Approached as a 14 year old schoolboy to play for the St Andrews Hospital side, Monty still finds himself associated with the club 56 years later, as life president.
In his youth, Monty was a nippy left arm seamer and his nagging accuracy saw him pick up stacks of wickets for the club in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, his best season being 1989 when he snapped up 84 victims.
The fact that for many years he never wore gloves, sums up Monty’s batting! His arrival at No11 at the crease was normally the sign that tea was about to be taken, but those who witnessed his sixes at Bradenham and Sprowston won’t forget them!
Off the field, Monty’s contribution was been even greater and he has represented the club in virtually ever capacity. For many years he tended the wicket at his beloved St Andrews Hospital Ground and then, undeterred when the club were forced to move, he did the same at Little Plumstead. If you rang Monty at home during the Summer and he wasn’t there, it was likely he was rolling or cutting!
During the bad spells in the club’s history it was Monty who ensured folding was not an option and his SOS appeals for players are legendary.
Due to ill heath in recent years, Monty has had to take a back seat from most activities, even brewing the tea (if he wasn’t bowling he was making tea, hence one infamous Dave Hawes ‘declaration’ at Eaton Park in 1989 when the last man was nowhere to be seen due to the “needs of the tea urn!!). It is still a pleasure to see him at games though, and reminisce about years gone by and visiting teams first question will always be “is Monty here?”
Charles Monty Montague – Mr St Andrews!
70 Not Out in April 2006