Captain

Jonathan Scowen – The Skipper, Lord Jon, Player’s Prince

“I like cricket because I hate myself.”

Mike Brearley once said that a captain should respond to criticism with intellect, while Douglas Jardine famously declared that ‘cricket is battle’; as the skipper of the Arbour, Jonny ‘Lord’ Scowen falls somewhere in the middle. His astute Moneyball approach, tireless and tiresome organisational skills, and intuitive player management have radically transformed the Arbour from a casual pub team into a broadly more effective casual pub team. As a bowler and in life, Jonny offers hostile pace and an awkward length. His aggressive, consistent middle-order batting is laced with interbellum amateurism and a habit of ‘punching down’ the ground, and on occassion, his bat. He has captained the side since 2022, keeping the team afloat while also having the violinists on standby.

Neil Carolan – Mr Carolan, Vegas

Neil is a top-order batsman for the Arbour, where only rain and a ‘bastarding low ball’ can prevent his momentum. His history with cricket is one of paradox, much like the man himself, as he played for years in his native Ireland (enough said). He won the 2024 Clubman of the Year award for his love of the game and by appearing in every match – come rain, shine, or famine. When Neil finds his stride with his signature classical style, he’s a force to be reckoned with. He can hit a 6 with just a ‘contemptuous swipe’ and the sound of the ball against bat is like a shot out of a Walther PPK. The first of the Arbour to be hospitalized due to an on-field injury (read: minor break in hand), he still proved to be a one-arm bandit at Sixes in Southampton during post-season festivities. So when it comes to Neil, no matter if you’re a gambling man or not, he’s a safe one to bet on.

Conor Gavin – 4-Foot Giant, Little Sausage

A late convert to the game, ‘Gav’ has been a valued member of the club since its creation. Rumoured to have secured his place in the side (and on the committee) by donating large sums of money, Gav’s enthusiasm and ability to recruit players have made him indispensable. He was deservedly awarded the Most Improved Player award in 2023 after his elevation to No. 3 prompted a change in fortunes with the bat. Strong hand-eye coordination, a simple technique, and a crippling fear of the ball have turned Gav into a genuine all-rounder option. A naturally gifted fielder, many a batter has been lulled into a false sense of security before a dead-eye throw from his favoured position at backward point has demolished their stumps. His hooping, inswing bowling and exuberant appealing add to his… Arsenal. Gav joined the committee two years ago as the (semi-self-appointed) chairman.

Treasurer & Digital Marketing Manager

Cait (Almost Carolan) Baxter – Cricket WAG

“Wait. How long is a 40 over?”

Cait is the other half of the Arbour’s power couple and as digital marketing manager, she very kindly sacrifices volunteers her summer weekends for the team, even though they play ‘cute English baseball’ (she’s American. Again, enough said). She, for some reason, also volunteered to be treasurer; probably because she was the only sober one at the table when the handling of money was being discussed. The Arbour’s number one fan who also keeps the team humble with her videos that, sadly, gets tens of thousands of views. She enjoys long walks away from the pitch, her tea hot or in the harbour, and having video calls with her friends instead of catching pivotal plays.

A destructive batter with an expansive leg-side game and mastery of the pull shot, Russ has been a regular feature of the Arbour’s middle order since their first fixture. He approaches the crease with a Gallagher-esque swagger, swinging right and hitting the left hard. Many a net bowler’s evening have been ruined as their best efforts were unceremoniously dispatched with the accompanying crack from somewhere-near-the middle of his bat. Boasting the highest proportion of runs in boundaries of any Arbour batter, Russ’ no-nonsense style gets the job done. Vote for Norton: Bowled Over By Progress, Ready to Deliver.

The Regulars

Joe Wilmore

Perhaps this was a season to forget for the opener and vice-captain. For starters, he travelled a considerable distance to not play on no less than three occasions – a commitment to the cause doesn’t even begin to cover it. Despite missing the heights of his batting exploits from last season, Joey’s leadership on and off the pitch proved his value beyond all doubt. A famously cool head and provider of sage advice, Joey has been a valuable member of the club.

Ross Atkinson

The emergence of Ross ‘EasyJet’ Atkinson as an opening bowler was a revelation. His 10 wickets in 2024 far surpassed his previous collection of 3 in the previous two summers. His tally of wickets throughout the season meant he kept pace (not literally) with the Arbour’s traditional Scowen/Mitchell bowling axis and he remained in contention for the top wicket-taking spot until the very last game of the season. He has matured greatly as a cricketer, if not necessarily as a bloke. His batting, always an entertaining prospect for spectators, continued to enliven games. Called on more regularly than he would have liked, Ross proved resolute in defence and ambitious in attack with bat in hand.

Kai Nath

Kai has cemented himself as a genuine all-rounder and proved once again why he was the Arbour’s player of the season in 2023. He led the pack with his batting for nearly all of the season and in so doing passed 100 club runs, and then 100 runs for the season with comparative ease. His fielding has been faultless, and his spin bowling brings real versatility to the bowling attack. 11 wickets across the season (including some unplayable deliveries) showcase his value to the side beyond all doubt.

Joe Mitchell

Relegated to first change following the ‘Atkinson ascension’, Mitch lost none of his pace or guile – despite what Colin claims. His three wickets in an over against the Newport Gentlemen swung the game firmly in the Arbour’s favour, and his 16 wickets across the season took him over 20 club wickets. His fielding was exemplary, the highlight being his obscene diving catch against DSTL Portsdown. On several occasions Mitch also proved an able batter, makina the case to join the ever-growing ranks of Arbour allrounders.

Leon Dell

Like the summer itself, Leon’s season with the arbour was truncated by bad weather but he solidified his position in the side (when available). Unfortunately, much of his best bowling went frustratingly unrewarded. However, he did take his first Arbour wicket and bowled with zip and flair when called upon. Leon is still yet to score a run for the Arbour.

Connor Hinton

Connor was a welcome addition to the Arbour for the 2024 season. He made a slow start with the bat but showed glimpses of his ability in his final two innings where an explosive 26* off 14 balls against The Blades made victory a certainty. He then repeated the exercise a week later with an equally brisk 27*but ran out of batting partners having got us agonisingly close to victory. Connor also proved himself an able bowler using his variations and guile to great effect. He was also adept in the field, providing the Arbour with our only slip catch of the season – although whether he knew much about it is another matter entirely. His contract is still being negotiated for 2025.

Manny Forcados

Manny’s first season of cricket got off to a good start when he took a wicket in his first spell in his first game at Crawley. A quick pace and the ability to appreciably swing the ball are masked by a languid approach to the crease, with batters often being hurried by a sharply rising delivery. Manny is yet to score a run and displays disgust when called upon to don pads and helmets. Most notably, he is the only player in the Arbour XI who Colin is routinely pleasant towards.

Julian Dale

Counted as a regular despite only two appearances, Julian’s season burned brightly but briefly before he disappeared in pursuit of true love (verification pending). For a moment, he held the best figures for an Arbour bowler and his 3/14 against OPCS Titchfield was an undeniable high point. The low point was certainly his innings of 47 seconds (1 ball) in the season opener at Crawley. This is the shortest Arbour innings for which data is available.