The lack of a sports museum in Bermuda means that much of the cricket artefacts from our history are left to be stored under beds and in closets and sheds.

Take for example the bat and gloves that Charlie Marshall used when he became the first player to score a century on his Cup Match debut. That gear is currently mounted on a wall in a shed on his property.

The St. George's captain, who was 19 when he scored a memorable 100 not out in the 1980 Cup Match at Wellington Oval, will only part with the items if a secure place could be found to store and display them.

"My main concern is it being in safe hands,'' said Marshall.

None of the two clubs have facilities to securely display historical items from past Cup Matches.

"If I feel it can be safe in St. George's I would be prepared to talk to them about it. If not I'll just keep them at home. If it would be in safe hands it would take me about three months to decide what I'm going to do with it!"

That 1980 Cup Match was already destined for a tame draw after play was lost through rain, but nobody left the ground as Marshall edged closer to a historic century. He was on 94 when Robert Hinds came in to bowl the last delivery of the match and Marshall kept his composure to hit the ball over the deep midwicket boundary for six.

The picture of Marshall celebrating the century is one of local cricket's most memorable shots and Marshall also has a copy of that picture on his wall.

"I treasure that (record), it's something I will keep on my mind for the rest of my life," Marshall admits.

"It was a great moment, not only for myself but for the public to witness. The majority of the players then, and even some fans, mentioned to me that `you can't use that bat again'. And to be honest I never did!"

The ball was retrieved from an adjourning yard but Marshall never saw it again.

"Somebody told me they had the ball, but I can't remember who the individual is," said Marshall. "A St. George's fan has the ball."

Putting items like Marshall's Gray Nicholls bat on display for the public is what WF (Chummy) Hayward had in mind for the Sports Hall of Fame he was hoping to build on land he owned on Rosemont Avenue.

Mr.. Hayward died in 1997 at the age of 85 and the dream of having somewhere to recognise the achievements of Bermuda's sportsmen and sportswomen died with him. The land remains vacant today, no closer to being developed into what he intended it to be.

Mr. Hayward created a museum at his former office at JS Vallis devoted to the achievements of Bermuda and its athletes in such major overseas events like the Olympics, with items like photos, plaques and souvenirs on the walls.

So patriotic was Mr. Hayward that he even had a photo of Gina Swainson after she won the Miss World Contest in 1979. She is the granddaughter of Edward Swainson.

The 100th Cup Match last week was highlighted with Janeiro Tucker's record 186 in the Somerset first innings. Now he must decide how and where to store the bat, gloves and pads used in that historic innings.

Tucker confirmed that the bat, signed by players from both Cup Match teams, has been `retired'. It will age gracefully and will become more valuable as time goes on.

He is undecided what to do with the gloves and pads, saying he doesn't think they will be used again.

"The bat definitely won't be used again," the player promised.