A look at 75 years of Somerset fandom with Lord Archer by Richard Walsh

First published in the Somerset County Gazette June 2022

LORD Archer of Weston-super-Mare has followed the fortunes of Somerset for over 75 years during which he has enjoyed the high spots and enduring the not such good times.

The former Member of Parliament and world famous best selling novelist was at the Cooper Associates County Ground recently and during the afternoon I was lucky enough to chat to him about his life long love affair with Somerset.

“I am a Weston super Mare boy and started watching Somerset at Clarence Park when Mr Brocklehurst was captain and the side included Bertie Buse, Maurice Tremlett, Horace Hazell and Harold Gimblett which was a good side and we were bottom of the table!

We were bottom of the table for four years in a row, a record that no other county has ever managed- only Somerset. However that didn’t stop me from the age of six until I was 13 or 14 loving them every bit and believing that with all the stupidity I could muster, that I would live to see Somerset win the County Championship.”

Lord Archer went on: “ They have been second on five occasions, and once actually equal top when we were robbed. On another occasion we were robbed disgracefully by Nottingham and on another we were robbed disgracefully by Middlesex and Yorkshire- two crooked clubs who swindled us out of the County Championship.

“However now I am 82 Im beginning to believe that the odds of actually seeing my beloved Somerset win the County Championship are diminishing- but I have not given up!”

Lord Archer talked about some of the most memorable times from his long years of watching.

“I had the privilege of watching Peter May score the most beautiful century against us at Clarence Park in a languid easy casual way as if we were a load of turnips, partly because we were a load of turnips!

“I thought that Peter Wight was one of the most stylish of players I’ve ever seen and I will of course remember Ian Botham. Joel Garner and Viv Richards in a golden era when again we only came second, because they were all playing for their own countries. If they could have only payed for Somerset we’d have beaten everybody on earth, there’s no doubt about that.

“However I don’t think I have ever seen a more beautiful player than Viv Richards at his best. He had such a good eye. He once told me that he could see the ball as it comes out of the bowlers fingers and he knew where it will land. I thought wow- that’s genius.

“I had the great honour of playing for Somerset once in a charity match with Brian Rose as captain and my batting partner was Viv Richards

“Although I’d known him for many years I hadn’t been told that he didn’t like to run singles, whereas I was an energetic individual, so I shot off for one and found myself standing next to him, so I decided I better walk back and be run out which was the wisest decision

“As I was climbing the steps into the pavilion and old wag said ‘Good decision M’Dear, the last stoning in Taunton was in 1452!’

“I love this county and a few years ago I had the great honour of opening Pegasus Court. Everyone knows of my love and my madness. Supporters like you and me are bonkers, why would we go on supporting one of the worst counties on record in the history of the game unless we were bonkers.

“I will add proof to this by saying that I also support Bristol Rovers which shows what a complete nutcase I am.

“I am very good at learning how to lose, it’s good for the character training, the trouble is the training has been going on for 82 years and I am rather looking forward to winning.

“When I was a child I used to go to everyday to the Clarence Park Festival. I sold programmes and worked in the tea tent and attempted to get into the Somerset team- the latter part of which was farcical because bad though they were , I was worse. But I went on loving them.

“Bill Andrews, who also lived in Weston, was a great bowler- famous of course for taking Bradman’s wicket, which he wrote a book about, then there was Bill Alley. What a player he was, he played with his heart and gave it everything and I loved him for that.

Lord Archer added: “There have been great players and there have been great matches, we just haven’t won the championship, yet, but I love Somerset and always will!”