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An old friend returns

An old friend returns

Dan Hough26 May 2018 - 09:18
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Pete Carey, the Ts' overseas player in 2007, returns to the hood this weekend

Pete scored runs. Lots of them. And he was a top bloke to boot. It's great to see him back in TW1 for the weekend
- Dan Hough

Anyone watching the twos play Ealing today may see a familiar face wandering around Twickenham Green. New Zealander Pete Carey, the star of the Ts 2007 promotion winning side, is returning to the UK for the first time since that fantastic summer and he'll be popping down to the Green today to renew old acquaintances.

The start of Twickenham's MCCL journey
Time moves quickly, but it's worth remembering that Carey played a small but significant role in helping the Ts become the ECB Premier League club that it is today. After years of finishing second in the Middlesex Championship, the Ts finally managed to gain promotion to the MCCL in 2006. 2007 was therefore something of a journey in to the unknown. Carey came over to fill the overseas birth and, given that he opened the batting - indeed the winter before he'd opened the batting for the Kiwis in the U19 World Cup - he had the honour of facing Twickenham's very first ball in the MCCL (against Barnet Bs, for the record). Like every good opener should, he gave it the straightest of straight forward defensive bats.

The summer of 2007 proved to be run fest for Pete. His consistent performances saw the Ts not only survive in their new surroundings but also flourish; Twickenham were promoted at the first time of asking (see here for the final table). Indeed, it's worth noting that North Middlesex came up alongside Twickenham; North Midd, of course, are now also a premier league side, as are Highgate despite finishing only 4th in Division Three that year. 2007 was before Twickenham really embraced Play Cricket, but the card from the very last fixture of that season is available. Pete only managed 39, but the Ts nonetheless beat Ickenham by 93 runs (see here).

Ouch
Pete's performances on the field were second to none, but he'll also be remembered for the time and effort he put in to helping the club move forward. Pete would play whenever asked (not something all OPs are known to do), and he'd be as happy chatting to 5th teamers about their games as he was thinking about how to help the 1sts win matches. He also put his body firmly on the line for the Ts - as one night in the West Midd Hospital having been hit one particularly painful blow in, erm, well, in the bull's eye testifies.

So, if you see Pete and his family at the Green today do say hello. You'll be talking to a TCC legend.

Further reading