Essex Outfielder : The Unofficial Essex CCC Forum

Cricket => Essex Second XI => Topic started by: vim on January 14, 2026, 09:50:50 AM

Title: Don Topley Cricket Festival cancelled
Post by: vim on January 14, 2026, 09:50:50 AM
Don Topley ran a children's Cricket festival at the school where he works. He announced it will not now be taking place due to rising costs.

Was it due to safeguarding? And the same situation with Deregulation and directives from the EU. That they are implemented by people, who go far further, then what they were told was required. The same with the racism complaints in the club. An investigation was required. But not at the scope, that was carried out.
Title: Re: Don Topley Cricket Festival cancelled
Post by: Slogger on January 14, 2026, 12:37:58 PM
I know Don, his style and his opinions, aren't especially popular on here but I always thought this activity was praiseworthy. It's hard to know what has happened. It looks like new ownership at the school wasn't so keen to help an ex employee and the ECB weren't interested. Maybe youngsters from Shropshire, Northumberland and Berkshire don't tick the inner city box? As my lad said last nighr, a young lad in Hackney has far more scope than a young lad in Great Yarmouth.
Title: Re: Don Topley Cricket Festival cancelled
Post by: nat on January 14, 2026, 12:51:13 PM
I've always wondered how DT funds his lifestyle. Is his family historically wealthy?
Title: Re: Don Topley Cricket Festival cancelled
Post by: kingstonj1 on January 14, 2026, 01:07:18 PM
I've always wondered how DT funds his lifestyle. Is his family historically wealthy?

No but Reece is.
Title: Re: Don Topley Cricket Festival cancelled
Post by: vim on January 14, 2026, 02:36:05 PM
There was an article in Wisden Cricketer about Don Topley putting his father's medals out to loan to a museum. His father was a Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Navy. The medals were an impressive bunch, and very valuable.
Title: Re: Don Topley Cricket Festival cancelled
Post by: Andy on January 14, 2026, 02:43:12 PM
Before the Boomers on here go red in the face it could be that someone did not do their job properly at the school and have pulled it because they do not want to bother?  The racism issue at ECCC is a different thing to equate the two is not correct. 
Title: Re: Don Topley Cricket Festival cancelled
Post by: essexfan548 on January 14, 2026, 03:15:12 PM
Don Topley ran a children's Cricket festival at the school where he works. He announced it will not now be taking place due to rising costs.

Was it due to safeguarding? And the same situation with Deregulation and directives from the EU. That they are implemented by people, who go far further, then what they were told was required. The same with the racism complaints in the club. An investigation was required. But not at the scope, that was carried out.

He has worked out he can earn more talking rubbish on the radio.
Title: Re: Don Topley Cricket Festival cancelled
Post by: Oldhasbeen on January 14, 2026, 06:44:44 PM
Don Topley ran a children's Cricket festival at the school where he works. He announced it will not now be taking place due to rising costs.

Was it due to safeguarding? And the same situation with Deregulation and directives from the EU. That they are implemented by people, who go far further, then what they were told was required. The same with the racism complaints in the club. An investigation was required. But not at the scope, that was carried out.

He has worked out he can earn more talking rubbish on the radio.
And  let's be fair, talking rubbish is something our Don is pretty damn good at.
Title: Re: Don Topley Cricket Festival cancelled
Post by: Andy on January 14, 2026, 08:18:20 PM
Don Topley ran a children's Cricket festival at the school where he works. He announced it will not now be taking place due to rising costs.

Was it due to safeguarding? And the same situation with Deregulation and directives from the EU. That they are implemented by people, who go far further, then what they were told was required. The same with the racism complaints in the club. An investigation was required. But not at the scope, that was carried out.

FACT!

He has worked out he can earn more talking rubbish on the radio.
And  let's be fair, talking rubbish is something our Don is pretty damn good at.
Title: Re: Don Topley Cricket Festival cancelled
Post by: bwildered on January 21, 2026, 11:45:02 AM
 Whatever the views on his commentaries, it was an opportunity for younger players to play cricket in festival conditions which must have been applauded, so a great opportunity lost in the development of young cricketers.
Title: Re: Don Topley Cricket Festival cancelled
Post by: vim on January 21, 2026, 12:18:37 PM
Don Topley, despite his faults, is harmless. Which cannot be said of other ex players in the media.
Title: Re: Don Topley Cricket Festival cancelled
Post by: essexfan548 on January 21, 2026, 03:41:01 PM
Don Topley, despite his faults, is harmless. Which cannot be said of other ex players in the media.

No, he shouts his negative views of Essex far too often - cannot listen to him. He and Anthony Gibson should never be allowed near a microphone.
Title: Re: Don Topley Cricket Festival cancelled
Post by: Andy on January 22, 2026, 11:42:06 AM
Don Topley, despite his faults, is harmless. Which cannot be said of other ex players in the media.

No, he shouts his negative views of Essex far too often - cannot listen to him. He and Anthony Gibson should never be allowed near a microphone.

As long as the microphone is not connected to any broadcast device they can sit together in a room and pontificate as much as they like.