Player Interviews: Nick Richardson

At the end of my first profile into, the man ONCE described as “Geman’s answer to Freddie Flintoff”, Neil Cowling, I set you the task of guessing this months profilee. For those of you who missed it lets recap:
1. He is male,
2. I have known him since we were 11,
3. He is a former junior island goalkeeper, believe it or not!
4. He is Walkovers longest serving wicketkeeper.
Yes, I know, working this one out took longer than it will take Walkovers B to win an indoor cricket match this season!

This month I am profiling Mr NICHOLAS RICHARDSON. For those Nicky fan buffs out there he has Walkovers coveted number 3 shirt. I say coveted because Simon Pugsley has been gunning for Nicks wicket keeping position ever since he first wore a set of Mickey Mouse hand gloves and realised he liked having big hands. Of course if he had been borne an English then he would have big hands all the time.

I have known Nick since we first sat next to each other in Mr Turners form class at the age of 11. Indeed Nick and I have spent an awful lot of time together, being that we were at the same secondary school and played for the same football team in our younger days. It is indeed this link to football that allowed Nick to rise above the rest as Walkovers No1 behind the stumps. Nick was a junior island goalkeeper back in his day, it was this background that has honed those cat like reflex that every fan see’s today when Nicky dons that fabled Walkovers shirt and steps onto the field of play and behind those three wooden pegs in the ground.

Not only is Nick wicket keeper he is also Walkovers opening batsman. Nick has always been a confident batsman and one of the more technically competent, especially when the club was first formed. Indeed I can remember Nick having to give some of us tips on which end of the bat we held before going in for our first innings. Nick had the second highest score that season, surpassed only by Cowling who as captain opened with himself every single game! 220 runs were scored by Nick in 13 games at an average of 18.5. Indeed it was in the very first match against Sloths that Nick did what many of us didn’t think was possible an ALMOST scored a half century. Nick was going like a train before some tight bowling and a cavalier attitude from Nick saw him caught at deep mid wicket.

After the first two seasons Nicks batting hit, what I would like to call a sticky caramel patch. He scored a respectable 112 in fewer games and improved his average to 20.4 in the second season, however half of his runs came in one match where he was unbeaten for 66 against the Police. Although not many of us new it at this stage, whilst at university in Bournemouth Nick developed an unhealthy obsession with Curley Wurley chocolate bars. It was this obsessions which turned into an addiction which had started to affect his batting. After realising it was going to take more than a cup of tea to help him beat his addiction Nick announced his premature retirement from cricket as during the summer of 2004 he checked into a small rehab clinic just outside of Bournemouth.

This is a strange addiction I know, and there are worse things to be addicted to, Cocaine, Heroin, Tobacco and Craig Vibert, but any addiction is serious especially one that affects your batting so greatly.

Many people doubted whether Nick would ever return, however the ever faithful Chairman of Walkovers, John Patterson stood by Nick stating that if Nick ever decided to return to cricket then he would always have a place at Walkovers.

Nick emerged from his stint in rehab in time for the new season and appeared to be a reformed man. No more Curley Wurley’s for him! Nick was determined to get his life back on track and turned to Walkovers to help him, as a founding member and believing everyone deserves a second chance we welcomed him back with open arms as he announced an end to his retirement from cricket. Unfortunately Nicks demons returned to haunt him, his batting ability it appeared did not return with him and from his 8 innings in the 2005 season scored just 30 runs, never reaching double figures in any of the innings retaining an average of just 5. How far the mighty had fallen.

This story does not end there, in the depths of Nicks soul he knew he was better than this, knew he had to fight those inner voices demanding more Curley Wurleys! He knew that all he had to do was start moving his feet when at the crease and not stand still and just swing his shoulders. With these thoughts Nick entered the 2006 season with renewed confidence.

This was quickly shattered as he scored just 1 run from his first 3 innings of the season recording two ducks in the process. Things were starting to look bleak and even the most aren’t of Nick supporters were starting to doubt whether this shell of man could ever return to his pre-Curley Wurley form.

And then a glimmer of hope! Nick scores 22, 9 and 23 in his next three innings and the confidence starts to return. The fears start to die and the voices that were previously burning in his head are drowned in sea of runs.

From then on Nick has not looked back, he top scored in the 2007 with 313 runs, hitting 4 50’s with an huge average of 52.17. Nick had another strong season in 2008 before again top scoring in 2009 with 308 runs as Walkovers survived their first season in Division 1.

This profile has a happy ending, at times many of us feared that Nick may never be the same again. I for one am happy to say that Nick is a strong and better play for the things he has been through. I again hope that this has provided you all with an insight into another of Walkovers founding members. The story has had some high’s and I think you’ll agree some monumental lows. Four years ago this profile would not have been possible and at times I wondered whether I should share some of the addiction elements with you. However it is my belief that every player can take something from this at the very least learn the lessons from Nicks mistakes, see how an addiction like that can affect your game.

The next profile I can assure you his a much lighter affair, he was one of the first products of the Walkovers youth system which has helped not only him but his brother also, if that wasn’t the enough of a clue he has likened himself to Phil Neville ………..