In 1939, the Watford Observer sports pages included a series called They Have a Story To Tell, which featured sporting characters from the area and what made them tick.

Not surprisingly, many of them were hugely entertaining and, from those I’ve seen, my favourite was written by G.F. Simons who at the time [June 2, 1939] was “40 years a member of Abbots Langley Cricket Club”.

Here’s his article in its entirety. Even those who don’t particularly like the game may find it amusing.

It reads: “You youngsters who stroll up to your cricket ground just before the start of the game and then talk in knowledgable terms about the state of the wicket, ought to have had my experiences some 40 years ago, when I first commenced to play cricket for Abbots Langley.

“In those days there was no groundsman to mow the grass and prepare the wicket, and so we had to get up early on the morning of the match and cut the outfield with the help of a horse loaned to us by the squire of the village.

“Try, one of these days, following a horse and mowing down the buttercups and daisies two hours before breakfast.

“Cricket after that becomes an enjoyable game!

“I have played in literally thousands of matches, both in and outside Herts. On one occasion, playing for West Herts in Harry White’s time at Brondesbury against London Scottish – who were then a very good side – I specially recommended and brought over a bowler from Abbots Langley. His name was Fred Haynes and imagine my chagrin when he bowled six wides in succession all of which went to the boundary for byes.

“Harry White was very cross and asked me if I was playing a joke, but yielding to my plea for persevering with Haynes, he gave the bowler a second chance, which ended in Haynes taking six wickets.

“Once, for West Herts, against West Middlesex, I scored 25 out of a total of 26. The other run was an extra. This must approach a record.

“One of my most amusing experiences was in a local match, when a batsman hit the ball and ran to the other end.

“His partner had not budged and when the bails were whipped off, the hitter at first refused to go out, as he said it was his call. What difference that made I cannot fathom.

“Abbots Langley’s champion “stone waller” in the old days once went in first against Chipperfield on a Bank Holiday, and remained unbeaten with the magnificent score of one. I don’t remember how long he was at the wicket, but it was a considerable time.

“Chipperfield threatened, cajoled, humoured and finally, in impolite language, made pointed remarks at the quality of his batting.

“When the fielders were at bursting point, and the bowlers past the tempting stage, the batsman calmly said: ‘Well, if you don’t like me, get me out.’

“An umpire refused three appeals in successive balls for lbw and then shouted down the wicket to the batsman: ‘If it happens again, you’ll have to go.’”

ONLINE TOMORROW: A picture of Norman Wisdom filming in Watford in 1973.