We took the opportunity to say thank you last night to our departing 1st XI captain and club professional Joe Gatting.
Joe’s family home has been in Adelaide in South Australia for the past few years and he has split his time between Swardeston in the summer and Adelaide in the winter.
With the current global Covid situation Joe has taken the tough decision to concentrate next year on building his coaching business in Adelaide and of course enjoying family life.
In front of a full clubhouse, Club President Peter Thomas paid tribute to Joe and said thank you on behalf of the club trustees and the whole club, Lewis Demark did the same on behalf of the 1st XI players. Joe then responded with some heartfelt words.
Difficult to put into words the impact Joe has had on our club over the past six years.
But here’s some numbers.
- 8090 runs
- 279 wickets
- 113 catches
- 28 centuries
- 36 50s
- 286 6s
- 739 4s
During the last six years Joe produced some magical moments for Swardeston CC.
- 12 sixes in an innings in memorable four-run win over Sudbury Cricket Club after being 22 for 7 at the Common in 2016. Joe made 118 out of our 161 total.
- 37-ball ton against Old Northamptonians at Kibworth including 36 off an over. This was one of three times Joe hit six sixes in an over while at the club.
- Joe featured in 35 century partnerships and three double century partnerships.
- In 2016 he made 2071 runs & hit 97 sixes.
- He hit six hundreds in a season three times in 2016, 17 and 18 and once went 88 consecutive innings without a duck.
Numbers expertly compiled by Norm Bygrave.
Chairman Stuart Bartram said: “The past six years working with Joe as our club professional and then as 1st XI captain have been a fantastic period for Swardeston CC.
“We are sad that we will not see Joe next summer but are fully supportive of and totally understand the decision he has made.
“When Joe arrived at The Common in 2016 I don’t think any of us would have contemplated the incredible impact he would have on our club fortunes.
“In amongst all his individual contributions we thank him for leading us to our double national triumph in 2019 when we became the first UK club to win the national double of the Vitality T20 and Royal London Club Championship in the same season.
“Our times at Derby in 2016, 2018 and 2019 have been special but our day at Lord’s will never be forgotten, not only for the occasion but also for the way the team played on the day as they beat Nantwich in front of a brilliant crowd of supporters.
“These are memories that will last forever and a UK club achievement which may never be repeated.”
