Following the defeat in the National Village Cup at Lord’s on Sunday, Calmore Sports all-rounder Jimmy Manning has decided to hang up his boots after six successful seasons with the club.
The 36-year-old joined the club in 2017 following a spell in Australia and took a phone call from skipper Mark Lavelle, looking to strengthen his squad following the 2016 SPCL Division 2 title success. Jimmy, who had played for Portsmouth, Hampshire Academy, Totton and Eling and Andover in his younger days, as well as a handful of games for Hampshire Second XI in 2005 and 2007, had never met the man on the other end of the phone – but was enticed to join.
Across his six seasons, he would help lift the SPCL Division One title in his first season, captain the 1st XI on four occasions – including the memorable Super Over success over Hampshire Academy in 2018 – and be a vital member of the team that would enjoy National Village Cup success in 2021 and his rearguard 41 in the 2022 Final gave his side some hope when coming to the crease at 39-5.
He would play in 98 first XI matches in his six seasons – including that awful Covid-ruined season of 2020 – and score 1,653 runs at 22.33 with a sensational 62-ball 106 against Hook and Newnham in 2018 with six fours and seven sixes and five other half-centuries – all at Loperwood Park in 2018 and 2019 and picked up 59 wickets at an average of 20.11 with a best of 4-29 against Basingstoke and North Hants in 2021. He would also claim 53 catches … and a stumping as well off Lavelle, against Old Tauntonians and Romsey in an SPCL Covid T20 Cup game in 2020!
Only two players since he made his debut in 2017 has scored 1000+ runs and taken 50+ wickets for the club (not just the first XI) and the other was the captain.
It was his qualities and experience that brought the best out of his team mates – his rousing team talk at drinks in the game with Rockhampton last season is something of legend and his all round enthusiasm and drive to improve has given the side an additional edge. His support of the captain is not something that Mark took lightly – and he will be sorely missed in the team.
He hasn’t completely thrown in the towel though. The possibility of a return to “help out” might be in order but, with a five-year-old son – our Lord’s mascot Fred – Jimmy is keen to spend more time with him away from the sidelines of a cricket field.
We caught up with him shortly after he announced his decision to the rest of his team mates in the Lord’s dressing room on Sunday following their Cup Final defeat and you can listen and watch his interview below.
Thank you Jimmy for your efforts for our club, bringing some great success – a win% of 65.6% with a record of 61 wins and 30 defeats (two ties and 5 no-results) and two winners medals.
