Watford Town Cricket Club is, this week (October 8), celebrating the 90th birthday of possibly its greatest every batsman.
Alan Burridge moved to Watford in 1974, when he was appointed Director of Leisure Services for Watford Borough Council, and his recruitment by the cricket club marked the start of its most successful era, winning two Hertfordshire League titles, in 1980 and 1982.
Burridge was born in Sunderland and his achievements at club level led to his selection for the strong Durham county team, where he scored over 3,700 runs in 95 matches. His work took him to Lincolnshire for a couple of years, during which time he was picked for the Minor Counties representative team which, in 1973, took on the powerful West Indies touring team.
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On moving to Watford, he was immediately selected by Hertfordshire which then enjoyed a period of great success, winning the Minor Counties championship in1975, before, in the following year's Gillette Cup competition, defeating the professionals of Essex. It was a giant-killing performance against the team who were leading the county championship at the time and included several England players. Burridge was the 2nd highest scorer for Herts in that match, with 34.
At Watford Town, he was renowned for his powerful hitting, becoming the only player, on two occasions, to hit sixes high enough to clear the huge fence which surrounded the golf driving range at Woodside, well beyond the cricket boundary. For many years he held two Hertfordshire League records for the highest partnerships, 190 for the second wicket (with Laurie Marlborough) against Sawbridgeworth, and 191 for the 4th wicket (with Andy Williams) against Tring, both achieved in 1975.
At Watford Council, Burridge was influential in upgrading the town's leisure facilities, which included the opening of the Woodside Leisure Centre, in 1976. The neighbouring cricket ground also benefited from greater attention, as it became one of the best grounds in the south-east, leading to the hosting of a match between India and New Zealand, as both countries warmed up for the 1983 World Cup, staged in England.
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