5 Questions with Oliver Harvey
(Originally published September 2013)
How and when did you first join Acton?
My dad played cricket for North Wembley when I was a kid and I used to play on the sidelines as soon as I could walk.
When I was 9 (am now 44 which will surprise those of you who have seen me flying around the outfield after a spell of bowling), my mum asked if I wanted to play junior cricket as she had seen an advert in the gazette and I went along to one of the first training sessions that Joe Burke ran and have been here ever since.
My mum then joined the tennis club and ran that for years with my old man joining the cricket club a few years later. He captained the thirds for a few years and then ran the club bar for a long time so the Harvey's have been quite involved over the years.
As a member for nearly 30 years, and what have been the biggest changes you’ve seen at the club, and what does the future hold for ACC?
The Park Club taking over the ground has obviously changed the club a huge amount and like most things has it's good and bad points. We have lost some of the old spirit that comes from having to get your hands dirty, painting sightscreens, dressing rooms, doing match steward duties etc. and taking pride in the fact that the club was "ours" along with the freedom for all the members to come and go as they please. The good points are that we have a secure future and don't have to find volunteers to run the bar, do the ground, etc. which were almost full-time jobs done on top of their day to day employment. It's a shame that the ground is not looked after as well as when the Park Club first took over as it was a fantastic cricket venue when it opened as the outfield and facilities were immaculate.
As for the future, I was worried a year or so ago as there were very few people putting in the hard yards behind the scenes but am very happy with the new blood that have become involved.
One area we need to put focus on is getting more colts into adult cricket and feeling involved in the club, as if you look around senior teams, especially the top 2, most of the players will be former colts, even the old gits likeme! If we can do this, our future is looking very good.
What is your proudest Acton moment?
I can't think of one particular moment as during my time we have won various leagues and cups although the two that stand out to me where our first league cup win when were in the Championship against Mill Hill Village. A great performance against a very strong team followed by a fantastic evening with both teams socialising together. Shame that this does not happen now.
The second was winning the second division of the County League in 2009. It was a great year playing under Jonah who did a great job of getting as much out of his team as he could by ensuring we all trained hard together and we all knew our roles in the team. Great team spirit and Donnie paid for the end of season drinks with all his late fines.
Am most proud of the journey the club has been on since I joined where in the early days a lot of the County League clubs would not even play us in Sunday friendlies whereas we are now very much one of them!
Who has been your toughest opponent?
Still have nightmares of bowling to Alistair Brown when half the Surrey team, including Mark Butcher, turned out for Cheam in a National Cup first round match in April. Back then I was not used to opening batsmen walking down the wicket to me second ball and hitting me wherever he felt like, but felt a bit better seeing him do the same to the Indian opening bowlers for England the year after!
And finally.... who is your all time Acton XI?
This is a tough one as I have played with so many top cricketers over the years, but I have gone for players who have been good value both on and off the pitch along with a few who have had a big impact on the club and myself.
1. Steve Bas - Been a great mate for over 30 years (we were both there day one as colts) and scored a lot of important runs for the club. Was a good captain to play under as he was good at man management, but he had to be with Kingy in the team. Have had many a great evening out with Bas and still go on his birthday weekend to Butlins every year, although he stopped going a few years ago!
2. Vic Gregory - Will not be known to many but was the star player in the 1's when I joined. Had the pleasure to play with and against him when he moved to Alfriston is Sussex. Quality batsman who could strike a long ball and played representative cricket at various levels. Liked a drink or two as most of the selected eleven do!
3. Pooran Singh - Pooran came to the club quite late in his cricketing career but was still a fantastic batsman and more than useful seamer. Probably the man most responsible for Acton being the strong club we are due to his long spell as club captain where we rose through the ranks of Middlesex cricket due to his competitive nature and drive, which rubbed off on the likes of John, Matt, Bas and myself. If he said ‘well played’ to you, you had had a blinder! Would normally be found post-match sitting at the bar with a number of whiskies near him!
4. Winston Farrell - Another name that many won't know but was a fabulous cricketer and an absolute gentleman. Fantastic batsman to watch, very technically correct but could strike it hard, as a bowler on the Sussex tour who went for a caught and bowled and was only left with 2 fingers where they should be, will vouch.
5. Steve Jones - Quality batsman who John Reeve managed to "hide" from the first teams skippers when he was in charge of the 2's. When Jonah was eventually "discovered" he showed his class with the bat at first team level. A great skipper who lead by example in our league winning year. A big loss when he went back to Aus.
6. John Reeve - Makes it into the team not as the slow bowler he has turned himself into, but as the athletic (yes, it's true, he once was) batsman who could bowl useful seamers. Was hungry for runs and scored a number of centuries (he will be able to tell you how many from his wall chart - may now be on the Ipad). Could bat anywhere in the top 6 and has never ever let the truth get in the way of a good story! I just wish he would get more involved off the pitch!!!
7. Dan Lynch - Overseas Player - Whilst we may have had overseas players who have dominated more on the pitch, Dan makes it into my team as he became part of Acton folklore. Dan was a top cricketer who came to us as a fast bowler from Aus but struggled with injuries his first season but liked the club so much and wanted to show us what he could do so stayed with us. Was always part of the post-match singing that used to take place, win lose or draw and gave his all every time he walked onto the pitch.
8. Jambo Hunt - A product of the Harvey / Turnell colts coaching regime which explains his liking for drinking the night before a league match! Has been a key player for the one's over the years and has the best disguised quicker ball when bowling spin in cricket!
9. Olly Harvey - Would not be right if I did not talk about myself. Useful swing bowler who kept it tight at one end whilst Matty Turnell took all the wickets. Has not been allowed to hold the whip in Sussex for 2 years as Robin Reeve got upset that the drinks came too fast!
10. Jav Sahota a.k.a. Wurze - A key member of the 2009 league winning team. Despite the best efforts of Matty Turnell and myself when we coached him as a colt, Wurze has developed his own style, especially with the bat! Having said that, he is winner and it has been a pleasure having him keep to me over the years and seeing bowlers see him play his first ball and think that this will be easy and then disappear around the park. Should be a dead cert for the England disability cricket team as he has been amazing this year on one leg!
11. Matt Turnell - Mediocre spin bowler who has been lucky to have plenty of good fielders at the club to catch the long hops etc. Rumoured to have passed his driving test a few years ago but I am still awaiting my first lift having been his personal chauffeur for over 20 years!