Devon Cricket Board - Butler collects league bowling award... 24 years late!

Butler collects league bowling award... 24 years late!

HOWZAT for playing the waiting game!
Back in 1991 South Devon CC had just been promoted into the Premier Division of the Devon League under the leadership of Richard Blood.
The team was strengthened for the trials and tribulations of the season ahead by the arrival of Antiguan all-rounder Ian Gore and Tasmanian seam bowler Mick Butler.
Gore became a regular visitor to Marsh Road over the following decade, returning five times to spent the summer with the club.
Butler took 37 wickets that season – and almost certainly would have taken more had he not missed the last month of the season due to injury.
Butler did have South Devon’s best bowling figures of the season though – six for 26 against Seaton in June.
What was then the Mod-Dec Windows Devon League had a monthly prize for the best batting and bowling return, which was sponsored by cash-and-carry firm Misslebrook and Weston in Torquay.
The awards were handed out at the league’s presentation night at the Langstone Cliff Hotel, Dawlish in November that year.
By then Butler was back home in Tasmania, working at the airport and playing cricket for Launceston.
DCB website news editor and cricket writer and South Devon player Conrad Sutcliffe was at the awards evening and picked up the award in Butler’s behalf.
For the past 24 years the award has lived in Sutcliffe’s garage and moved house with him three times.
“Rather than throw it out kept the award just in case Mick was ever around in Newton Abbot to collect it,” said Sutcliffe, pictured above handing over the memento.
Dave Leaman, a member of the same 1991 team, kept in touch with Butler after he returned home.
When Butler announced he was coming to Europe on an extended family holiday, Leaman felt a reunion was in order.
And what better opportunity to hand over the award that had been gathering dust on a garage shelf for almost a quarter of a century.
“We got together in the Eastern Eye restaurant for a meal with Mick, his wife Ros and son Andrew to reminisce about old times,” said Leaman.
“What Mick didn’t know was Conrad had his bowling award and would be turning up later to hand it over.
“When Conrad arrived we said nothing about the award until there was a break between courses.
“Conrad made a little speech – and handed over the trophy. It is a bit battered around the edges, but the it is the thought that counts!”
Butler was almost lost for words when presented with his award.
“I don’t think I even realised I had won it,” said Butler.
“It is something I will treasure as a memento of a happy time spent playing cricket for South Devon.”

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