There was so much text in the last post that I have decided to split this one and anymore that come in separately.
So, this is my response. Any offence caused is purely deliberate
1) What is your favourite green to play on (this can be with the worlds sweetheart Craig Or Not)?
Within the confines of the Warwick and Worcester I'd say Kings Norton or Tanworth. Further afield though I played a few times on a Civil Service Sports Club green in Telford (Coddon i believe it was called) and what a great green that was.
2) Apart from the first time you were captained By Craig, what has been your best moment in bowls?
My proudest moment in Bowls was watching Craig virtually single-handedly keep Kings Norton BC in existence a few years ago. Seeing him captain a side in division one in which i was probably one of the better players was quite something!!
For myself, however, i remember talking to some of the members at the Olton some 20 Years ago, and being scorned and laughed at when I said i'd like to play in Division One at some stage. Well, I did, so there!
3) Best team you have played in (it doesn’t have to feature the great one Craggers, but we will know it's a lie if it doesn’t)?
Bob Binnion, Terry Moss, Jack Badham, Chris Baker, Ian Ball, Roy Wootton, Sue Dunkley, Tony Smith, Stuart O'Sullivan, Matt Ryan, Mark Rose, Scott Taylor - Kings Norton BC, promoted from Warwick and Worcester Division 2 2008(?)
4) Apart from your beloved and esteemed captain Craggers, who is the best bowler you have played with?
I've been very lucky to play in sides with some very, very good players in them - Matt Price, Terry Meddings, Jack Badham, Steve Wallace, Anthony Bracken, Richie Dingley to name a few - but for consistency and all round game I would say Terry Moss. The man is a force of nature.
5) Apart from any game you have played that hasn’t featured the worlds greatest person Craig Taylor, what is your worst moment in bowls?
Surprisingly there haven't been all that many worst moments. I've been lucky enough to play and lose to some great bowlers from several counties and its all been a great experience. The worst times are generally when i'm watching team mates who are struggling and - apart from abusing their tormentors and starting fights - there is nothing I can do to help.
To give a proper answer though, I would say the day Kings Norton got relegated from Division One a few years ago. We lost at KGV on the last day to condemn us, and as much as I respect the King George guys they were taking Championship winning photos and celebrating on the green before our last man had even put his woods in his bag. A very sobering day.
6) What is your funniest bowls story that doesn’t show your hero Craggers up in a bad light?
I could write a book about this and its taken me an age to think of something that really stands out, but I'll pick a tale that probably sums up my 10 years at The Bell. Before most games we all used to gather in the corner where the path reaches into the green (picture below) and discuss philosophical and political events. A very good friend of mine, Mr Steve Duggins (who we had the great pleasure to see a few times this season) and I were discussing the dilemma of determinism when we had reached an impasse. Whilst Phil Brookes and I were positing the opinion held by David Hume in his 1739 book "A Treatise of Human Nature", Duggo was in agreement with Med that the Mild was crap. Steve being Steve decided that a bet was appropriate, so put out his hand ready to catch the spit to formalise the deal. Unfortunately for me he missed his hand completely and spat all over my shirt! Needless to say that this led to much polite chuckling and chortling.
7) Who is your second favourite bowler - a long way of course behind the manly and amazingly sexy Craggs?
Whilst playing at The Bell, we were often greeted to a great number of spectators, many of which were retired players. Steve Rogers was a regular visitor, as well as a chap I did not recognise but who was very keen in watching us. One particular home game was drifting away from us a bit and I launched into my trademark flag waving, cajoling and threatening, leaving our spectator so enthralled that he started shouting as well. It turns out that this was Terry Meddings, a former county bowler from The Cock, Bartley Green and Lightwoods Park. He had stopped playing for a number of years, but was interested in starting again. Thus began The Bell's second resurrection, with Terry largely being the driving force. From calling Craig at ungodly hours on Saturday morning to discuss the order to always being the last to leave on a Saturday, drunkenly falling into his taxi to Old Hill, I've never met a bigger personality than Med. He makes me look like a fieldmouse.
8) Apart from getting your hand shaken by your benevolent and superior leader Craggers, what is your biggest personal achievement in bowls.
Winning the West Bromwich Bowling League's single's merit at The Churchfield Tavern. In pouring rain I battled through a full field of 32 bowlers to win the coveted trophy.
Also, qualifying for the Civil Service National Championship at The Waterloo. Craig and I stopped the night before and I prepared like any athlete would. Next morning the tannoy calls me to the green and I'm introduced to my opponent. "Where are you from Son?" he says. "Birmingham, you?" I reply. He wins the toss, turns to me and says "Blackpool" and throws the block full corners. A snappy 7 in a shithole town on a shithole green. No wonder its referred to as West Bromwich by the sea (by me anyway).
9) Crankiest bowler or moment?
Crankiest bowler is also responsible for the crankiest moment. Whilst playing for Kings Norton in the Summit Garage league we had to play in Telford at St Georges, which has a crown more in keeping with a mountain range than a lump of grass. Anyway, Stuart O'Sullivan is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, but would be in the "Top three barmiest bowlers" category of anyone who'd ever met him. His opponent sent a jack corner to corner, so last bowl of the end, Stu chases it up and runs to the end with his patented "Eye-Eye" shout. To this day I have no idea what he was cheering at, because his bowl had barely got over the crown and he'd ran past it!
Another mad moment was one of the aforementioned Terry Meddings' first games for The Bell. We had journeyed over to Woodfield in Wolverhampton to play, and Terry was on first. At one end, Crain and I looked over and saw Terry's bowls both within a foot of the jack. We were most impressed and told him so very loudly, to which Med replied "They'd be good woods if they were to my ******* jack!", picked up his bowls and walked the 6 yards to where he was two down!
10) What is the Worst green you have had to bowl on, with or without the god like Craig present?
The worst greens aren't the ones with poor surfaces, it's the ones with poor surfaces where the home team positively revel in the sheer crpaness of their facilities. I will forgive The Pavillion's in Kingshurst as their memberships IQ barely breaks 80, so they know not what they do. Step forward then, the Beech Tree Miners Welfare Club in Stourbridge - on the night we played there it had been cut with a Flymo, some weeks before! Pustulent, reprehensible, ghastly, horrendous, deviant and repellent are just some of the words to describe the team. Compared to them the green was like a night out with Naomi Watts with enough money left over for a taxi and a kebab.
We lost (predictably) and Craig and I were very vocal in our disapproval (perhaps more predictably). There is a happy ending though - they turned up for the return game (we were playing for Stourbridge Labour at the time), complained about Ian Ball's legs, complained when I referred to some of their spectators as "scum" and promptly got absolutely bollocked :-)
I'm sorry for the verbosity, but when i got going I take some stopping :-)
