Almanac Books Launch: ‘A View from Fine Leg’ by ‘Citrus’ Bob Utber

 

 

 

 

 

One of the unmitigated joys of writing for Footy Almanac is the oversight provided by the kindly group of like-minded editorial souls who happily publish pretty much anything that is not libellous and/or in contravention of the AFL’s zealous enforcement of the exclusivity of its photographic ownership entitlements.

 

Another such joy, albeit a somewhat rarer one, is one we all feel vicariously when one of our writer colleagues has a book published.

 

Not sure what the Latin for it is but “if other colleagues can get stuff published then there’s hope for me yet” is the sentiment that overtakes your present junior woodchuck writer at these times. The launch of ‘Citrus’ Bob Utber’s A View from Fine Leg in Mildura last Thursday was one such occasion.

 

Now, unless you’re starting from Gol Gol or Red Cliffs, Mildura is a goodly distance from anywhere else you’d care to start. Clue here for those playing at home, the six-hour trip from Geelong to Mildura on the Sunraysia Highway includes two convenient stops. The Avoca Cafe does passable sausage rolls while the Birchip Café does coffee to die for and yummy home-made yo-yo biscuits.

 

However, despite the distance, it was over two years since my last visit to old mate Bruce Holden, aka the Golden Holden, for the 2022 Mildura Cup as recorded in my report at the time.  Another visit therefore seemed well overdue. This apt nickname was cruelly bestowed upon Bruce shortly after his arrival at the Newtown & Chilwell cricket club when – err umm – his first two innings didn’t bother the scorer.

 

“What’s this book called?” he enquires.

 

“A View from Fine Leg.”

 

“Oh yeah,” he continues. “There are three quite separate and distinct types who field at fine leg. The first is your gun fast bowler resting between overs who has a return to the ‘keeper throw with both the trajectory and speed of a one-iron fairway shot.

 

“The second is your weakest fielder if only because he usually has ample time to get a good line of sight on where the ball is travelling.

 

“And the third is your young kid who has finished his junior grade cricket in the morning and is thrilled to be a fill-in for a late scratching in the senior team. He will sprint from one end of the ground to the other between overs all afternoon just to ensure fine leg remains his exclusive domain.”

 

When Citrus Bob later advises he is an erstwhile member of this third group, Bruce glances at me sideways with a smug “I tipped it Butch” smile.

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, about fifty family, local ABC listeners, other Almanackers and assorted friends had gathered down the Toorak end of Deakin Avenue for the big occasion.

 

In his welcome to the launch, John Harms delivers his very best Helen of Troy cameo as the face that launched a thousand books (sic). He introduces Bob as the bloke in the lemon shoes and orange pants with light-coloured jacket and refers to many aspects of Bob’s rich cricket history including his contact with numerous cricketing identities such as his good mate Henry Blofeld.

 

“Strewth,” whispers Bruce. “This bloke rubs shoulders with cricketing journalism royalty.”

 

For his own part, Bob amuses the crowd with the sort of cricket anecdotes that only cricket can produce. A quick glance at the chapter titles captures hints of these stories but also contains eclectic references to COVID and the Voice referendum. This is plainly not your run of the mill cricket book and memoir. It is certainly one I very much look forward to reading in the coming weeks.

 

There is, perhaps, one other editorial comment that doesn’t seem to belong naturally anywhere else herein. Kate Birrell’s front cover painting above is an absolute ripper.

 

 

 

 

After JTH’s mischievous reference to Bob’s advancing years with a suggestion he would surely have other works in progress before he reaches his century, Bob calmly replies he does have one particular work “with a lot of rough edges” in progress about a notional footy team of AFL/VFL players with Murray River connections. It seems it may be some time though before JTH has to hone his craft for that launch.

 

Formalities successfully put to bed, Bruce and I had worked up quite an appetite so it’s off to the local Chinese. Lemon grass chilli chicken for him; garlic prawns and vegetables for me.

 

 

 

 

“Tell me again mate, how many runs did you make in your third dig?”

 

 

Copies of A View from Fine Leg may be ordered by emailing Bob: [email protected]

 

More from Roger Lowrey can be read Here

 

 

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