Geoff MacLeod-Smith - Fingletoads

Our worthy recipient of the Love of the Game Award for this newsletter is Geoff MacLeod-Smith of the Auckland University Fingletoads. Often known as Hyphen (it is easier to remember and say than MacLeod-Smith), Geoff has been a regular to the Vintage Cricket Carnivals having played in Adelaide, Perth and Barbados.

Geoff, a displaced Englishman, for a number of reasons (principally marriage) has made his home in Auckland, New Zealand. Geoff learned his cricket at school in England at Stowe and at Limpsfield Cricket Club in Surrey.  Upon eventually graduating, he played for the Stowe Templars, some games for Kent Club and Ground, the MCC and other Kent wandering teams before moving to Reno, Nevada.

Upon arrival in the Land of the Free, Geoff joined another MCC- (near San Francisco) and drove 220 miles from Reno every weekend to get a game. Geoff worked hard to form the Colorado Cricket Association in Denver before being overwhelmed with affection and emigrating to New Zealand with his Kiwi wife, Sandie and joined University of Auckland Cricket Club.

In a career that has featured strange cricket in some strange places, Geoff played for a California Cricket team in his only international match against a Tonga X1 at Nukualofa in front of about 2,000 spectators close to the Kings Palace. The game came to a halt when the King of Tonga drove by complete with motorcade as both teams lined up to pay their respects.

On a tour with Northern California, Geoff played at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club during a Horse Racing Meet which about 10,000 Thais had come to support. The game had to stop every time the horses came into the home straight not only because of the huge crowd noise but also as a number of the players had money at stake too!

Geoff's Denver club was the first to play on a mat in the region instead of extremely dangerous grass wickets. The club procured half a mat from Marin Cricket Club who were upgrading theirs. The bowlers only bowled from one end-easier than moving the mat. Geoff managed to field cover point for entire games without having to move-a habit that some people would suggest he has not shaken as he still manages not to move in the field!

Geoff is a well-respected and fantastic tourist with Fingletoads Cricket teams.

Photos: (top) Geoff at the Golden Cross Pub in Ardens Grafton, Warwickshire during the Startford Vintage Carnival.

(bottom) Geoff (red shirt) with fellow Fingletoads at the Empire CC in Barbados.