Hubby’s greatest day was with bat and ball
Penalty King led Prestwick to revered title glory
He is revered as a Rangers legend and was known to all as the Penalty King.
But remarkably, Johnny Hubbard always insisted that one of his greatest sporting achievements wasn’t at Ibrox... it came at Prestwick Cricket Club.
In 1972, Hubby captained the Oval team to the Glasgow & District League title, the first major honour in their history.
He said later: “I have had many proud moments in my sporting life and the year 1972 when Prestwick won the league must rank as one of the best.”
The 50th anniversary dawns next year and Prestwick members are keen to mark the occasion with plans for a reunion being explored.
Sadly, many of that famous team are no longer with us, including Johnny who died three years ago at the age of 87.
Others such as prolific wicket taker and former school teacher Alan Appleby, who now lives in Canada, are enjoying retirement.
The title was clinched with a stunning ten wicket win over Motherwell at the now-named Henry Thow Oval.
John Leven (6-19) and Appleby (4-20) cleaned up between them to dismiss the visitors for only 44. Laurie Bankhead, another who has sadly departed, scored an unbeaten 42 as ‘Wick raced to victory at 45-0.
Honorary president Tommy Halpin, a club stalwart for 45 years, claimed: “Bankhead is one of the best amateur cricketers ever to play in the West of Scotland.
“That title win was an amazing achievement and it was the kick start for the club to make progress and become one of the better clubs in Scotland.
“It gave us the drive and ambition to go on and sustain that level of success.”
Prestwick, playing as Ayrshire, went on to win the Scottish Counties Championship in 1990 and 1991 with David Haggo as captain.
They were Scottish League First Division champions in 1999 and 2002 before their biggest triumph in 2017 when they became the first west side to be crowned Scottish Grand Finalist winners.
Shahzad Rafiq, who skippered that team, is the club’s new president with Gareth Picken elected as vice-president at the recent AGM.
Fraser Macdonald, who led the team to a third place finish in the West Premier last season, continues as 1st XI captain with Sachin Chaudhary the new vicecaptain. Matthew Morgan will skipper the St Ninians XI while Robbie Marx becomes vice-captain.
The club are in talks with an overseas amateur, who is based in Australia, as they begin to lay plans for the next campaign.
That win was an amazing achievement and the kick start for the club to make progress