A relatively recent recruit to Goresbrook colours, Danny joined as a result of a connection forged as his son DG jnr made his way into the Colts set-up. Danny had been badgering Keith Maund for a game for several months when an opportunity arose as the 4's were short enough to also have to drag a one legged Dave Whisker out of retirement to join a lad & dads XI against Leyton County 2's.

It was apparent from the outset, as Danny took 2-20 after being introduced midway through the innings, that he was a bowler capable of performing at a higher level, albeit he possibly he needed a few more weeks to get up to speed with playing league cricket.

The selection committee agreed with half of that anyway, promoting him to the 3's the very next week to play against Champions elect Tennyson, where Danny's 9 overs 2 for 70 showed that he was not a man to shirk a challenge.

After 4 games in his first year, Danny played more regularly, mostly in the 4's, the following season before a switch to the Mid-Essex league saw him fully bitten by the cricket bug as opposed to the threat of being bitten by a stray dog at various east London parks.

He first became Keith Maund's sidekick (a kind of Eric Morecambe to Keith's Ernie Wise) in 2014 in the title winning 4's and then followed up by becoming Brad Winsley's right-hand man in the 3's in 2015, which given Brad's attendance record meant that he skippered the side for much of that campaign.

The 3's 2nd promotion and Brad's desire to push into the 2's meant that Danny was elected 3's skipper for the 2016 season and a third successive promotion is likely to result in a further term for strawberry blonde bomber in 2017.

As under 15's manager, Danny is well placed to bring through the future stars of Goresbrook cricket into the 3's to join a nucleus of old-heads Marv, Richie, Matt Jones, Keith Friend and on occasion Jo Wilkinson, so Danny is also well versed in making 2 competent fielders go a long way.

With the ball Danny's performances have gone from strength to strength, his 32 wicket haul from 2016 making him the leading league wicket taker in the club, as he approaches bowling as he does most tasks, with absolute commitment and a frightening intensity, qualities that have made him the ideal man to take-over from the meticulous Terry King as Club Secretary.

His strike rate is impressive at any level and it's somewhat surprising as a man with a fast bowlers mentality (he's not afraid to slip the odd bouncer in on a hard deck) that he hasn't managed to take the new ball with much success. It is however becoming clear that Danny is merely following in an illustrious line of Goresbrook captain/bowlers for whom the smell of tail-end blood is a signal to get loose and introduce themselves for some prime-time wicket taking action.

With the bat, Danny has bludgeoned (the only appropriate word for a man who holds the bat like a blunt instrument) three fifties a self-promotion to open the innings on a shirtfront at Southchurch Park last year (admittedly in a chronic batsman shortage), resulted in the highest partnership of 2016, a stand of 188 with Ben Irving.

Off the pitch, Danny has joined the club's committee and is a loyal supporter of club social events, although after backing up Keith and Brad, he considers his third wingman role, that of Joe Curley's responsible roommate, a step too far.

Batting

Name	Apps	Inns	NO	Ducks	DNB	Outs	Runs	4s	6s	50s	100s	Avge	Best
D Gillham Snr	74	40	15	5	34	25	485	56	11	3	0	19.40	67

Bowling

Name	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts	Econ	Str Rate	Ave	Best
D Gillham Snr	471.4	75	1,592	122	3.38	23.2	13.05	6-6

Fielding

37 catches

BASICS
Tekkers: Right arm fast-medium non-opening bowler, RH bat/axewielder
Name: Danny Gillham
GCC Number: 345
Age: 40
Job:IT Consultant
Hobbies: Golf, Technology

QUICKFIRE
Favourite Football Team: Fulham

Favourite Music: Anything I can sing to, Coldplay, Take That, Westlife
Favourite Movie: Back to the Future
Favourite TV Show: Breaking Bad
Favourite Holiday Destination: Cyprus
Favourite Meal: Calamari followed by steak
Favourite Drink: Taddy Lager (A Samuel Smith's product...)
Who would play you in the film of your life: Danny didn't nominate anybody, which is always dangerous. Therefore we suggest Gary Busey

GORESBROOK
When did you make your Goresbrook debut? - 21st July 2012 v Leyton County 2s (Danny took a very creditable 2-20 from 8 overs as promotion chasing County were restricted to 162-8 by the 4's. He then made 3 as the 4's fell 101 runs short...)

Describe your Goresbrook career in 10 words or less. Breathless, intense, busy, life changing, emotional.

Who is your favourite GCC Teammate (current or retired) & why? Got to be Keith Maund, gave me my debut and is just a decent bloke.

Most memorable game(s)?- v Noak Hill Taverners 2s in August 2012. I faced the last ball of our innings and hit a six before taking 6-6 in 18 balls.

Which GCC player do you hate facing in the nets? Craig Ivey as he loves to make use of the solid wooden floor and always targets my head.

What’s the best thing about Goresbrook CC? The social aspect of the club. Made some really good mates in a short space of time and the family orientation of the club, my kids feel just as at home as I do.

CRICKET

What other clubs/XI's have you played for?- St Thomas's (Waltham Abbey)

All-time cricketing hero? Merv Hughes

Favourite cricket ground & why? To watch - Lord's, simply the best. To play, I love East Hanningfield and Great Burstead.

Describe the best catch you have ever taken? Probably the full length diving forwards effort in the covers in fading light against someone at the back end of the 2015 season.

Best player played against? As I have only played regularly for the last few years its difficult to say really. (I would have thought it was easier given the sample you are choosing from is smaller than for somebody who has played for 30 years, but if you can't be bothered....)

MISCELLANEOUS

Best sporting achievement outside cricket? County U18 football cap for Middlesex and playing for Barnet FC youth team.

Where would you live if money was no object? San Juan Capistrano. (small town in Orange County, California renowned for it's Spanish architecture. Danny wins the prize for most obscure answer to a GCC questionnaire)

What would you rescue first if your house was on fire? Tegan followed by Danny.

Give us a sporting tip for 2017? India to win the ICC Champions Trophy.

Tell us something about yourself that nobody at Goresbrook knows? Following all day in a London pub watching England v Malta in 2000, I decided to copy Richard Wright's penalty save in the street, I only succeeded in head butting the kerb and ending up at St Thomas's hospital with a huge gash on my forehead. Co-incidentally, my grandmother was in the same hospital recovering from an operation just one floor above me.