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  A G Foster (1939-2024) R.I.P.

It is with the greatest sadness that the Club has learnt of the death of its Club Captain, Tony Foster. To describe Tony as a Club legend is an understatement, with career stats of 31,564 runs, 2,893 wickets and 605 catches.

Making his debut for the 1st XI, aged 17, on Sunday, 8 July 1956, versus Northampton Polytechnic in the Park, Tony made an instant impact with an unbeaten 53, the first of 154 occasions he reached the half-century mark. Tony impressed as a youngster and was rewarded by being selected to represent Hertfordshire County Colts against Bedfordshire in 1957 (the first Hatfield player to represent the county since the nineteenth century), and the following year, the Committee decided that “the Major B G Mariott Prize bat be awarded this year to Tony Foster, who has acquitted himself quite creditably on the field of play and had also worked for the club quite appreciably into the bargain”.

The first of his five Batting prizes was soon to follow in 1959. In 1964, Tony became only the fourth batsman in the Club’s history to pass 1,000 runs for the season; his total of 1,327 was not surpassed until 1976. In total, Tony would score over 1,000 in a season on 5 occasions, his most productive spell would be the six seasons between 1972 and 1977 during which 6,014 runs were accumulated.

1965 would produce the first of seven Bowling Prizes, and this was also the year in which Tony began a run of 13 consecutive seasons as Saturday 1st XI captain (another Club record). At the time of his election as Sunday captain in 1964, he was the youngest player to have held the position. His slow left-arm bowling reached its peak in 1973/1974 with 105 and 101 wickets taken respectively. The first of these was accompanied by scoring 1,050 with the bat, the first and only occasion that would see a Hatfield CC player accomplish the 1,000 runs/100 wickets double. A measure of his consistency as a bowler is best demonstrated by a spell between 1966 and 1975 when Tony was the club’s leading wicket-taker 6 times. Tony is also one of only three Hatfield players to have taken 3 hat-tricks, 2 of which at the ripe old age of 61!

In 1968, Tony became the second of only two players to have completed the ‘hat-trick’ of club awards by adding the Catching Prize to his ever-growing trophy cabinet, a trophy he would win again in 1970.

Over 30 years after being selected for Herts Colts, Tony was again to achieve county representation, spending the twilight of his career playing for Hertfordshire’s over 50s, 60s, and 70s.

In addition to his record-breaking performances, Tony contributed tirelessly off the field. When the job of Fixture Secretary was created in 1967, Tony was the first incumbent, a role in which he would remain for 7 years. In 1975, Tony became Chairman of the Development sub-committee responsible for the move from Hatfield Park to Ascots Lane and was also Chairman of the General Committee during the traumatic period of the move. In the 1980s, 5 years (across two spells) were spent as Team Secretary. Finally, from 1995 to 2007, Tony was Colts’ Manager.

In addition to all his work for Hatfield CC, in 1974, Tony would also become Hon. Secretary of the Herts Competition. When Tony finally retired, 60 years after his debut, he was secure as the highest wicket-taker for the club. Indeed, he is still over 1,000 wickets clear of his nearest rival.


  Next Fixtures
Sunday 21st April 2024
Sun XI vs. Shenley Village (40 Overs) Away 13:00
Saturday 27th April 2024
1st XI vs. Inter-Club Match (50 Over) Ascots Lane 12:00
2nd XI vs. Inter-Club Match (50 Over) Ascots Lane 12:00
3rd XI vs. Inter-Club Match (50 Over) Ascots Lane 12:00
This Weeks Teams

  Latest Results
Saturday 16th September 2023
1st XI H&C 268, North Enfield 40 Won by 228 runs
Saturday 9th September 2023
Singles 141, Marrieds 133
Saturday 2nd September 2023
1st XI Hatfield Hyde 224, H&C 135 Lost by 89 runs
2nd XI Hertingfordbury 53, H&C 56-3 Won by 7 wickets
3rd XI Broxbourne IV 207, H&C 129 Lost by 78 runs