Toft Cricket Club stage memorial match for former patron

Norman Ryan, who held a plethora of roles on and off the pitch at the club since joining the committee back in 1967, passed away last June but due to Covid restrictions, a planned match in his honour has not been able to take place.

That changed on Sunday, though, as a "Norman's Boys" team made up of players to have played with him took to the field – some having not donned whites for three decades!

They were still too good for the Toft Taverners team, however, winning by 13 runs all while raising some well-needed funds for charity.

Norman served the club as vice-captain and captain of the first team and the club as a whole for seven years (1968-74) and as secretary for 10 years (1976-85) before becoming president, a position he held for 15 years between 1996 and 2010.

After that, he was made Honorary Patron ­– a position he held for 10 years,

Back in 2015 aged 84, he completed his 50th year as a Toft member by opening the batting for the Taverners in their last game of the 2015 season.

Here are photos of the two teams with Norman's widow Shirley

The teams from the Norman Ryan Memorial Match

Norman's Boy's: Steve Coutts, Ali Gibson, Ross Goodwin, Paul Bertenshaw, Brian Coutts, Steve Watson, Mike Clawson, Dave Stiles, Rob Ashley, Alan Stimpson, Mike Townsend, Peter Watson

The teams from the Norman Ryan Memorial Match

Toft Taverners: Liam Bergin, Mike Cunningham, Will Tasho, Tim Reed, Simon Burley, Simon Ainsworth, Chris Colclough, Mike Davis, Paul Raffo, Gareth Jones, Mark Varley