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Junior Nets at Taunton

Bill Alley and Brian Roe coach young cricketers in the nets at County Ground

News 1962 1 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for South West Film and Television Archive

Overview

Somerset County Cricket Club all-rounder Bill Alley and opening batsman Brian Roe coach cricketers in the nets at County Ground, Taunton. Born in Australia Alley had been a boxer but qualified to play first-class cricket in England after 5 years playing for Colne Cricket Club in Lancashire where he was the only player to score 1000 runs in each of the five consecutive seasons from 1948, a league record. In 1957 the left-handed batsman and right-armed bowler joined Somerset.

Roe was born in Lincolnshire and joined Somerset CCC as a 14-year old. He made 132 first-class appearances for Somerset between 1957 and 1966 and scored 1000 runs in three seasons 1961, 1962 and 1963. He played for the Combined Services while serving in the RAF. After being released in 1966 Roe coached at Somerset and played for Devon taking on Somerset at Taunton for Minor Counties South in the 1973 Benson and Hedges Cup. Roe continued to coach, umpire and play for Devon cricket clubs Braunton, Westleigh, Barnstaple and Pilton only retiring in his seventies.