We’re really delighted to be featured in Uniquely Norwich – a new pocket guide highlighting all that’s great to see and do in our fine city!

Copies are available from various locations in Norwich.

Take a look at our feature in Uniquely Norwich here

Our first guest speaker of the 2016/17 programme will be Neil Robinson, Library & Research Manager at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Neil will be joining us at the George Hotel, Norwich on Wednesday 14th September (7.45pm) and in addition to discussing his role at Lord’s, Neil will also be talking about his book Long Shot Summer: The Year of the Four England Cricket Captains 1988.

Further details about Neil’s book are available at Amberley Publishing

Follow Neil Robinson on Twitter @mcclibrarian

Really pleased that we’ve signed up our first guest speaker for 2016/17 and it’s none other than former England all-rounder Phil ‘Daffy’ DeFreitas.

Phil will be joining us at the George Hotel in Norwich on Thursday 27th October (7.45pm) to discuss his first class career with Leicestershire, Lancashire and Derbyshire, and as we approach the 30th anniversary of England’s Ashes winning tour to Australia in 1986/87 Phil will also be sharing with us his memories of making his Test debut on that tour and playing alongside the likes of David Gower, Ian Botham and Allan Lamb.

Put the date in the diary, this is not to be missed!

Thanks to everyone who made it along to our screening of Warriors at Cinema City on Monday 25th January, so pleased that we managed a sell out crowd of 66!

Warriors is now available to buy on DVD, details at http://www.warriorsfilm.co.uk

We’re trying to get Warriors on the screen at Cinema City in Norwich on Monday 25th January at 6pm, can you help us to spread the word!

Watch the Warriors trailer below to find out more about this documentary film

Really pleased with our line up of speakers for 2015/15 and even more so with the national exposure they’ve enjoyed in the last week.

First up on Friday 16 October was Justin Parkinson who was a tea time guest on Test Match Special chatting to presenter Simon Mann about his book The Strange Death of English Leg Spin.  Simon Mann and Justin’s discussion followed in the wake of Adil Rashid’s first innings bowling analysis of 0-163, the worst ever by a debutant in Test match history. Just as it seemed like English leg spin’s death certificate was finally being written the patient lurched violently back to life as the very next day Adil Rashid bowled brilliantly to pick up 5-64, making him the first English leg spinner to take a five-for in a Test match since Tommy Greenhough in 1959.  I don’t think that there would have been many people more delighted than Justin to have witnessed Adil Rashid’s feat.

Justin Parkinson was in the news again quite literally on Thursday 22 October when his book was name checked by none ever than Michael Atherton in an article in The Times entitled Will the English ever learn to love leg spin? 

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/cricket/article4592429.ece

Justin Parkinson will be talking about The Strange Death of English Leg Spin at The George Hotel in Norwich on Thursday 14 April 2016 (7.45pm)

Also in the news recently have been the West Indies cricket team following an emotional news conference by Sir Garry Sobers lamenting the state of the game in his homeland.  It was against this backdrop that our February speaker Simon Lister was the tea time guest on Test Match Special on Friday 23 October discussing his book Fire in Babylon with Simon Mann.  Simon’s book charts the period from the mid 1970’s to the mid 1990’s when the West Indies dominated world cricket, a world away from their sad state nowadays as they languish near the bottom of the Test rankings.  It’s a brilliant read which superbly blends sporting and social history and alongside the insights from West Indies legends such as Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards and Michael Holding there are some wonderful recollections from fans of the great side.

Simon’s tea time TMS chat is available as a podcast for a limited time at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0360k5x

Simon Lister will be talking about Fire in Babylon at The George Hotel in Norwich on Thursday 11 February 2016 (7.45pm)

Brilliant to see Adil Rashid today become the first English leg spinner since Tommy Greenhough in 1959 to take five wickets in a Test innings.  Why has it taken 56 years for this to happen?  Read Justin Parkinson’s excellent book The Strange Death of English Leg Spin: How Cricket’s Finest Art Was Given Away for some of the answers!

Delighted to say that Justin Parkinson will be joining us to do a book talk and signing on Thursday 14th April 2016.

For more information on Justin’s book, or to order a copy visit http://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/strange-death-english-leg-spin

Justin Parkison can be followed on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JustParkinson

Great to see that one of our previous guest speakers Bob Cattell has just published a new book, his first aimed at older readers following his popular Glory Gardens series loved by younger readers.

First XI  is a collection of eleven short stories set around the world in cricket-playing countries ranging from the tale of an old cricketer’s funeral in Australia to the theft of a bat in Barbados and a sweltering day at Lord’s.

First XI can be obtained direct from Bob Cattell for the special price of £6.50 which includes p&p.  Send a cheque for £6.50 per copy, with your address attached, to Bob Cattell, The Dell, Blackheath, Wenhaston, Suffolk, IP19 9EX.

Further information about First XI and Bob’s Glory Gardens books can be found on Bob’s website at http://www.glorygardens.com/

Really pleased to say that we’ve arranged for Simon Lister, author of Fire in Babylon: How the West Indies Cricket Team Brought a People to its Feet, to come and talk to us on Thursday 11th February 2016. Simon’s book is included in the fourteen books recently announced in the longlist for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year.

Fire in Babylon charts the period from the mid-1970’s to the early 1990’s when the West Indies dominated world cricket. For a flavour of the period check out the trailer for Fire in Babylon, the film which inspired Simon’s book.

For more details take a look at the link here for Simon’s book on Amazon http://amzn.to/1WpFW6n

Simon Lister can be followed on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ListerProd

A new book about the history of cricket in Norfolk has recently been published by one of our members.  Written by Keir Hounsome,  A Game Well Played: A History Of Cricket In Norfolk charts the development of cricket in the county from its original ad hoc existence to its current structured and organised form.

If you’ve ever wondered where the first recorded cricket match was held in Norfolk, when were Norfolk considered the second best side in England or when did WG Grace play in Norwich then you’ll find all the answers in Keir’s book!

Copies are available for £14 (which includes £2 for P&P) and can be ordered directly from Keir Hounsome, full details are available on the attached flyer.

A Game Well Played flyer