One or two of the hired hands were very useful but for a more regular player, Cliff Cavener takes a lot of beating. He had a nice smooth run up, a high delivery, moved the ball and was very accurate. Perhaps not quite fast enough to be a great wicket taker but he was nevertheless a real handful to bat against.

Stuart Cradock:

Cliff Cavener is the best seam bowler I have seen play for Hertford. He had a smooth approach to the wicket with an economical action which enabled him to generate a fair amount of pace and when coupled with hostility made him a handful to play. I was particularly impressed with the movement off the seam he achieved whenever I was playing for Southgate and had to face him. He earned my respect as a fellow pace bowler.

David Williams:

Hertford has produced very few out and out quick bowlers and Stuart Cradock was easily the best in my time. We also have had a couple of quick visitors, in both senses, in Ali Johnson ('95) and Robbie Joseph. Our strength has been with fast medium swing / seam bowlers, ranging from Gordon Swannell, Roger Kent and Mike Watson, via Chris Thompson, Nick Bancroft, Paul Kitteringham and Cliff Cavener, to Chris Box, Scott Ruskin (in his early days) and Tom Bancroft, not forgetting Don Marshall. In the end for me it is between Chris Thompson and Nick Bancroft and despite Nick's all 10 and every "for" below, I am plumping for Chris - not for his longevity but for his 680 1st XI wickets whilst in his pomp.

Ben Currie:

Chris Box.

Elliot King:

Anyone but Rob Slater, to be fair.

Ian Harris:

I vote for myself. Will Ray will vouch for me.

Will Ray (in response to Ian Harris):

Yeah, best seamer... to end a game quickly.

Jamie Riddle:

15 year old James Mead!

Chris Thompson:

For me it has to be Roger “Biggles” Kent. With his circumpheral run up back in the day and the fast arm action he certainly surprised a few batsmen. Has stamina as shown by him bowling 15 overs or more on the bounce at Singapore Cricket Club. Honourable mentions of course to Cliffy, Mick Watson and Phil Osgood . Also, cannot remember his surname but Steve the Yorkshireman during Malcolm’s era as captain could bowl a fair bit!

Mo Niz:

Well I have played only one season for HCC 1st XI (2008) and have played with quite a few seamers. Chris Box, James Mead, Mitchell Perry, Rob Slater among four of them. James had good movement of the ball and I loved Rob’s pace. Both were future prospects during those days. I was glad to be a part of the 2008 team.

Jim Riddle:

No doubt about it Cliff followed by Roger. Cliff varied his pace and on a wicket that suited him, he was virtually unplayable. His in-swinging yorker was the best I have seen in any cricket. I would say he is the best all rounder (batting, bowler, fielder) Hertford have ever had, certainly the best I have ever played with.

Cliff Cavener:

Allison Johnson best by country mile. He had real pace and bounce and had batsmen running for the hills. He even had the audacity to name his cricket bat “Suzy”.

Paul Williams (in response to Cliff Cavener):

I'm with you, even though I only played a couple of times with him. I watched a few times whilst injured as well. Only bowler we've had better than you.

Allison Johnson (in response to Cliff Cavener):

Suzy gave many sinners a stiff neck. Actually one of the best shots at our grounds was with Suzy - I hit a seamer over the club house.

David Rowe:

I'm hoping Cliff is happy with his level of nomination on this one. The combination of Craddock, Kent and Watson takes some beating. Got to nominate Roger for bowling ability and services to the fine city of Porto. I would also like to give a further nomination to Fred Arnold.

Paul Williams:

Around 30 years ago, we had an incredible bunch of seamers play for the club. The legend that is Cliff Cavener, Simon Cousins and two who sadly left us far too early, Mike Hogue, from New Zealand, and Dominic Fox. However, probably the best I played with, albeit for only a very few matches, was Allison Johnson. I don’t think he played even half a season, back in about 1991. Not a lot he couldn’t do with the ball. When all’s said and done though, two long serving legends stand out:

1. Chris Thompson who has the same awkward action now as he had when I first saw him 37 years ago and despite that is still running in and bowling as many overs as he’s allowed to. Still boring batsmen to death. Still taking wickets.
2. Roger Kent. Anyone who can regularly bowl 10 over spells whilst completely pissed and still bowl an exemplary line and length and take 2-15, almost 50 years on from when it all started, has got to be the top of the list.

John Chastell:

Honorable mentions also for Phil Osgood and Don Marshall. Both taking stacks of wickets and part of very strong 2nd XI’s.

 Graeme Riddle:

Unfortunately for me it is Cliff Cavener.

Michael Bailey:

Best one I played with was Neil Salter.

Will Ray:

Best I played with would probably have been Robbie Joseph, when he really turned it on (i.e. t20 finals day against Radlett at Harpenden - ridiculous spell). Next best would be James Leather who is getting better year on year. Last season (2019) he was unbelievable - fast and accurate. Very high short ball:wicket ratio!

Southgate Adelaide CC:

Martyn Chandler!