Sportsmen in both Middlesex and Hampshire are remembering the all round talents of Allan Wyatt, who passed away recently.
Besides being a distinguished footballer on the top Isthmian League circuit, Allan was a much respected and influential playing member of the all conquering Southgate cricket team that was so dominant in the 1970s.
Between 1973 and 1985, Allan played in seven ECB Haig national club championship quarter-finals, three semi-finals and was a member of the Southgate team which beat Cheshire-based Bowden in the rain delayed 1977 final at Edgbaston.
He won two Middlesex County League championship medals and played in three winning Wills Middlesex Knockout Cup final sides.
Close friend and Southgate captain Chris Payne recalled: “Being a mature natural sportsman, he was able to bowl at brisk medium pace, curiously off the wrong foot, was a very good close fielder and, batting down the order, scored many valuable runs when the top order had failed.
“In other words, he was one of the first names on the team sheet each week.
Thinking back, there were very few matches when he did not contribute in one way or another. He even dismissed the opposition’s best batsman in the Haig national final at Edgbaston.
“Quite a number of Allan’s old Southgate team-mates will be attending the funeral at Sway Church on Friday November 18 at 2.30pm with very fond memories of a very special man.”
Allan subsequently moved to New Milton in the mid-1980s. He and wife Liz were successful and popular figures in the Town running their business, Corbins the Florists, at the top end of Station Road. Later they opened a second shop in Brockenhurst.
Involving himself in the local sports scene, Allan joined New Milton and quickly established himself as a key all rounder.
“Playing colleagues recall him as a very capable middle-order batsman, calm in a crisis, and a particularly good player of spin bowling,” said New Milton President John Wolfe.
“He was also a fine slip catcher and, although not in the first flush of youth, still capable of providing some useful overs of medium-pace.”
It was however as New Milton first team captain, that Allan will be best remembered. Moulding a relatively young team, he led New Milton to a highest place Southern League runners-up spot in 1987.
His leading players – Peter Wakefield and Neil Taylor – recall him as having excellent tactical awareness, and fostering a strong team spirit.
In his later club career, Allan played and skippered in some of the Club’s more junior sides, and also served a spell as Club Chairman. He continued to follow the Club after its move from Ashley to Fernhill, mixing his love of cricket with some local golf.
* Allan Wyatt’s funeral is at St Lukes Church, Church Road, Sway, SO41 6AD on Friday November 18 (2.30) and afterwards at the Bramshaw Golf Club.
Besides being a distinguished footballer on the top Isthmian League circuit, Allan was a much respected and influential playing member of the all conquering Southgate cricket team that was so dominant in the 1970s.
Between 1973 and 1985, Allan played in seven ECB Haig national club championship quarter-finals, three semi-finals and was a member of the Southgate team which beat Cheshire-based Bowden in the rain delayed 1977 final at Edgbaston.
He won two Middlesex County League championship medals and played in three winning Wills Middlesex Knockout Cup final sides.
Close friend and Southgate captain Chris Payne recalled: “Being a mature natural sportsman, he was able to bowl at brisk medium pace, curiously off the wrong foot, was a very good close fielder and, batting down the order, scored many valuable runs when the top order had failed.
“In other words, he was one of the first names on the team sheet each week.
Thinking back, there were very few matches when he did not contribute in one way or another. He even dismissed the opposition’s best batsman in the Haig national final at Edgbaston.
“Quite a number of Allan’s old Southgate team-mates will be attending the funeral at Sway Church on Friday November 18 at 2.30pm with very fond memories of a very special man.”
Allan subsequently moved to New Milton in the mid-1980s. He and wife Liz were successful and popular figures in the Town running their business, Corbins the Florists, at the top end of Station Road. Later they opened a second shop in Brockenhurst.
Involving himself in the local sports scene, Allan joined New Milton and quickly established himself as a key all rounder.
“Playing colleagues recall him as a very capable middle-order batsman, calm in a crisis, and a particularly good player of spin bowling,” said New Milton President John Wolfe.
“He was also a fine slip catcher and, although not in the first flush of youth, still capable of providing some useful overs of medium-pace.”
It was however as New Milton first team captain, that Allan will be best remembered. Moulding a relatively young team, he led New Milton to a highest place Southern League runners-up spot in 1987.
His leading players – Peter Wakefield and Neil Taylor – recall him as having excellent tactical awareness, and fostering a strong team spirit.
In his later club career, Allan played and skippered in some of the Club’s more junior sides, and also served a spell as Club Chairman. He continued to follow the Club after its move from Ashley to Fernhill, mixing his love of cricket with some local golf.
* Allan Wyatt’s funeral is at St Lukes Church, Church Road, Sway, SO41 6AD on Friday November 18 (2.30) and afterwards at the Bramshaw Golf Club.
