Q1, How did you come to Adwalton?
I’m a Drighlington villager, born and bred, and spent a lot of time at Adwalton CC. This was mainly due the arcade machines, and that my older brother Jatinder Sian was playing cricket and rugby from there. Drighlington rugby for some time, used to run out of Adwalton CC.
Playing wise, I started at Adwalton in 1989, my good friend Phil Cundill asked me to join in on a training session that he and many of my other village and school friends were participating in.

Q2, What made you stay?
Fun times! The teams I played in were mainly built around all of my good, village and school friends, so it was easy to stay, it meant playing and enjoying an amazing sport with your best mates.

Q3, Who has influenced you or how was your life affected by Adwalton?
Easy, John Hill and Colin Laycock. Both took us under their wings and made us play with a smile, pride and passion that they both showed in us as juniors. Now I’m older, it’s always pleasing to see them both of them for a pint or 2 in the clubhouse and catch up.

Russ Laycock and Paul Bennet later coached us at junior level, both Russ and PB played in the first team back then, so being coached by first teamers was like “wow”. Russ and PB helped developed us all in playing and understanding the game better.

All 4 of these gents have influence me to become a coach at the club.

Repeat the legacy.

Q4, Highs & Lows of your time at Adwalton?
Juniors - Winning the U15s league and getting to the T Joy cup final. Winning the league with your best friends was a fantastic feeling. The final didn’t go to plan, as we have a few influential players on holiday…who goes on holiday in the middle of a cricket season??
Seniors - In my first full season at Open Age, I won the leagues fielding award, a very proud moment for me individually.

Low point was having to finish playing early, in 2002, I tore my ACL playing football. In this hiatus, I went onto play golf instead. Later with my ACL repaired, I made a playing comeback in 2019. My unofficial comeback came as a sub fielder for Vinit Patel the season before…I’d only called up for a pint!

Q5, Significant memories.
Juniors - Thornton away…The home teams coach accused us of cheating due to his son being caught out by Jonny Croston, the next minute, Russ is instructing all of us to walked off, the match is abandoned!! We had to replay that game a few weeks later, but with proper “league umpires!!”. As a junior, that was pretty daunting.

Seniors - Riddlesdon away!! The red Nova (first car) breaks down on the A650, the other lads didn’t see us and continued on. We patching it up as best as we can, and tiptoed to the ground, about 2 hours late…only then for Jagjit Sian to tear up some poor old guys garden as he went the wrong way into the ground…hahahahaha!!

Q6, Friends made.
I have made so many quality lifelong friends at my time with Adwalton, and continue to do so every year. Adwalton has made it possible for me and so many people to make so many friends, both cricketing and non-cricketing.

Q7, Funniest moment.
So many funny memories made after all the years playing at Adwalton, but Riddlesdon away has got to be the funniest.

Q8, Best game played in / club highlights/ best away ground.
We played Crossroads at home, John Mitchell (legend) and Tim Stokes both made 100 runs and shared a 200+ partnership…that was a good game to be a part of.

Q9, How has your family been involved?
Both my brothers, Jatinder and Jagjit played for the club. My parents would come and watch us play, they all also know many members of the club. My mum would famously make the end of season curry for all the players…this actually brought in many none cricketers in the club, due to the fame of mum’s cooking in the village.

The club is a big family, I’m sure everyone would agree.

Q10, Hopes / thought for the future.
I’m currently coaching the U9s team with my assistant Tom Davidson (TD). I’m hopeful that this will allow my son Austin to follow in my footsteps at the club, he already knows so well. By the way, at 5 years old, he was and is already a better batter than me…

I’d also like to get my daughter Niah more involved, she enjoyed and loved the ECB All Stars the club runs, and she has a great bowling action.

Hopefully, both will have strong connections at the club when it gets to the 200th year.

Q11, Most annoying person in club! (can’t all say Jacko)
A couple of Sunday afternoon regulars…nothing big, just annoying….hahahahaha