This week’s Cup Match legend, John Tucker, is one of a long list of Southampton Rangers players to add flair, flamboyance and brilliance to the Cup Match classic. While many may consider this present Rangers team to be a strong one, truth be told, the Rangers team of yesteryear, consisting of Sheridan, Lee, Lloyd, and Eldon Raynor, Shiraz Ali, Colin Blades, Timmy Edwards, St Clair Tucker and George “Friday” Bremar, would simply have been too strong for today’s generation.

A stalwart of some 17 consecutive Cup Matches, John Tucker was also a captain for Somerset for five of those classics.

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Name: John Archie Tucker

Date of Birth: September 21, 1948

Start in cricket: My cricket career began at Ord Road Primary School under the guidance of Mr Leroy Simons, the PE teacher. We played matches against other schools, and I also played in the youth programme for Southampton Rangers.

Length of cricket career: I began playing at the age of 13 for the Rangers B team. At 16 I broke into the A team and played until I retired in 1990. My Cup Match career spanned 17 years, starting in 1973 in St George’s.

Role in the team: I was an all-rounder who batted at No 5, was a specialist slip and cover fielder, and a medium pacer.

As a youngster, this writer recalls the numerous partnerships that John shared with the great Colin Blades. Their Rangers team captured seven trophies in one season.

Childhood memories with the game: I carried a bat and ball around with me all the time. Of course, I would always be the one to go in first. We would play anywhere we could, on the street, or on any open patch of field. We would usually use a cardboard box for the wicket. We played a lot of “Tip and Go One” cricket which helped us develop the art of running between the wickets. I also played a lot in the back of the Raynor’s service station on Middle Road. There was an enclosed batting cage there with a concrete strip.

Teams played for: Southampton Rangers, Somerset’s league and Cup Match team, the ICC teams of 1979, 1982 and 1986. We came second in 1982 losing to Zimbabwe in the finals. Back then, only one team went through to the World Cup proper.

It should be noted that this team thrashed Bangladesh, dismissing them for less than a 100. Today, they play Test cricket.

Best international feat: Playing with the ICC team in 1979 I shared a valuable partnership with Joe Bailey in which he scored 49 and I scored 46. Also, playing against the Hyderabad Blues here in Bermuda and scoring a half century against the great B.S. Chandrasekhar before he dismissed me.

Favourite venue: That would have to be Southampton Oval. Back in those days, Harley Rayner was the groundsman, and he treated that field as if it was his baby. Those tracks were beautiful to play on.

Favourite international player: Sir Garfield Sobers. He bowled both pace and spin, fielded brilliantly at leg slip, and was a prolific batsman. I had the pleasure of attending a party at his house one night. I left around 1am and Sobers was still going strong. The next day, he tore into the England attack led by John Snow. That was in 1968, during a three week tour of the Caribbean with Rangers. After that, I attended West Indies Test matches on a regular basis.

Number One Supporter: My wife Belinda, cousins and family.

Pre-match routines: I would prepare myself for a few days before a match, doing lots of exercising and stretching. I’d use a golf ball up against a wall, doing lots of shadowing with my bat in the mirror, and with a ball on a string. I’d also go for a swim. Of course, my entire kit would be prepared, and I would take along three shirts and three pairs of cricket pants.

Favourite dish while playing: I had to have my codfish and potato. At the game I did not eat too much, perhaps a little protein and some veggies, just something to keep me going.

Biggest regret in cricket: Not joining the Century Club for the classic. I was called in on 84 [Somerset declaration] in 1979.

Any superstitions: My only concern was getting off the mark. Once I did this, I was fine. I just did not want to get a duck. Besides that, not really.

Funniest thing you have seen in cricket: In the days before cricket helmets were even used Sinclair ”Chips” Walker came out to bat at Southampton Oval in a game against Bailey’s Bay wearing a bright pink motorcycle helmet. The entire place erupted in laughter, all the players and spectators alike.

Hobbies: I play some golf, however I love to watch sports on television: EPL, La Liga, basketball, tennis. Basically, I’m a sports person, and love to watch sports on television.

A key to your success: I trained hard and listened to my senior players, people like Sheridan, and Eldon Raynor and Timmy Edwards. I believed that practice makes perfect.

While John had the privilege to play with some greats, he also competed against many of the greats of his era, including: Freddie Truman, Michael Holding, David Holford, Greg Armstrong and David Murray. The latter two were actually persuaded to stay in Bermuda for a year and play with Rangers.

Advice to today’s cricketers: Have a positive attitude, build self-esteem and set goals for yourself.

Motto you believe in: Play the game hard, play fair, and play clean. Show sportsmanship, respect the game and show passion when you play.

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John provided some insight into how the wonderful relationship between Rangers and St David’s Cricket Club developed. This writer noted how after matches at both clubs, the hosts would invariably invite the other team to their auditorium for dinner. It started in 1963 when a busload of St David’s Islanders came up to Southampton and helped to put the roof on the present clubhouse. Before then, the players used a large tent that was situated on the southern boundary as their shelter.

There is a lesson to be gleaned from this show of character by one set of players towards another. Wouldn’t it be amazing to see such a show of selflessness with today’s cricketers?

Yes, those were some special days, with some gifted cricketers.

For many a cricket lover, John Tucker’s era is considered the golden years of Bermuda’s cricket.