Dave turned down Man City and became a cricket legend

Dave Porter’s grandfather was so impressed, he bought him a bat.

That gesture eventually led to him scoring 30,000 runs for Shanklin Cricket Club alone.

There had been a few thousand more for both Westover Park and Medina before he moved to the Westhill club.

Dave, who had weighed in as a 13lb baby, was a regular in the Calbourne-based team at the age of 12 and certainly made hay with both the bat and ball in their farmer’s field.

Once their visitors had managed to even find the ground it was never an easy place to go.

Bill Brett and co were full of tricks — on and off the field.

Within a few years, this ‘burly left-hander’, as he was affectionately known in Isle of Wight village cricket circles, was feared by opponents, both as a huge hitter and dangerous bowler.

His cricket hero was Garfield Sobers — and he could win matches like the legendary West Indian.

Westover and Godshill were the kingpins of Island village cricket and there was fierce rivalry between them.

It seemed appropriate that at just 17 he scored his first century against the old enemy.

Godshill had piled up more than 200 runs in the afternoon and must have fancied their chances — until they were Porterised!

After losing an early wicket, Dave and his new partner, his younger brother Brian, did more than steady the ship.

Dave hit a century in just 16 overs. Brian, who only scored seven during that period, was just privileged to be watching big brother from the other end.

Dave was then caught on the boundary, but they went on to win the game.

Then it was all down to the Sun Inn in Calbourne to celebrate.

Dave, who also represented the Island Schools and Hampshire Grammar Schools teams, played for two seasons at Seaclose with Medina before being tempted back to Westover by their persuasive skipper, Stephen Ross, who later became the Island’s Liberal MP.

Dave Porter, an Isle of Wight cricket legend.

As a youngster, Dave was a talented all-round sportsman.

At the age of 15, he joined Newport as a goalkeeper.

In one game, he was roughed up by the centre forward, but had a tough minder in team-mate, Arnie Olive, who sorted things out before leaving the pitch!

Dave spent a while playing for a Saints youth team, that contained a certain Mick Channon.

Then he went to Swindon and played in their reserve team, alongside Ernie Hunt and Mike Summerbee.

Manager, Bert Head, told him he was too small to be a goalkeeper.

Manchester City then came in for him — and even visited him at home on the Island.

It seemed a contract was on the cards, but he turned down a month’s trial at Maine Road. City gave up and signed Joe Corrigan.

Dave Porter, an Isle of Wight cricket legend.

He once told me; “It was a big step for an Island youngster to join a major club and I think you either have to move over with your family, or really be pushed by someone.”

Instead, he became one of the Island’s greatest post-war cricketers.

Also before the age of 20, Dave became the Island billiards champion, after learning the game at the former Newbridge Working Men’s Club.

Locally, Dave enjoyed his football with several clubs, including Brighstone, West Wight and Yarmouth.

He was also a very effective centre forward for Shanklin.

Dave became an instant hit at Shanklin Cricket Club, playing to a much higher standard.

Dave Porter, front left, in the successful Shanklin team of the mid-70s.

Primarily, he only joined the Westhill club because he had moved to Sandown for his job as an estate agent.

During an interview in 1977, Dave said: “It probably would’ve come about in the end, but on reflection, I wish I’d gone earlier.”

However, Dave still missed village cricket’s social side.

It was Bill Jenkins who persuaded him to join Shanklin and they had a superb team, for which he became their all-time leading run scorer.

For a while, some local cricket enthusiasts made hurtful remarks about the team. Dave and others were not amused.

“They call us the all-Island stars, but there are few real local sides anymore,” he said.

Dave Porter was a gentleman, respected by everyone in Island cricket.

“As a club, we don’t go out to poach players. They come to us.”

Dave played for and captained the Island on many occasions.

He also played for the Hampshire Forty Club, who won the National Cup by beating Kent at Edgbaston.

When Dave retired from playing, his love for Shanklin continued.

Over the years, he had served as its chairman, a committee member and colts’ coach.

Dave was a qualified umpire and even drove the minibus for Hampshire League games on the mainland.

Last year’s memorial match at Westhill with Dave Porter's wife, Libby, his widow, sat with the teams.

In 1948, at six months’ old, Dave was taken to his first cricket match to see his father play.

The last match he saw was in 2018, when he watched a memorial game for his late father-in-law, Roley Ringer.

When Dave and his wife Libby met, it changed their lives for ever. They were together for 27 years.

Dave, who died early last year in Tenerife, was a gifted sportsman, but more than that, he was such a likeable man, admired by everyone who met him.

Dave Porter Memorial Fund helped refurbish Westhill for 2020 season.

Money raised by family, friends, club members and local businesses, in his memory, has been used to improve facilities at Westhill.

They just need some cricket to utilise them, so wouldn’t it be fitting if they could play on September 5 — the date for the annual Dave Porter Memorial Match.