Travis Townsend: A Gooner With High Expectations Of A Successful Season At HCC

He seems full of enthusiasm and is determined to do well in what will be an exciting year at Heywood Cricket Club.

However, John Ogden and others, he’s a staunch Gooner and will not take on board your advice to become a Red. That makes me even more optimistic about him.

Have a read. I hope and believe we’ll find him a cracking pro and a good lad, as his former clubs will testify to.

HCC: How much are you looking forward to coming to Heywood and what do you expect from your time at the club?

Travis Townsend: This year promises to be an exciting one at Heywood. I have to admit that I am looking forward to this trip more than most. My expectations for my time at the club are simple; score as many runs as possible, contribute as much as I can with the ball and be a positive influence on and off the field.

I would hope that with good preparation and a positive mentality we can push for league honours.

HCC: What goals have you set yourself for the coming season?

TT: From a performance point of view, I would like to be one of the leading run-getters in the league, whether that means getting consistent scores or providing the team match-winning contributions than so be it.

Just as long as I can walk away from the season proud of what I and the team have achieved.

HCC: How much coaching are you planning to do? What difference do you think you can make to the club’s many talented youngsters?

TT: As an overseas player I understand the influence you can have on the younger players at the club. I want to provide 1-1 skill sessions during my stay so that these youngsters can start making progress into the first team and perhaps even higher honours in the not too distant future.

Being an overseas player comes with responsibilities on and off the field and being proactive in the development of the club’s younger players is high on my agenda

HCC: Tell us a little bit about your background, your family, where you were brought up, your favourite football team, sporting hero, age, school, top-flight players you have played with etc.

TT: I am an only child, born and bred in Cape Town. I attended SACS (School) and University of Cape Town (University) with whom I got my degree. I have represented Western Province at Academy and Senior levels.

I am a staunch Arsenal supporter, watching United crush us 8-2 at Old Trafford almost killed me (I was at the game that day). I will categorically state this now, I will never support Manchester United!

My sporting heroes are Sachin Tendulkar and Thierry Henry. I’m 26 and I have played with Richard Levi, Charl Langeveldt and played against Imran Tahir, Ashwell Prince and JP Duminy to name a few.

HCC: How have you been doing in cricket back in SA this year? What was it like getting back in the state team?

TT: My performances have been good without really achieving the goals I had set out for myself. I am incredibly hard on myself when it comes to performances and this year could have been better. However, I am still amongst the leading run scorers in WPCA Premier league and through these performances I was called back into provincial cricket. As you well know the game didn’t go very well, but I am doubly determined to turn that disappointment into success for the forth coming season.

From a provincial point of view, I have now firmly turned my attention to a career in the UK. In between my commitments to the club I will hopefully be trialing with a few counties. I have had successful trials in the past, but unfortunately the timing of the trials wasn’t right, hopefully this year will be my year. Whilst saying this, my responsibilities lie first and foremost with Heywood CC.

HCC: What do you know about the CLL and Lancashire cricket in general? Have you any friends who have played here?

TT: From what I have seen, the CLL looks a very competitive league. Lancashire cricket has a reputation as being a challenging one and it was this reason that first attracted me.

I played half a season at Northern Cricket Club in the Liverpool and District Competition and although I was reasonably happy with my time there, I always felt that I would like a full season in a Lancashire Premier Competition.

I look forward to the challenge that a new environment will bring and the cricketing experiences that will come from a season in the CLL.

HCC: What if anything are your early impressions about the club?

TT: Heywood looks like a well-organised and well-followed club. A friend of mine played a game for Heywood last year, Martin Walters, as a sub-pro and he had nothing but kind words to say about the team, the club and the facilities.

He did, however, warn me about how much running between wickets I should expect to be doing due to the size of the field.

HCC: How have you enjoyed your experiences of playing in England in previous seasons?

TT: I always enjoy coming to England! My mother is English, so I suppose you can say the country is in my blood. I have had varied experiences with clubs. Some fighting relegation and losing, whilst last year I won three trophies (league, limited overs and 20/20).

I would like to do a bit more travelling during the week this year and hopefully take advantage of an incredibly hot and dry summer!

HCC: What would you class as a successful season for you and the club?

TT: Winning the league would be fantastic and having a good run in the cup. However, if we don’t win trophies I hope that we are seen as a side that plays good cricket and produces quality players within Lancashire.

Seeing our side do well as a whole is far more important than me scoring a mountain of runs. If we can have them both than that is what I would class as a successful season