Somerset CCC – The Return to Glory

Description

The Return to Glory is a book that all Somerset fans will want to read and savour because it celebrates the county’s two most recent trophy winning seasons – 2001 and 2005.

Somerset County Cricket Club was founded way back in 1875 but it wasn’t until 1979 that the Club won any silverware and more followed in quick succession as the West Country favourites lifted five one day titles in as many seasons.

Having enjoyed the sweet taste of success the Somerset faithful wanted more, but they had to wait a further eighteen years, until their dreams were realized by their Aussie skipper Jamie Cox who led them to the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy final at Lord’s where they beat Leicestershire in 2001.

Four years later there was more success, this time under the guidance of South African captain Graeme Smith, who helped them to win the Twenty20 Cup for the first time ever.Then in 2007 under the leadership of another inspirational captain, Australian Justin Langer, the county won promotion back to the top division of both the County Championship and the 40 over competition.

Since then Somerset have been in close contention for all three of the domestic competitions, but as yet have not quite managed to cross that elusive winning line.

Somerset County Cricket Club: The Return to Glory gives all Somerset fans a chance to recapture their memories of the 2001 and 2005 trophy winning seasons along with 2007 when they won promotion back to the top flight, with more than 300 colour photographs by Alain Lockyer and an affectionately written text by Richard Walsh. Both areTaunton based and have followed the fortunes of Somerset CCC for more years than they care to remember. This is the second collaboration between Alain Lockyer and Richard Walsh and follows on from their hugely successful Somerset Cricket -The GloryYears that was published by Halsgrove in 2012.

Alain Lockyer is a professional photographer who has run the Taunton-based Somerset Photo News Agency for more than four decades covering National news and pictures and who has captured the activity of Somerset County Cricket Club assiduously in that time.

Richard Walsh lives in Taunton and is a freelance journalist who has been following the fortunes of Somerset CCC for over forty years. He writes regularly for the Western Morning News, the Somerset County Gazette and the Sunday Independent, in addition to which he has been the editor of the official Somerset CCC website since it was first established in 2001.