Cricket legend Sobers at Ardingly
Published Date:
12 June 2008
Young cricketers rubbed shoulders with one of the game's greatest legends when Sir Garry Sobers visit Ardingly College on Monday.
The college is one of half a dozen UK independent schools that the 71-year-old sporting hero is visiting from his home in Barbados.
Sir Garry gave a presentation to the school's cricketers, parents and staff who include former England captain Norman Gifford and Sussex pro Chris Waller.
He said that he hoped to welcome the Ardingly touring team to Barbados soon. He also said how much he loved being in Sussex reminiscing that as a boy he had longed to come to England and would sit glued to a radio to listen to cricket commentaries.
Sir Garry also recalled a tour of Australia in a Rest of the World team that included Norman Gifford, the current Ardingly College cricket coach who he nicknamed "Giff" and who he described as "a very good, competitive player".
Afterwards Mr Gifford said: "Sir Garry was my idol and it was an honour to play with him. I am really delighted to have him at Ardingly. The students tonight have had a legend here and realized just how great a man Sir Garry is."
Ardingly College's senior school fields six cricket teams with the U14s, U15s, 2nd XI and 1st XI all currently unbeaten in their regular fixtures.
Over recent years a number of players have gone on to play at senior level, most recently, Ben Brown from Balcombe, who plays professionally for Sussex Sharks and is the England U19 wicket keeper.
Headmaster Peter Green said: "This was a great opportunity for our students to learn from a man who has always been an ambassador for his country and for sport."
Also with Sir Garry was fellow Barbadian and former West Indies cricketer Gregory de Lisle Armstrong as well as Don Gooding, who organizes school netball and hockey tours to Barbados.
The full article contains 323 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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Last Updated:
12 June 2008 9:49 AM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Haywards Heath
