Pre-season Pilgrimages
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JK Lewis

Pre-season Pilgrimages
« on: February 19, 2017, 10:56:34 PM »
I grew up in West London, in the 80s - those simpler times before the internet. Around this time of year we would put aside our footballs and turn our thoughts to cricket. Back then, there was literally only one place for us to find out what was available, and what was new. Every spring, without fail, a group of us would get on the Tube to Ealing Broadway, walk down Bond Street and into Vee Kay Sports. The best cricket shop in the world as far as I'm concerned, a perfect combination of big name bats and top quality, well priced, own brand kit. It's true that the internet now gives me more choice, but I sometimes think I'd trade it for a chance to spend an afternoon with my mates in that famous basement. Any similar memories out there?
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procricket

Re: Pre-season Pilgrimages
« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2017, 11:22:13 PM »
For me it was my once a year pilgrimage 80 mile round bus trip to newhay and romida

I went every year sometimes I came away empty handed if it had been a bad year for my mum money wise by I remember the time I went hopeful of a Masuri helmet when helmets where still rare and I forgot the bus cost so I couldn't afford one so I ended up with a hunts county helmet which in truth was brilliant still.

Never bought a bat but I can remember saving for still the best pads in the world gray nicolls test opener man I saved for nearly a year for them bad boys.

Growing up I never had first hand bats but never moaned I used to get Glen Chapple hand me down Ace and Senior Counties
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Northern monkey

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Re: Pre-season Pilgrimages
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2017, 08:34:58 AM »
Used to be spoilt for choice when I first ventured out to sniff cricket bats.
Multisports in nelson and a couple of other local sports shops always had stunning bat selections.

They were nothing compared to my first visit to Romida tho!
I must have gone through every box of bats in that tardis like shop
I once spent an afternoon going through their vast selection of gloves

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Kulli

Re: Pre-season Pilgrimages
« Reply #3 on: February 20, 2017, 08:36:19 AM »
As with most Scottish clubs we used to get a minibus or convoy down to Sportscraft a few saturdays before the season started, sadly now long gone.
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WalkingWicket37

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Re: Pre-season Pilgrimages
« Reply #4 on: February 20, 2017, 09:49:54 AM »
Always used to be a trip to Holt & Haskell along Shirley High Street (for those unfamiliar, its a "lovely" area of Southampton)
Not the biggest shop in the world, but got my first bat in there, and my Dad used to drive there once a year for me to get my new purchase for the season (usually just a new pair of gloves, or some pads if I was feeling extravagant!). We made our annual trip in early December one year, instead of the usual March/April trip and I got a Woodworm Satellite as a Christmas present that year.
The most expensive thing I bough for myself being an Albion Club helmet, and I'd saved my Xmas and Birthday money to buy myself that. Those were the days...
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Seniorplayer

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Re: Pre-season Pilgrimages
« Reply #5 on: February 20, 2017, 09:50:32 AM »
My  yearly pilgrimage a 50 mile round trip to  the Edgebaston club
 shop  as no one else close to Stourbridge sold cricket kit back then they were also the only ones to stock the England kit  also most of the stuff in there was top end with top end prices.
I brought the GN test opener pads from there when they first came out I remember they cost me £85.00.
Also spotted one of the first  GN pro performance bat s in there when I tested the ping in the shop it was so good I brought it  and cancelled my pre season handmade  new bat order from Robertsbridge
« Last Edit: February 20, 2017, 08:39:36 PM by Seniorplayer »
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liscon12

Re: Pre-season Pilgrimages
« Reply #6 on: February 20, 2017, 10:08:42 AM »
For me and my brothers it was a 52 mile round trip to Sportscraft in Penrith but since Dickie Spruce closed up shop in 2013 the next closest is probably Barringtons which is 280 mile round trip or Lorimer's which is 160!
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Buzz

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Re: Pre-season Pilgrimages
« Reply #7 on: February 20, 2017, 10:17:58 AM »
I used to go to Lords for easter coaching and spent my lunch break in the shop. It was always far too expensive!

Having Romida leatherhead 15 mins in one direction and Fordham and Colts 15mins in the other means I am very spoiled for choice.
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northernboy1987

Re: Pre-season Pilgrimages
« Reply #8 on: February 20, 2017, 10:24:10 AM »
Quote from: liscon12 on February 20, 2017, 10:08:42 AM
For me and my brothers it was a 52 mile round trip to Sportscraft in Penrith but since Dickie Spruce closed up shop in 2013 the next closest is probably Barringtons which is 280 mile round trip or Lorimer's which is 160!

I got some great Bats at Dickie's got a Biggest Kahuna there years ago which I've still got somewhere, was a beast, probably the best pinging bat I've owned (from a "big" brand anyways)
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IWTUK

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Re: Pre-season Pilgrimages
« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2017, 10:37:04 AM »
I used to get the bus into Gillingham from Strood, and visit 'Hubble & Ames' (Jack Hubble & Les Ames - both ex-Kent keepers); bought my DF GT 1000 and later a DF Magnum from there. I small shop I seem to remember with tons of bats along the wall and at eye level with an upstairs that sold hockey gear if I remember (although it was many many years ago!).

Carefree days; jumpers for goalposts, chalk stumps on the wall etc. etc....... ;)
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tom line

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Re: Pre-season Pilgrimages
« Reply #10 on: February 20, 2017, 10:45:51 AM »
Was that the shop that preceded Hubble and Freeman @IWTUK
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IWTUK

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Re: Pre-season Pilgrimages
« Reply #11 on: February 20, 2017, 10:54:18 AM »
Quote from: tom line on February 20, 2017, 10:45:51 AM
Was that the shop that preceded Hubble and Freeman @IWTUK

It was a while back Tom, I may have the names mixed-up; I thought Hubble & Ames was in Gillingham and Hubble & Freeman was in Maidstone but I may have them the wrong way around; I'm going back to around 1980 for the Magnum, so age is not my friend when it comes to  memory!
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tom line

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Re: Pre-season Pilgrimages
« Reply #12 on: February 20, 2017, 11:05:24 AM »
Hubble and Freeman is Maidstone but wasn't aware of Hubble and Ames just wondered if they were related at all
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iand123

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Re: Pre-season Pilgrimages
« Reply #13 on: February 20, 2017, 11:20:49 AM »
There used to a sports shop in the village i gew up in (New Ash Green in North Kent) called Pro Sport where i got all of my sporting gear from. Remember saving up some birthday money for a poly armoured GN scoop from there. I remember when someone moved to the village and did a bulk order from Morrant which was a lot of hassle!
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IWTUK

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Re: Pre-season Pilgrimages
« Reply #14 on: February 20, 2017, 11:59:42 AM »
Quote from: tom line on February 20, 2017, 11:05:24 AM
Hubble and Freeman is Maidstone but wasn't aware of Hubble and Ames just wondered if they were related at all

Jack Hubble is the same guy Tom, but one shop was with Titch Freeman, and the other, Les Ames. I moved away in the mid 80's so no idea if the one in Gillingham is still going. Happy days though!
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