David Foot (1929–2021)

Being Antipodean, Somerset cricket has been a mystery to me. All I knew of it was the jokes about the west country yokel supporters ad the fact that Viv Richards and Joel Garner played for them during the northern summers.

David Foot filled me in on all things Somerset cricket, cementing Somerset's stereotype as a place in the sun where odd men drink scrumpy or bitter while watching a range of equally odd cricketers do their thing.

The writing style is slightly offputting at times but there is no denying the emotion wrought by the tragic tale of Harold Gimblett. His decline and death is a sobering reminder of how cricketers seem to have a closer relationship with depression than the general public.

"Sunshine, sixes and cider" is dated now, of course, but still worth a read to gain an understanding of one of the more interesting cricketing counties around.… (mer)