The Hames family has bowled over the sporting world as an incredible SIX members of the same family, over three generations, lined up for a recent cricket match!
Five relatives were named in the starting XI for the New Victoria Cricket Club match while a sixth was named as 12th man.
And there was further cause for celebrations when the Second XI team won their match against Prescot & Odyssey Second XI at Crossens Recreational Ground, on Rufford Road in Crossens in Southport!
The result left them joint top of their league.
Opening the batting were Peter Hames, aged 67, the Chairman of New Victoria Cricket Club, and his son, Steven, aged 41.
John Hames, aged 71, Peter’s brother, was ready to come on as 12th Man.
John’s sons Christopher, aged 43, and Paul, aged 40, were also in the line-up.
And completing the superb six was Christopher’s son, Thomas, aged 15, following in the family’s footsteps as a very talented young player.
Peter Hames said: “My days in the first XI are long gone! But I occasionally turn out for the Second XI if needed.
“We have played before for the club, but never all in the same team.
“I enjoyed opening the batting with my son, Steven, and was really looking forward to the innings. Unfortunately I then went and got out on the second ball! I was pig sick!
“But we actually went on to go and win the match.
“Everyone in the opposition was laughing when the match was on. As we all kept coming in to bat, they kept saying ‘there’s another one’!
“We all contributed to winning the match, which was good.
“The whole day was really enjoyable.
“It was lovely to be on the same pitch as my brother’s grandson, who is a really talented cricket player. Until recently he was the leading wicket taker in the league.”
Peter has been playing cricket since he was 14 years old, and loves the game. He has been playing for New Victoria since 1975, and has been Chairman for the past 20 years.
The Club guarantees a warm welcome to anyone keen to join them and play at Crossens Rec every Saturday – and your last name doesn’t even have to be Hames to join!
Peter said: “We are always looking for new players.
“We have a lot of people who sometimes work or have other commitments and sometimes play, so there is always game time available.
“There used to be 20 cricket teams in Southport at one point, there are far fewer left now.
“But I love cricket. We play to win, but we also play to have a good afternoon, and a good chat in the bar afterwards.
“I always say, if you can win, then win, and if you can’t make sure you enjoy the day and have a good laugh together afterwards.”
The New Victoria also enjoyed some great tours abroad before the Covid-19 pandemic swept through the world.
They played lots of matches in Eastern Europe, in places such as Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary. Ukraine was somewhere they had planned to visit.
Peter said: “We used to love going away on tour. The people in the countries we visit always made us feel really welcome.
“Sadly the Covid pandemic put a stop to that.
“It was a fantastic experience travelling away to all those places.
“We are always looking for new players to join us in Southport.
“People are welcome to come down to Crossens Rec and we will always make them very welcome.”
New Victoria Cricket Club practices both indoors (March to mid April) and outdoors (April to early September).
Outdoor nets – every Wednesday at Southport & Birkdale CC at 6pm from April to September.
Matches every Saturday at Crossens Recreational Ground, on Rufford Road in Crossens, Southport.
Any queries please email newvicsec@gmail.com.
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