HUNT BEGINS FOR LOST NICKNAME

Within any group of individuals, nicknames are commonplace. At sporting clubs this is especially true. You've got the "y" crowd - your Burnsy, your Lenny, your Proopsy, your Marshy; the "o" crowd - Mooro, Niko, Johnno. There are nicknames based on a physical or personal trait or achievement - Big Bird, the Doc, "Rowdy". There are versions of names - The Hud, Bretski, Dickie P, Samwise. There are even some based on a club position or role - Mr Chair, the CDO. Some lucky individuals are blessed with multiple nicknames - KC, the CDO, Mr Secretary, Belt'n'Braces, Grumpy Yaaaaarkshire Tw*t.

But then there are the unfortunate ones who have lost their nickname. Every club has one. These individuals can be the life and soul of the party, the glue that holds it all together, the common man or woman. And yet somehow their special "handle" has passed them by. At Tottington one such person has emerged in recent years. For the sake of anonymity we'll call him "Tom".

We asked "Tom" just what effect this is having on his cricketing experience. His reply was brutally honest:

"It's dispiriting, it really is. Everyone's got their names and their jokes and I just feel a bit left out. I've even started coming up with new nicknames for other people, but they haven't really stuck. When you're sharing a dressing room with big characters like Milk Boy, Dr Hips, DC: the Legend of Tomorrow and Tricky Nicky T-Bag it's a really full-on environment. I'll get there, I know I will, but it's hard".

"Tom" is an everyman, a good honest cricketer respected by all yet his strike rate when it comes to locating that missing nickname is disappointingly slow. His call sign has been lost. His identity is compromised. We've been searching everywhere for it with no luck to date. This weekend, on Saturday April 1st, we're going to make a massive effort and find it for him. We'll dredge the lodge, turn out the changing rooms and even investigate that mysterious hole halfway up the ballstop nets that only Sam Collins and Ry Marsh know about. Will we find it? Can the lost nickname be restored and give "Tom" back his unique identity? Only time will tell.

If you come across the lost nickname, please hand it in at the bar or you can email our dedicated information hotline - ripper_richards@tommytheslogger.com

Photos from previous searches

Did Dickie P burn it?	Was it lost in the snow?	Up on the roof?
Did Boris bury it?	Is it hiding atop the sightscreen?	We even looked in Monaco

If you, or any of your teammates have been affected by this story, please get in touch with us as soon as possible via webmaster@tsjcc.co.uk