FORMER Reading CC star Martin Andersson secured his first professional contract with Middlesex CC, but is already on the move from Lord’s – albeit temporarily.

The 21-year-old all-rounder, who learned his cricket at Crosfields School and then Reading Blue Coat, has joined Derbyshire on loan for rest of the season and made his debut in the current game against Glamorgan, scoring 11 runs in the first innings.

Martin said: “This is a fantastic opportunity of playing some first-class cricket.”

He will be sad to learn that the wicket where he once starred is now under threat as Reading Hockey Club want to install another hockey pitch there.

The cricket section, whose 1st XI have just been relegated for the third year in succession, are fighting to keep the hockey people off and the on-going discussions could well get heated when the two Sonning Lane clubs meet up next week.

  • IN all my time reporting on local football, I cannot recall ever seeing a more stunning one-man show than produced by Mitchell Parker for Reading City in their 5-2 win at Binfield on Monday.

Four goals, an assist, and a couple of chances missed – he was a class act from start to finish. There wasn’t a single Binfield defender who could stop him, although it has to be said their attempts to challenge him were pretty dire.

City have made an agreement with the John Madejski Academy football section which will allow them to call on some of their talented scholars when they compete in the FA Youth Cup.

Their campaign will get underway with a first qualifying round tie against Fleet Spurs or Basingstoke at Rivermoor Stadium during the week commencing September 13.

  • READING's professional boxing referee Jeff Hinds has been announced a winner – outside of the ring.

Going under the name of De Admiral, he performed at the recent Notting Hill Carnival calypso competition and took first prize singing his own composition, The Windrush Generation, He beat four former and multiple winners in this his 33rd year in the calypso ring.

“I have been waiting for this day for a long time and I sort of expect to awake and find it is all a dream,” he said.