Brighton HAFC, Sussex CC and Sussex Sharks

The jury is sill out on Graham Potter. His reign as Brighton Head Coach began with a victory away at Watford devalued by the latter only achieving their first point at Newcastle this weekend, a draw with West ham and losses to Southampton and Manchester City.

Potter plays a more expansive style than his predecessor Chris Hughton with 3 at the back. Bizarrely he dropped Shane Duffy, player of the year last season, in the match against Manchester City in which the Seagulls were thrashed 4-0. There is still a problem in finishing – £20m striker Neale Maupay missed a sitter against City.

It all depends on the league table. Brighton are 16th. Watford look like the middle of the table side most likely to be relegated, Norwich and Aston Villa are already in the bottom three.

Potter is a thoughtful, progressive manager with a degree in leadership. Pep Guardiola praised him and Brighton for their style but I would not attach much importance to that as the final result was 4-0 to his side My view is that Hughton’s more pragmatic style of staying in the game would have been more likely to keep the Seagulls up.

The Championship is not over in the cricket. Sussex look like missing out on promotion. I have the feeling our younger players are more interested in the T20.

Sussex Sharks have already qualified as champions of the Southern Division despite losing on the last ball against Gloucestershire last Friday and have a home quarter final tie this Friday against Worcestershire Rapids to whom we lost in last year’s Final.

I’m enjoying T20 more for its unpredictability, superb fielding and close finishes.

We are playing Worcestershire in both the T20 and then the Championship later in the month.

It’s a welcome return for Aussie speedster Steve McGoffin, late of this parish and now in charge of the Worcester ladies team.

Around in the era of Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Mitchell Johnson, he never wore the baggie green cap but had an illustrious cricket career with Western Australia, Worcestershire and Sussex. He was particularly effective in the morning with moisture in the air bearing down the hill from the Cromwell Road End with his metronomic accuracy.

Affectionately known by all as “Trigger”, he was given our blazer by our Players Club in recognition of his services and he has emailed us that he looking forward to wearing this with pride in our section at both games.