Steve Atkinson
KIEVITERS AROUND THE WORLD
The most powerful people-connecting mechanism of our time???
Having worked in the technology industry (Albeit as a 'slightly' up market time-to-pay-up henchman) for the last 8 years I have witnessed at first hand the growth and growth of the Internet or the World Wide Web (WWW). This amazing tool has allowed us to stay in touch with people from disparate parts of the globe, and 'chat' to people in real time as if they were in the next room. But is the WWW the most powerful people connector on the planet?
Recently, due to business commitments I jetted off to Hong Kong for a month. Naturally enough when visiting a new place for the first time I visited our friend the WWW and typed in 'Hong Kong' and 'Cricket', well you have to get your priorities right !! I found that whilst relatively small, the game was alive and kicking and that there would be competitive matches being played during my stay. Marvellous! Put another bottle of San Miguel in the fridge, I'm on my way!
Having made tentative contact with the 1st XI captain of Hong Kong Cricket Club I headed for the ground to watch a game between the two main clubs in the territory, HKCC and Kowloon Cricket Club. As I neared the end of my first San Mig sitting in the sunshine I became aware of a tall lean man standing just to my left watching the match. Hmmmm…possibly a little old to be the first XI captain I was looking for, but he may know him, I'll ask.
"Excuse me, do you know Martin Lever?" "Aye, he's just off to the bar to get me a Boddington's! He'll be back in a minute. Do you play cricket here then? "I was struck immediately by the guy's warmth and friendliness coming out through a smiling face. I explained that I was just visiting HK with a view to a permanent move out there and that I played my cricket in Holland.
"I know a bit about Dutch cricket" said the stranger, "Which Club do you play for? ". "Oh you probably won't have heard of us, we're a small little club really, we're called De Kieviten". The stranger's smile turned to a beam …………."I used to play for De Kieviten!!! What's your name son?” "Jamie O'Sullivan" "Nice to meet you Jamie. I'm Steve. Steve Atkinson. Let me get you another beer". This was to be the first in a long line of beers that Steve and I were to share over the coming 3 weeks.
So, all the way to Hong Kong to bump into another Kievit on my first trip outside the hotel!! All the same, the name Steve Atkinson meant nothing to me. None of my current team mates would have been around in the 80's when he was playing. Except maybe one! A quick text to Jan Willem was met with an immediate reply. 'The Steve Atkinson ?' I guess so. 'Played for Kieviten, HCC, Holland, Minor Counties and Durham….and a great bloke too' Blimey! This bloke could obviously seriously play!! It was already evident that he was a good bloke, but over the next three weeks it was to become very clear that he was indeed a GREAT bloke.
As the conversation continued with Steve it became obvious that there was no real cross-over between 'his' Kieviten and 'mine', however you could sense he still held affection for the club similar to my own. Some names however did come up that I did recognise. Within minutes of our conversation beginning the name Chris Fletcher was brought up. "Hang on, that's a name I do know" I said. "He came back to the club last year to play in the SGS game. He works at Sussex CCC in the shop I think" Steve was beaming again. "I used to live with Fletch! Top lad !" The only other name I recognised was Dave Hardy as Steve again spoke with much affection.
Steve introduced me to his wife, Gay, and the drinks continued to flow. In fact, by the time Steve and I fell out of Hong Kong Cricket Club in the wee hours it is fair to say that neither of these Kievits were fit to fly!!!
Next day my girlfriend Lisa arrived and Steve hosted us both at Kowloon Cricket Club (His home Club). We watched his son Jamie keeping wicket as KCC played Bangkok (Beats Bijlmer against Jai Swadesh!!). Jamie is 15 and an excellent prospect. He already opens the batting and keeps for the 1st XI at KCC and plays for Hong Kong u17's and Durham juniors during the summer. After the match Atko's hospitality continued as he provided the drinks (You are not allowed to buy drinks unless you are a member in these clubs!) and took us to a banqueting room out the back for a fine feed of curry!!
Over the remaining time of my stay I spent many more happy hours with Atko drinking and watching cricket, before my trip culminated in us spending 2 fantastic days together at the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament (Note here - If you ever get the chance to attend this event - GO !!!). Enough alcohol to embarrass a brewery was drunk during the 2 days, there were many wagers, and on occasions some games of rugby even broke out!!!
I left the next day with many fond memories of the friend I had made and also amazed that even when travelling three quarters of the way around the world I had still bumped into another Kievit.
So to return to the question! Is the WWW the greatest people connecting mechanism of our time? Well possibly….but possibly not.
Ladies and Gentlemen I give you the WKW!!! The World Kievit Web!!!! Further reaching and far more powerful than it's little internet brother!!
FORZA Kieviten
Sully Jamie.osullivan@Polycom.com (Kieviten coach 2001 & 2002) (Kieviten player 2001-2006)
Steve’s stats on CricInfohttp://content-usa.cricinfo.com/hongkong/content/player/24180.html
