Slinfold CC pay tribute to 'gentleman' Rodgers

Local cricket said goodbye Alan Rodgers on Monday after he died recently.
Alan Rodgers (far left) umpired Slinfold v Old England XI in 2000 to celebrate the clubs 225th anniversary. Picture courtesy of Martyn HainesAlan Rodgers (far left) umpired Slinfold v Old England XI in 2000 to celebrate the clubs 225th anniversary. Picture courtesy of Martyn Haines
Alan Rodgers (far left) umpired Slinfold v Old England XI in 2000 to celebrate the clubs 225th anniversary. Picture courtesy of Martyn Haines

Mourners paid tribute to the former Slinfold Cricket Club vice-chairman and West Sussex Association of Cricket Officials member in Evesham at his funeral service at the start of the week.

Rodgers held numerous roles throughout his illustrious career in cricket.

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After calling time on his playing career at Slinfold Cricket Club, Rodger became vice-president of the club in the 1990s before joining the WSACO as an umpire in April 1999.

Rodgers became an instructor in 2001/2 and training officer in 2007. He resigned from the post he resigned in 2012 due to his first bout of ill-health.

He was elected an Honorary Life Member of the Association in 2016 shortly before he moved to Worcestershire in early 2017.

Martyn Haines, Slinfold Cricket Club vice-chairman, said: “We would like to pay tribute to Alan Rodgers who was a long standing vice-president at Slinfold Cricket Club for many years, and since retiring from playing has served the game as an active umpire at the highest level in Sussex County Cricket.

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“He spent many years playing at Slinfold, held officer roles as vice chairman and 2nd team in the early 1990’s, and was instrumental in bringing an Old England XI to Slinfold in 2000 when we celebrated our 225th anniversary.

“We offer our deepest sympathy to his family and friends and the game of cricket will miss him.”

Mike Charman, former Sussex County Cricket Club first team scorer added: “I never knew Alan as a player so my memories of him are as an umpire and instructor of potential umpires.

“John Betts (the secretary of the WSACO) has already in his message to members of WSACO mentioned Alan’s bat he used on courses without a mark on it and this is the first memory - a very neat and tidy man – dapper would be a rather old-fashioned way of expressing it – with never a hair out of place and the epitome of the well turned-out umpire.

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“This image continued into his actual umpiring – never rushed, always time to consider decisions and the ability to announce that decision in a calm and collected manner.

“He carried that same quality forward into his instruction – never not knowing the answer to a question, however hypothetical, and using his personality to quietly get his knowledge across to those he was addressing – sometimes even too quietly and I remember in his early days having to ask him to speak up as most umpires were slightly deaf and well as completely blind!

“In summary – a gentleman in all senses of the word.”