There was only one Dougie Fricker

Dave Smith , the former chairman of the old British Gas Sports & Social Club in Albert Road, recalled the man known throughout the cribbage league.

“If you talk to anybody in the crib league, they all knew Dougie,” said the 66-year-old.

“He had a very hard life and he was paralysed down one side. But he was a character.

“He’d walk in the club and people would say ‘hello Dougie, how are you?’ and he’d turn round and say ‘mind your own f****** business ’.”

The British Gas club was located on the bank of the River Itchen.

“It was only six feet away from the water’s edge,” explained Smith. “A lot of the members used to come there on a Saturday night and set their fishing rods up.”

Smith now turns out for Nursling Social A, the former BAT A side, along with husband and wife Richard and Jan Cross.

Richard, who was joined by Jan in the Testwood WMC team, said: “Janet was fed up with me going out. And, it’s fair to say, she’s a far better crib player than I am.”

While Jan added: “We’re not particularly competitive. It’s more of an evening out. Obviously, we like to win. Of course we do.”

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