MSJG 7/7/00
I rather shamelessly quote from my
copy of
Millers Old Leeke published in 1891
The Bowling Green
“ About 60 years ago [ 1831 ], the green
was the
scene of an exciting match. A local lawyer had matched the late Mr.
William
Goostrey, for ten pounds aside, against a crack Manchester bowler, the
green being so peculiar in its construction , that the stranger was
given
a start of seven out of twenty one. The night before the match someone,
obviously a supporter of the Manchester player, stole one of Mr.
Goostrey’s
bowls, the theft handicapping him out of the contest. Annoyed that such
an unfair advantage should have been taken, the Leek player's
hand
forgot it's cunning until his opponent had made his score fifteen to
nil
, but then his marvellous knowledge of the green asserted itself, and
getting
the “jack” he ran out an easy winner. The missing bowl was
afterwards
discovered in the (river) Churnet.”
Charles Chadwick, surgeon.
“He was a constant visitor to the
bowling green,
and was so expert that he was considered the only rival the late Mr.
Goostrey
really had.”
Clearly William was a force to be
reckoned
with on the bowling green near the ruins of Dieu-la-cresse Abbey, Leek.
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