5 Questions with Adam "Mitch" Forsdike...
Adam “Mitch” Forsdike is undoubtedly one of Acton’s most popular characters. Whilst perhaps best known for his religious commitment to a post-match Aeronaut and Babylon routine (which sometimes ends in a bus journey to Liverpool St / Harlesden / Stonehenge), with coming up to 2,000 premier league runs to his name, Mitch’s contribution the 2nd XI’s continued success is not to be underestimated.
In addition to his on-field achievements, over recent seasons Mitch has become an increasingly important component of our juniors’ section, coaching the successful U10s side.
With more than 10 years at the club to recollect on, we ask our favourite diminutive opener our usual 5 Questions…
How and when did you first join Acton?
I joined in 2008 when Andy Guiton suggested to my mum I head down and join. I didn’t really commit over the first few years, spending 2010/ 2011 abroad and 2012 under the thumb of a girlfriend who lived in Bristol. Since I played my first full season, Acton has become part of my life. I love the club. And one of the most rewarding things is being able to give back by taking a colts side.
What is your proudest Acton moment?
I’ve been greedy and picked three of my best moments at Acton.
3. Winning at Byfleet, again
Our annual trip to Byfleet has thrown up some brilliant moments, I remember a very hungover 80 I got there where I actually let go of the bat when heaving across the line and the time a whale’s husband invaded the pitch. The less said about that the better.
The best one for me was back in 2015: we went down there on a wet Sunday, the pitch was terrible and we chose to bat. We were bowled out for 125… not a great day at the office. They were 50-1 in reply and we were resigned to a big defeat and the 90 min drive back to Acton was going to be terrible.
Enter Rob Reeve. Rob proceeded to run through them like Jeremy Hunt goes through Vodka Lemonades and they were all out for 99, he finished with 7-25 and we won the league! Happy Days.
2. My first league hundred against Stanmore
Scoring a hundred is awesome but scoring one in the league to get a win is special. I don’t remember a huge amount about it, a very average bloke had got a hundred in the 1st innings and commented how easy it was. I remember seeing it like a football and it almost didn’t happen, Khan came in when I was on 95 needing 20 odd to win. He hit a 14 year old leg spinner for four 4s in a row… I went down and had a word asking him to do me a favour, he reluctantly blocked the next two half trackers and I finished 101* in the next over.
1. An Acton U10s team going to Ealing and winning.
Although not a playing memory, this was hands down the best moment I’ve had at Acton CC. It beats, 100s, wins, promotions, everything! We had a hugely talented young side, most of whom are still at the club playing in the U12s and we went to Ealing’s 3rd ground to play a league game.
We had one drop out so were playing with a man down to start with but the guys set about bowling against a team made up of almost all borough players. We had an 8 year old and a couple of players playing their first hardball games. We bowled really well, the guys taking 11 wickets which took 55 off Ealing’s eventual score.
When we batted, the Ealing parents were heckling our boys, shouting to the middle trying to put them off. Even the coach shouted “run him out” when one of our boys got hit on the leg and fell forward. By the end of it we needed 7 off the last over to win without losing any wickets. Sam Francombe got them off the first 4 balls and just batted back the last two balls with ease *Cue pitch invasion*. All this whilst parents from the opposition were shouting at their own kids!
One of the boys (I won’t name him) got off the pitch in tears saying “I love Acton CC so much”
We should have won the national competition that year, we got knocked out on the toss of a coin!
What have the most notable changes been during your time with the club?
Well the biggest change is the move from The Park Club to our own clubhouse. Many of the guys talk about how amazing having your own club house is and I can’t wait until that becomes a reality. It will mean families can come down and enjoy in the afternoon and we’ll get the social side of the club fully up and running. But it also means that we will have to put the effort in as members! People expect to turn up, train and play. We’ve got all the ingredients of a great club, we just need to give a bit more if we’re going to bring the next crop through with Acton
Who has your toughest opponent been?
Only one name can go here; Ken Desji, the wily Richmond all-rounder. I have no clue why, he doesn’t bowl express pace or have an odd action, I just have no idea what he does with the ball. The guys say it’s in my head, it might be, but (shrug emoji). We’ll try again this year…
What is your all time Acton XI?
As with Dan’s Acton XI I am going to pick on those I have played with here. As you’ll see, typical dinkys game, 6 overs of seam and then straight to the spinners.
