All members and players at the club were deeply saddened to learn of the death last week of Chris Sprott. Latterly, he was the club's Honorary President but held most offices during his time at the club as well as being a long term player. Details of the funeral can be found here:
https://www.legacy.com/uk/obituaries/scotsman-uk/name/william-sprott-obituary?id=56240378
Personal testimonies from two club stalwarts are given below which give a good sense of Chris and his contribution to the club.
From Kenny Skidmore:
"Chris was a huge part of Boroughmuir Cricket Club for several decades spanning the 1950s through to the 2020s, having served as a player, club captain, club President and numerous committee and ancillary roles both official and unofficial.
In the late 1960s as the club struggled for players, it went into hibernation, but due to the efforts of Chris and his contemporaries Ian Welsh and Ian Mackenzie (amongst others) the club was resurrected and indeed thrived. For a period as the club was in abeyance, Chris played for Mitre (later Edinburgh South). Chris was integral in the recruitment of young players from Boroughmuir School. I joined the club in 1977 along with others such as Roy Davie, Jimmy Anton and the Stewart brothers, later to be joined by Nigel Binnie, the Docherty brothers and the Davis brothers. For a time the school provided a steady stream of players, all initially driven by Chris’s enthusiasm and hard work. In his time with the club, Chris filled most roles – captain, coach, secretary, president, player recruitment and many more besides. I can vividly remember being chauffeured around to games, nets etc by Chris in my early days with the club.
Chris was a very decent batsman and keeper who had a long and distinguished playing career, playing a key role in the club’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 1976. He retired from playing in 1987 due to ill health but thereafter became a loyal supporter of the club. Chris always took a keen interest in the club’s performances and was a frequent visitor to Meggetland on match days. His personal quirk involved him strolling round the boundary clockwise if Boroughmuir were batting, anti-clockwise if we were fielding.
Chris Sprott’s contribution to Boroughmuir Cricket Club cannot be overstated. For me, Chris was the beating heart of the club, supporting it during thick and thin in so many ways. The club has lost a person who was the link between its very first days - Chris was the last person to play with any of the players who formed the club in 1926 - and the present day. Last year Adrian Sprott, Chris’s son and a fine cricketer and footballer in his own right sadly passed away, an event which had a profound effect on Chris.
Rest in Peace Chris. On behalf of everyone involved with Boroughmuir Cricket Club, past and present, thank you for your labours, love and commitment to our club. You will be sadly missed."
From Keith Docherty:
"Chris was an important figure in my teenage years.
I was struggling at school and needed to find some direction in life.
He had arranged a few games for a Boroughmuir ‘Colts’ team, & his enthusiasm helped focus me on sport and learning about cricket.
The rules, teamwork, respect & preparation were all new to me & he enthused me with the game.
My very first match for Boroughmuir Colts was not a success (against Stew Mel) -I was bowled first ball!
I was devastated, but he very kindly took me aside & explained that every cricket player gets a golden duck, and I was clever to get mine out of the way early!
I played a few times with him, before he retired from playing in 1987 (when I was 17).
I do remember his last wicket for the Club -a caught and bowled. The ball had been driven back at him & because of his age he couldn’t bend down, so he kicked his legs out and fell on the ball taking a clean catch.
Funny how these things stick in your memory.
But he visited Meggetland a lot after that & was always very supportive of both Boroughmuir & my cricket, especially when I had the privilege of Captaining the first team. He always made a point of finding out my bowling figures and congratulated me on taking wickets.
He enjoyed every Boroughmuir win & if he wasn’t in attendance, checked the results in the paper on a Monday.
In the early 2000’s when we had a very strong team he marvelled at how the game had changed from the low scoring matches from his era. He took great enjoyment from seeing our former youth players doing so well & staying at the Club.
He also took the time to meet and speak to new players.
When I did manage the most surprising of achievements -a century for the Club, he was almost as pleased about it as I was, nearly shaking my arm off.
I was struck by how proud he was about it, I suppose he too remembered the little boy upset at his first (but not last!) golden duck.
A gentle, kind soul that we were fortunate to meet & it is our loss that he has now passed.
His contribution to my & many others lives cannot be underestimated -not just because of Boroughmuir Cricket Club that he served faithfully for so long, but for the warmth and humility that I will always associate with him.
Thank you Chris."
Our thoughts are with Marion and his family.