Long-serving Torquay cricketer remembered fondly by team-mates

A TORQUAY cricketer who captained the same team for nearly 20 years has died just days before his 81st birthday.

Leo Matthews joined Torquay CC in 1948 as a schoolboy and played for the club for more than 40 years.

He took over as 3rd XI captain from Harry Snape in 1966. having been his deputy since the late 1950s.

Matthews led the 3rd XI for 19 seasons before handing over to Robert Mallon in 1985.

Torquay recognised Matthews’s service to the club – almost 40 years a player, 30 years-plus on the committee and 19 years as 3rd XI captain – with a special match in 1987.

Torquay’s 1st XI defeated the Matthews XI fairly comfortably, but that just meant the social activities stared a little bit sooner!

Bob Dickinson, who played in that match, said Matthews kept social cricket alive and well despite the growth of league cricket in the 70s and 80s.

“When you signed up to play for Torquay 3rd XI you were signing up for a way of life,” said Dickinson, who was in his late teens when he first played for Matthews in 1973.

“Third-team cricket in those days was very competitive and with Torquay first and second elevens very strong then the 3rd XI was a good outfit.

“Even at 3rd XI level Leo expected total loyalty and I well remember telling him I was going on a one-week holiday with a couple of mates and would not be available the following week.

“His response was to drop me for the next three weeks.

“The cricket season was for playing cricket then and, with a suitable lesson learned, I arranged my wedding date at the end of September the following year.”

Dickinson said Matthews had an established warm-up as part  of the routine for away games.

“This involved everyone taking their wives and girlfriends, with Leo's wife Gill always in attendance, to the matches with picnics to meet at the local pub a couple of hours before start of play to discuss tactics.Happy days.”

Torquay 3rd XI didn’t play league cricket – there wasn’t a league for them to play in – but they did enter the Brockman Cup year in and year out.

Dickinson said Matthews’ proudest moment on the cricket field was leading Torquay 3rd XI to victory over Torbay Police in the 1978 final.

“I remember Leo saying he first played in the Brockman Cup as a 12-year old and had almost given up hope of winning the Brockman,” said Dickinson.

“We beat them by four wickets and that victory under Leo remains the one and only time Torquay have won the Brockman Cup.”

Leo Matthews was born in Torquay in June 1935 and lived in Park Road, St Marychurch.

Dad Tom owned Matthews Removals and encouraged his son in his sporting pursuits from an early age.

John Haly, who lived nearby in Trumlands Road, became a lifelong friend of Matthews and remembers the pair joining Torquay as schoolboys.

“My dad was heavily involved in the cricket club having been a player and later secretary and he took us down to the nets together,” said Haly.

The Halys and the Matthews families were close friends, close enough for John to be lodged there for a fortnight around the time his mother had a child.

Matthews and Haly were men for all sporting seasons and started there own football team, Trumlands Rovers, which Tom Matthews supported.

“We played in Arsenal’s kit at the time and Leo’s dad bought a set for us,” said Haly.

Matthews played at wing-half or centre-half and went on to play for Meadfoot Rangers later in that career.

Skittles, and in particular snooker at St Marychurch Conservative  club with friends such as Rod Harvey and the late Dickie Lear, were other sporting interests.

Leo Matthews spent most of his working life at Dartington Hall School where he was the bursar. It was at the school that he met future wife Gill.

Leo also had an unpaid job at Torquay CC running the bar after matches, something he had a natural aptitude for. It proved the foundation for career change late in life.

“When Dartington Hall School closed, Leo needed a job and took on the Live and Let Live pub at Landscove,” said Dickinson.

“He was out there for a good ten years and you were always made very welcome.”

Leo Matthews retired to the Almeria province of Spain around 15 years ago.

Former Torquay team-mate Barrie Matthews – no relation – who also retired to Spain said Leo was a 3rd XI fixture when he started playing for the club in aged 13.

“I knew him for 60 years as a player, supporter, bar steward and committee man,” said Matthews.

“On our meetings here in Spain Leo never forgot the old club days and was, as ever, a most charming man.”

Leo Matthews died last week after contracting cancer. His funeral took place in Spain on May 31. He is survived by wife Gill. The couple had no children.