I’ve played most my cricket with the 2s and in Sunday sides so some big names missing out by the volume of games played together… Sorry for those that didn’t make it.
1. Maduranga Soysa
Unbelievable cricketer. Could take the game away from an opposition in about 5 overs if he wanted to. Also, as an overseas was great at improving my game. Hoping the MCCL change their overseas rule soon so I can have Madu back!
2. Alex Manning
I think we work as an opening pair because a good length ball to me is a half volley for him. Very good at running the ball down to third man using the middle of the bat (obvs) and how the shoulders go when he does it. But the best thing about Manning is when he gets into the late 90s, always wants to get there with a 6, have seen him clean bowled at least twice, once on 96 and once on 97.
3. Dan Waddell (c)
Dan’s class on and off the field. On it, his cover drive and flick off the legs are something I wish I had and, off it, how his wit gets pointed at almost everyone when he’s had an ale or two! A definite calming influence on me when he sees the spinner coming on, trying to convince me not to go over the top the first ball. Proper club man!
4. Matthew Reeve
Love playing with Matty, top fielder, classy bat and pretty handy behind the stumps. We’d secured a new tour fixture and headed down there to find Richie Benaud walking through the car park. They batted first and got 220, a hugely above par score but exactly as Richie predicted. We were 117-7 with Matty and Manning batting. Matt then reverse swept their overseas every ball he bowled, most of them going for 4 bar one which he somehow cut for 2 when the bowler worked out the plan. Matty and Manning with both in hysterics whilst it happened as well. We won with about 8 overs to spare! Probably trying to make up for nearly hitting Richie in his car. Needless to say, we didn’t get that fixture back.
5. Keith Hunt
The angriest man on the field by a mile, never dropped a catch, best fielder in the world (off his own bowling) and not too fussed when people misfield. Gutted he’s stopped playing as you could count on Keith to bowl as many tight overs as the skipper required. Also got us out of trouble with the bat on more than one occasion, before a bloke from North Midd made him realise his mince pies had gone. Very large pair of… socks.
6. Josh Burrows
Well, we need someone to do the scoring don’t we…*
7. Alex Brennan
Cricket with AB is a pleasure. Even when he’s skipper and angrily pleading with people that it’s only two positions they have to remember. Never spill a drink on him, he’ll throw his at you. Not good at finding bathrooms in clubs but often finds a solution. Same boat as Dan and John, does a huge amount for Acton CC.
8. Scotty Kojav
Scotty’s changed now he’s made it into the 1s, used to be my partner at the Chatty at 3am on a Friday night. He spent a lot of time in the 3s watching in his first couple of years but when people realised how good he was, he almost bypassed the 2s straight up to the 1s. Don’t really want to talk specifically about his cricket, he’s in for the lolz.
9. John Reeve
No shortage of entertainment with John in the side literally anything can happen! Especially when he’s running! Have him in my side every day of the week with that slow left arm stuff he bowls. Great cricket brain and club man. When he’s not Chairman anymore, we’ll realise what huge shoes we have to fill!
10. Beefy
One half of the bash brothers. Seen beef make top batsmen look like clowns whilst talking them through exactly what he’s going to do! Loves playing Richmond, never seen group of blokes look so quiet after Beef screamed at them for eating all the tea before the away team had got there. There was also the incident with the Park Club blackcurrant juice, 65% concentrate, which wound up an opposition batsman so much he ran past his 3rd ball and was stumped! Top groundsman as well.
11. Wurze (WK)
The other bash brother - For keeping talent alone, you give the gloves to Matty or Manning but there’s something about this lunatic behind the stumps that really puts batsmen off. Whether it’s his constant talking in Punjabi, his animal noises, his hot blood, standing up to every bowler in the club at some point without a lid… He gets any Acton side two wickets a game.
Notable omissions – Khan, Jambo, Matty T, James Fell, Atlas
*only kidding Josh – Whenever we get to green seamer, we think, this is Josh’s day. We heap the pressure on and he sometimes delivers! Bowled one of the best balls I’ve ever seen, bowling the Hampstead skipper and cartwheeling the stump into Manning. His chat is top drawer and always has smile on his face in the field. Dan – I’ve put him in where he should be batting. Ladels full of cricket left to come from him!