Former Warwickshire and England captain MJK Smith has become the first man to be honoured by a Warwickshire Old County Cricketers Association Golf Day.
Many current Bears players, sponsors and business partners, alongside the regular WOCCA membership, were at the Warwickshire Golf Club in Leek Wootton, just a good three-iron from where MJK used to live at Wootton Court, to honour his lifetime achievement.
It was a wonderful day and lovely to see so many players past and present in attendance to pay tribute to MJK
Jason Ratcliffe
MJK Smith played 50 Tests for England, captaining them in 25, and scored 39,832 first-class runs (average: 41.84) in a career during which he also skippered the Bears and was part of the County Championship-winning side of 1972.
MJK was later chairman of Warwickshire during the 1990s when his calm and intelligent stewardship played a significant role in delivering the glorious era of the mid-90s.
The event, sponsored by Woodworm and organised by WOCCA chairman Jason Ratcliffe, was a great success, not just as a fitting tribute to MJK but in raising funds to help develop the next generation of Bears cricketers.
“It was a wonderful day and lovely to see so many players past and present in attendance to pay tribute to MJK – one of the truly great Bears,” said Ratcliffe. “With the help of so many people WOCCA was able to put on a wonderful golf day, lunch and presentation and also generate enough funds to make a contribution of £500 back to the county club for the support of the Warwickshire Foundation and youth cricket development.
“It was also great to open the special occasion up to a wider ‘corporate’ group and that we can tangibly contribute back to the club that still continues to look after us so well.”
The annual Golf Day will now be dedicated to a great Bears figure each year and the date is already set for 2018: Friday 12th October at Edgbaston Golf Club.
Please contact Jason Ratcliffe at j@jatamanagement.co.uk for more info and to book places. Places for the day will be limited.
