In the late summer of 1946 the first match was played by the Club that, in the following winter, was founded as the Shepway Stragglers. Some 68 years later, at 6.35pm on Sunday 24th August in the fading evening light at Tenterden, Emma Park became the first lady to represent the Shepway Stragglers. Emma came on as substitute fielder for Paul Taylor, taking the part of ‘Paul’s legs’, being blessed with intact hamstrings. A flurry of wickets suggested that Emma’s introduction had upped the pressure on the Tenterden batsmen, but young Dan Edwards was not to be distracted, and finished off the wilting Straggler attack with a flurry of boundaries. Of course, the design challenge for an appropriate equivalent to the Straggler tie has been set. Suggestions on a post card, please.
