Graham Gooch visits East Devon

January 15, 2007, 12:06 pm

FORMER England cricket captain Graham Gooch - a man who will surely have a controversial view on the recent Ashes debacle Down Under - is to be the guest of honour at a dinner in Exmouth.

Gooch will be the guest speaker at Exmouth Rugby Football Club’s popular sportsman’s dinner on Friday, May 11.

Last year ex-England rugby player Rory Underwood spoke at the dinner, but organisers are keen to broaden the appeal of the event and have asked Gooch to speak.

Gooch, who played in 118 Tests and whose 333 against India at Lord’s in 1990 is the third highest total made by an England player, has a reputation for not pulling his punches.

Difficult decisions never worried him - including the one to take a rebel cricket tour to South Africa in the 1980s which cost him his England place for three years.

Gooch played with or against cricket characters ranging from Shane Warne to Phil Tuffnell and Geoff Boycott to Curtly Ambrose so won’t be short of incidents to recall.

The sportsmen’s dinner, which includes an Indian banquet, is the first of three events being hosted by the club on successive days in a specially erected marquee on the Imperial Ground.

The others are the club dinner the following night and the junior section awards on Sunday, May 13.

Ticket or table enquiries should be directed to Chris Wright on 07970 482236.

(this article was taken from sidmouthherald.co.uk)