 gave him great pleasure. David was behind the stumps as Blackboys beat Waldron by 6 wickets in the final at Horsebridge
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2006

Some more great teamwork saw Blackboys lift another Cuckmere Valley Cricket League crown. David was still making valuable contributions for the Blackboys cause and was very much part of a close knit squad. This win over Laughton on the 12th August 2006 was a good all-round effort and set Blackboys well on the way to the League title.
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2007

2007 saw a new chapter for Blackboys but with great sadness to the members of Blackboys Cricket Club it was the final one for David Walters. With the collapse of the Cuckmere Valley Cricket League, Blackboys joined the East Sussex Cricket League and were placed in Division 7. A whole new ball game for Blackboys as we moved into playing timed games. In an awkward opening match against Hellingly II's on the 5th May 2007 saw David Walters hit 33 not out batting at number 8 and put on 36 unbeaten runs for the last wicket to help Blackboys out of a hole.
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David's final match was on the 18th August 2007 against Willingdon II. The game was abandoned due to rain.
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Blackboys continued their good form and won the Division 7 title in style. But our joy was heavily tempered by the loss of our Chairman, player and friend.