Friday the 4th of November saw the annual Grades dinner and awards with speaker Graham Thorpe and Portcullis CC were well represented.

Although there was no guarantee of any silverware we had 12 players (plus Delrick's father-in-law) in attendance, if we weren't the largest group there we weren't far off. Turnout was good with a couple of hundred of Aberdeenshire's finest cricketers looking forwards to booze, banter, food, and hopefully a few laughs from a top England test cricketer.

I doubt if anybody was disappointed.

Thorpey's speech was entertaining, amusing and informative, his insight into the game was significant, his anecdotes hilarious, his impressions close enough for drunken cricketers.

As usual any mention of Darren Gough was sure to amuse but Goughy's reaction to Bumble's acusation that "This cricket team has a drinking problem." could well become a Portcullis mantra:

"No Boss, this drinking team has a cricket problem"

There were a number of memorable moments throughout the evening although Inverurie's dedication of their league and cup double to their captain Kenny MacLeod who died during a match in May was particularly poignant.

It was good to be there to see Grampian awarded their trophy for their fluky win in the grade 3 cup.  Well played lads, we'll miss you next year (allthough we won't miss the tri-annual pumpings).

Well played! 

It was nae great chav to share the fair play shield for Grade 3 with these guys, especially as they joined in with the Portcullis tradition of rushing the guest of honour, mob-handed, to collect the trophy.  

Well played!

It did occur to us that if we hadn't voted for Grampian we may have won it outright, but that would kind of defeat the purpose.

That wasn't to be the only silverware of the night for our Inglorious team.

Ronnie only went and got the Alan Forbes Trophy!

This trophy is awarded for "Outstanding Club Contributions to Grades Cricket" and is presented by Jeanette Forbes in memory of her late husband.

The whole team is incredibly proud to see Ronnie's hard work rewarded.

He didn't win it for the excellent example he sets on the field, embodying the true spirit of cricket, hard but fair, in keeping with the highest ideals of the sport.

He didn't win it for the endless hours he puts in as secretary, taking the club from strength to strength at a time when many other clubs struggle to field a team.

He didn't win it for the work he does supporting the Grades on committees or representing the club. 

He didn't even get it for his long rambling match reports of tortured grammar and syntax or his corn beef  and tomato sauce sandwiches.

Best of gear!

He won it for coming up with the idea of providing winter practice facilities available to all clubs, working to make that idea a reality, and single-handedly organising the whole thing to make it an unqualified success! 

It was a theme throughout the evening that Aberdeen should have a cricketing centre supported by Cricket Scotland in order to bring on young players for the good of the game.

In my opinion Ronnie has created a starting point and proved there is a demand. His efforts may prove beneficial for years to come and so this award is greatly deserved.

I'm sure that anyone who played with or against the late Alan Forbes will agree that the same spirit of cricket, love of the game, and passion for the grades are on display for all to see in our wee Ronnie Falconer.

Ronnie has said before that our cup victories and league title are great, but what he is most proud of is the fair play award as it shows we play, as a team, in the right way. This trophy proves he walks the walk. 

Congratulations!