Tim Monday Memorial match
For those who didnt know Tim Monday – he was our much loved former Captain who sadly passed away during a match between West Chiltington and Middleton on Saturday 8 July 2017. Please click here for our July 2017 Wizzy News article.
Affectionately described by some as a loveable rogue, Tim was always the centre of attention at our functions and wherever he went, laughter was sure to follow. He was an old fashioned cricketer who believed in developing the youth at the club and often helped coach the juniors on a Friday night. He also believed in playing the game in the right way, something which is deeply embedded in the DNA of our club. The following letter to the County Times in August 2015 which typified Tim was on display at West Chiltington :
Sportsmanship does exist
In an age when good sportmanship is often sacrificed in the interests of a ‘win at all costs’ strategy, it is a pleasure to report that the true spirit of cricket is alive and well on the village Green.
In the final match of the season between the two top teams in the West Sussex Invitation League Division 1, the outcome of which would determine who would be champions , Littlehampton , Clapham and Patching CC batted first against West Chiltington and Thakeham CC. When Littlehampton’s most prolific batsman was dismissed lbw, the West Chiltington Captain, Tim Monday, at slip, was convinced that the ball had struck the bat before the pad and immediately withdrew the appeal and recalled the batsman to the crease, thus disregarding the obvious advantage to his team had he ignored this conviction.
How gratifying it is to witness fair play in sport, something that is not always in evidence in the proffessional game.
For the record , the weather intervened, the match was abandoned as a draw, and West Chiltington were Champions.
David Stoner, West Sussex
For the last few years West Chiltington, Wisborough Green and Aldershot (the team Tim played for before joining Wisborough Green) have all hosted the annual Tim Monday Memorial match. This year it was the turn of West Chiltington to host Wisborough Green at West Chiltington.
Wisborough Green selected a number of up and coming stars for the game including four under 13 players, two under 15’s and an under 16 player, along with a few more experienced players. The team was skippered by 15 year old Will Dixon.
The West Chiltingtom team included many of the players who played in the 2017 season with Tim and in Tim’s last game.
The game was played on the pitch that Tim last played on in 2017
Wisborough Green batted first and notched up an impressive 171 in their alloted 25 overs with some fantastic batting on display from Will Dixon, Oscar Warmington, Rafferty Finn, Xander Boyce, and George Redgrove in his very first senior game for the club.
See detailed match report below by skipper of the team Will Dixon.
Wisborough Green got off to a great start with some good bowling from Harry Hunter and Oscar Warmington who also took two fantastic diving catches. Oscar also took the prized wicket of his former Sussex coach and former South African indoor cricket captain Tim Van Noordt. Archie Gray, playing in his first senior game also bagged two valuable wickets towards the end of the game.
West Chiltington managed to reach the total with only a few overs to spare in what was a very memorable day’s cricket.
A great game played in great spirit by both teams and the most fitting tribute to Tim who was no doubt looking down with an approving smile.
Thank you to West Chiltington for their generous hospitality and for hosting a great day of cricket in memory of a much loved player of both clubs and a special thank you to Tim Van Noordt for all his efforts in arranging the match.
As we left the ground it was very touching to see the West Chiltington players sitting on the pitch in a circle at the end that Tim last bowled from.
