Back from Barbados

Henderson Springer and
Haverfordwest youth coach
Simon Williams.
Pic. John Twigg

The names rolled off the tongue as though he'd never left these shores; Colin Williams, Andrew Phillips, Stephen Phillips, Peter Hall, Martin Cole, Gethin Evens, Jinks; all legends of their day and names we still talk about today.

Hendy, or Henderson Springer to go by his real name is one of them too and on Friday at Haverfordwest Cricket Club it was easy to understand why his time at the club had such an impact on those who took the field with him and those that saw him play.

The numbers may not stack up the way that he would have liked (no centuries in his time here although he did take 17 five wicket hauls) but his influence lives on; the scores of youngsters coached by him last night is testament to that.

Today's cricketers may not appreciate it but he arrived on these shores at a time when West Indies cricket was still at its peak so his arrival in Pembrokeshire came as something as a stir especially given emotions were still high as Vasbert Drakes was terrorising all before him in division four for Lamphey!

There was the odd murmurings of discontent when it was announced he'd play for Haverfordwest but generally the players of the time were excited to test themselves against him.

He brought 'colour' and experience to the town; first class experience too having played for Barbados for four seasons prior to his arrival and sharing a dressing room with the likes of Marshall, Garner, Grenidge and Haynes.

"You could tell by the way Grenidge packed his bag that he was a Test player," he said "But even though I brought that experience I still had to learn. I had to learn about the players, the pitches, everything, because I was playing with players who wanted to play and who wanted to win."

The pressure would have been on him from the start. During one of his first times in the clubhouse John Hayes, a butcher in the town came up to him and said in jest 'If you're any good you'll win the Harrison-Allen for us.'

He did too, being crowned man of the match in one final after he quickly read up on the history of the cup and what it meant to local players.

To this day he still doesn't know how he ended up here "I think Hugh Morris (Glamorgan chief) played his part but I certainly didn't know where Haverfordwest was," he said "But I can hand on heart say, it is one of the best things to happen to me.

"I've played and coached all over the world apart from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan but playing here was memorable for a lot of reasons."

The memories are not just confined to the pitch either, many if not most were created off it too. Ask people what they remember about Hendy and it was not just his dashing style at the crease, gold chain swaying around his neck as he brought from Calypso Cricket to Pembrokeshire but the way he enjoyed a rum and coke in the bar after and the way he interacted with supporters from Haverfordwest and other clubs around the county.

They liked him and he liked them in return. It was a winning combination. Such a shame then that it couldn't carry on but Hendy had other commitment in the game.

After playing at the Racecourse the game took him to South Africa to play in their top club competition against the likes of Allan Donald and co.

When his playing days came to an end he took the natural step to being a coach, his easy going personable nature lending itself perfectly to the role.

He's the current West Indies women's coach but prior to that he spent 16 years coaching the Barbados men’s team, players of the calibre of Fidel Edwards, Tino Best, Jason Holder, Carlos Brathwaite.

Basically, anyone who came from the island to play for the Windies during that time, he coached them. "You can tell by their interest and enthusiasm who will go on to make it, it's not just about skill," he added.

"Coaching seniors is much easier than coaching kids though. With kids you have to grab their attention all the time and that can be hard with so many distractions. The seniors want to be there and know what the game is about."

Hendy certainly knows what it's about. He'll be watching the Town today, keeping an eye out for the players of the modern generation and mixing with people he's not seen for years, reminiscing about some golden times for Pembrokeshire cricket of which he played a part with bat, ball and plenty of Rum and Coke.

*To hear the interview in full listen to the Saturday Sports Show on Pure West Radio with Jonathan Twigg 12 noon to 1pm on www.purewestradio.com 

Team of the week

1.Gary Phillips Llangwm 141 Llangwm 2nds v H'west 3rds
2. Simon Holliday 127 H'west v Burton
3. Patrick Bellerby 107 n.o Neyland v Cresselly
4. Richard Gwyther 93 n.o. Kilgetty 2nds v Hundleton
5. Ollie Roberts 89 Llechryd 2nds v Hook 2nds
6. Paul Lewis 85 Llanrhian v Lamphey
7. Nick Cope 56 & 4-46 S'foot v Tish
8. Graham Keen 25 & 5-15 Llechryd v Hook
9. Gareth Charles 5-15 Laugharne v Herbie
10. Robbie Thomas 4-24 Tish 2nds v S'foot 2nds
11. Jack Parkinson 4-31 Kilgetty v Johnston.