Devon Cricket Board - Torquay scorer clocks up 500th consecutive game

Torquay scorer clocks up 500th consecutive game

TORQUAY scorer Nick Evanson (above) clocks up his 500th consecutive game for the club on Saturday when Plymouth visit the Recreation Ground.
Evanson took over the rulers and coloured pens in 1989 from the redoubtable Esme Kingdon, who had looked after the scorebook for the best part of 15 years.
Twenty-five years later the coloured pens have gone and been replaced by a lap-top running sophisticated scoring software linked to the internet. But 43 year old Evanson is still going strong in the scorebox.
No other scorer in the Premier or A Divisions of the Devon League can match Evanson’s record of service.
It is a record that will be celebrated properly on Sunday afternoon at the Recreation Ground when Evanson’s Invitation XI takes on a Torquay XI in a 40-over challenge match.
“I am honoured and privileged that the club has afforded me this match,” said Evanson, who works for the Civil Service in Exeter.
“I am equally humbled players are ‘desperate’ to play in the match – one is even ‘off-loading’ his kids.
“The two most important aspects of the day are to promote the art of scoring and to raise money for the Devon Air Ambulance Trust.
“I shall be demonstrating Duckworth-Lewis and I’ve secured some seriously good draw prizes having tapped into the professional game.”
Among the items being raffled off are a signed Somerset shirt and a sweater autographed by the Notts squad.
Mike Pugh (pictured), who had two spells as Torquay captain during the ‘Evanson Era’ is skippering Nick’s team.
Pugh said it was a privilege to be asked and pleasure to be part of such a special occasion.
“Nick has seen many achievements at the club, but his own personnel achievement shows great dedication,” added Pugh.
Players lined up to take part include the Gribble brothers, Esme’s grandson Andy Kingdon, Paignton’s Tim Ward, Ipplepen’s Keith Wakeham who worked with Nick’s late father Bob, Cornwood dad and lad Dave and Matt Petherbridge and some illustrious names from Torquay’s recent past, including Marcus Green, Steve Short and Peter Lucketti.
Torquay skipper Justin Yau still has some finalising to do, but definitely committed are 1996-97 Premier Division winner Ian Baker, current overseas players Fahad Iqbal and Tom Marrow and David Lear, whose late father Dick was Torquay 2nd XI captain when Evanson started his scoring career as a 16 year old.

Tomorrow - Nick looks back at Torquay's highs and lows over his time in the score box

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773