Why the Rampants like Ian Salisbury

Ian Salisbury was more than a little bit good when he played for Surrey. I always remember seeing him hobbling bravely into the sunset on that last championship day of the 2007 season, receiving rightful applause as he and Ramps led the victorious team off the field. Surrey hasn’t been especially lucky since then in terms of championship wins. In fact, if I held up the number of fingers representing that figure you’d probably assault me for gross impertinence.

However, Mr Salisbury seems to be something of a lucky talisman for the second team, which have done nothing but win ever since he was assigned to assist them. So, I propose cloning him. One for the second team, one to help assist with the first team, one to bowl in the first team and one to sit alongside Mark Church and Johnny Barran in the commentary box.

I mention the latter because possibly the funniest bit of radio commentary I have ever heard consisted of Churchy and Sals, in Abu Dhabi, corpsing uncontrollably for what seemed like five entire minutes with barely a pause to take in oxygen – in fact at one point I thought Churchy was going to become the first person to expire during a live radio broadcast. The fact that his Face Book page had been set up in 300BC and had about 12 fans caused an awful lot of mirth, and having discovered the existence of the Rampants (Mc/Ap/O’ and other regional variations included) Mr Salisbury decided to try and set up the Churchettes.

Now, fair’s fair. Ramps will always have his Rampants, and Churchy will always have his loyal radio followers, Churchettes or otherwise, but if for no other reason than for being a splendid sort of chap, and for reducing poor Churchy to tears of incoherent laughter, I give you the newly set up Ian Salisbury fan club:

Sali’s Army!