Chris Burchett pictured in typically attacking mode for Farnham against Southampton Touring Club. Colin Wilson can only admire the shot.
Farnham and Alton cricket clubs have paid tribute to Chris Burchett, who died just before Christmas. He was a fine opening batsman for Farnham in their most successful period in Surrey club cricket during the 1970s and 80s before joining Alton, where he went on to score runs in equally plentiful measures.
Long time Farnham team-mate Bob Shergold reflected: “Chris will be remembered by most for his bold attacking style, but this was fully complemented by a solid and correct technique that could suit all conditions.
“When in the right mood his batting could be devastating and he was one of few club batsman who could transform a game inside an hour at the crease.”
Chris Burchett joined Farnham in 1970 after starting out at Elstead and Thursley. He soon announced his arrival when he made 126 against the I’Anson league representative XI, always a traditional and keenly contested fixture.
Over the coming years he became one of the club’s most prolific batsmen with over 12,000 runs. Only Alan Thorpe, Geoff Hebden and Bob Shergold scored more. He topped 1,000 runs in a season on seven separate occasions and over the years scored in the region of 30 centuries for the club. When he left Farnham, having been made a Vice President, he finished his playing days with Alton CC before donning the umpire’s coat.
Astonishing
Chic Stedman, Farnham’s leading wicket taker, past captain and president, played in the majority of games with Chris, continued: “He was one of the few players I was glad I didn’t have to bowl at as he could make any bowler look second rate.
“Not many players are responsible for actually taking games by the scruff of the neck and turning them into victories and I think he won three or four games a season for us with astonishing innings.
There were, of course days when Bob Shergold, batting at no 3, had to make sure he was padded up and ready to bat!!
“Chris was a very good player and genuinely nice bloke, never happier post-match than with a beer in his hand and socialising with the opposition.”
A classy, stylish batsman, Chris played representative cricket for British Telecom and the XL Club (alongside Bob Shergold and Chic Stedman). He joined Alton in 1980, reproducing his attacking flair with runs galore for all four of the club’s sides.
One Alton game in particular stands out – a tour match in Gloucester when, after 13 overs, Chris was the first man dismissed. Alton were 120-1 – and Chris had made 101 of them !
Alton chairman Julian Ballinger added: “Stories of 100s in the 3rd and 4th teams are plentiful – as he got older, he scored most of his runs in boundaries. There weren’t many quick singles being taken in those days!
“However, the best recollections were of Chris as a man. So many Alton members simply remember Chris as a “legend”, a “top man”, a “great guy” and a “fantastic man”.
“He was generous with his time and always had plenty of wise words of encouragement for his younger teammates. He also had a sharp wit and was well-known in his umpiring days for some razor-sharp put-downs to cricketers from both teams who thought they knew better than he did!
“Chris will be sorely missed and fondly remembered as a player, a clubman, a teammate and a friend. Alton will be paying tribute early in the 2021 season to a much-loved member of the club.”
Long time Farnham team-mate Bob Shergold reflected: “Chris will be remembered by most for his bold attacking style, but this was fully complemented by a solid and correct technique that could suit all conditions.
“When in the right mood his batting could be devastating and he was one of few club batsman who could transform a game inside an hour at the crease.”
Chris Burchett joined Farnham in 1970 after starting out at Elstead and Thursley. He soon announced his arrival when he made 126 against the I’Anson league representative XI, always a traditional and keenly contested fixture.
Over the coming years he became one of the club’s most prolific batsmen with over 12,000 runs. Only Alan Thorpe, Geoff Hebden and Bob Shergold scored more. He topped 1,000 runs in a season on seven separate occasions and over the years scored in the region of 30 centuries for the club. When he left Farnham, having been made a Vice President, he finished his playing days with Alton CC before donning the umpire’s coat.
Astonishing
Chic Stedman, Farnham’s leading wicket taker, past captain and president, played in the majority of games with Chris, continued: “He was one of the few players I was glad I didn’t have to bowl at as he could make any bowler look second rate.
“Not many players are responsible for actually taking games by the scruff of the neck and turning them into victories and I think he won three or four games a season for us with astonishing innings.
There were, of course days when Bob Shergold, batting at no 3, had to make sure he was padded up and ready to bat!!
“Chris was a very good player and genuinely nice bloke, never happier post-match than with a beer in his hand and socialising with the opposition.”
A classy, stylish batsman, Chris played representative cricket for British Telecom and the XL Club (alongside Bob Shergold and Chic Stedman). He joined Alton in 1980, reproducing his attacking flair with runs galore for all four of the club’s sides.
One Alton game in particular stands out – a tour match in Gloucester when, after 13 overs, Chris was the first man dismissed. Alton were 120-1 – and Chris had made 101 of them !
Alton chairman Julian Ballinger added: “Stories of 100s in the 3rd and 4th teams are plentiful – as he got older, he scored most of his runs in boundaries. There weren’t many quick singles being taken in those days!
“However, the best recollections were of Chris as a man. So many Alton members simply remember Chris as a “legend”, a “top man”, a “great guy” and a “fantastic man”.
“He was generous with his time and always had plenty of wise words of encouragement for his younger teammates. He also had a sharp wit and was well-known in his umpiring days for some razor-sharp put-downs to cricketers from both teams who thought they knew better than he did!
“Chris will be sorely missed and fondly remembered as a player, a clubman, a teammate and a friend. Alton will be paying tribute early in the 2021 season to a much-loved member of the club.”
