It was twenty degrees colder than south England overnight and ten degrees colder than the Midlands and not cricket weather. Today England play Australia at the Riverside ground and am I glad I decided to watch the game on the television. The ground looks excellent and will be full after everyone has copes with the travel problems and the security arrangements. Graham Onions although selected for the one day squad gets his first game and Collingwood comes back after being rested. The commentators made the punt that although it was a blue sky bright start it was a chilly morning. England won the toss and elected to bowl which was the right thing for the Durham pitch and Anderson had a wicket before many had taken their seats and then Graham Onions got his first wicket with the total 17 and in the fourth over. More on what happened in the game after I have finished making notes from the books by Tom Moffat and Ralph Dellor
It is only twenty years ago that that the stadium was planned and not until 1996 that the first game was played and the first part of the present main pavilion building completed. Then the new Chairman Don Robson and Treasure Tom Moffat had been tipped off that Geoff Cook the retiring captain of Northants would be the man to help fashion the first team and interested in coming back North where he had roots. He agreed on a sessional and part time basis until the plans for using the six playing grounds over three years and the permanent stadium site and building programme was agreed together with the required funding had been confirmed. All this was pointless without recruiting a playing staff which could perform in the championship then a competition in which all the teams played in one division and playing the other teams at home one year and away the next. No one expected Durham to be immediately successful but equally no one wanted the team to be humiliated.
It is not known who instigated the two big signings which the club made. Dean Jones had come to England before with the Australian touring Test side but was interested in the gaining the experience of batting in English conditions and he did not disappoint scoring 100 in the first official game of the 1992 competitive season, the Sunday 1 day match which Durham won, just. The other was that of Ian Botham, past his best but still the biggest name playing in English cricket. It is also important to put the signing of Botham in context as the Kevin Keegan era was also underway, taking Newcastle back to the then first Division and to the top of the Premiership, 12 points ahead, until the end season collapse to finish second to Manchester United .
Geoff brought to together a mixture of experienced championship players with local individuals who only had experience of Minor County playing conditions. He recruited David Graveney as Captain, the nephew of the legendary Tom, both Gloucestershire men, Wayne Larkins from Northamptonshire, a club with long standing links with Durham, Phil Bainbridge from Gloucestershire, Gary Brown from Middlesex, and Paul Parker of Sussex experienced batsmen, all rounders Simon Hughes who had been to Durham University and Yorkshireman Phil Berry. plus Steve McEwen and Christopher Scott one of two wicket keepers came from Nottingham. The local men included Simon Brown born Cleadon village and playing first class cricket with Northamptonshire, Darren Blenkiron batsman although born Warwickshire was raised in Durham at Bishop Auckland the home of the Prince Bishops, John Glendening from the Boro, James “Jimmy” Daley batsman born Sunderland, Paul Henderson all rounder born Stockton, Stewart Hutton Batsman also born Stockton, Ian Smith all rounder born Chopwell, Gay Wigham all rounder born Bishop Auckland, together with John Wood, “Woody” all rounder born Yorkshire but yet to play first class cricket. Andy Fothergill was born in Newcastle but brought up in Darlington was the second wicket keeper.
Most of the players came together to play in the Minor Counties league in 1991 and this included Geoff Cook scoring 63 in his last game as Captain before David Graveney took over. During the winter preparations for the first season continued with the use of the McEwen Indoor centre. Now the club has indoor facilities at the ground in the adjacent sports centre as well as cricket nets for players and for the public. The team also played in Zimbabwe.
The first game as a first class County was not against Lancashire at the Durham City University Racecourse ground but against Oxford University, when alas rain washed out most of the first day and also severely affected the rest of the game. Durham made 286 for 2 when they declared with Glendening and Paul Parker both making 100, Oxford made 105 for 2. After the euphoria of the opening home match against Lancashire, the team lost to Glamorgan in the first game of the Benson and Hedges Cup. Leicestershire were the first Championship visitors and they won the game by seven wickets. Durham were able to make 164 in their first innings to which Leicestershire replied with 342 with Boon and Smith making 100’s. Durham did significantly better in the second innings with Parker and Ian Botham making centuries. The great adventure had began as it was too continue for over the next decade with defeat after defeat, clawed draws and rare victories. More on what happened in those early years when I find my records but I will use the Tim Wellock book Summers with Durham over the coming week while at Worcester.
What I like about Tom Moffat‘s book is that he has penned notes about those who helped to get Durham into the Championship. He rightly begins with Arthur Austin Chairman of Durham Cricket club from 1975 to 1991. He is said to have been a gentleman with an aura who was nevertheless quiet and kind and with integrity. However it also appears that he saw his role as a narrow one of chairing committee meetings rather than being an activist. His position as Chairman was taken over by Don Robson without whom the dream would not have become a reality. He also had many critics. There have been three concerns over the years. He was foremost a major Party political leader and political party leaders if they are to get things done and survive have to be strong individuals. Secondly there was the debt which reached over £1.5 million at one point and continued to keep the club in the red a long periods, primarily in order to build the and develop the stadium So although the club achieved an operating profit over a year, interest on the debt meant the account was always in the red and this was said to have restricted the room to manoeuvre the development of players. Against this I would say just look at the stadium today and what will happen over the next three years before the Durham is to host an Ashes Test and then a twenty twenty finals day. Having good facilities also encourages the ongoing interest of business and commerce and the inclusion of a major commercial Fitness centre project within the grounds and with balconies overlooking the play was a smart move which brought in additional revenue but also the kind of individuals more at home with corporate hospitality that the Barmy Army area. The third concern is that he was satisfied with achieving first class championship status and the opportunity to watch the best players and best sides without worrying too much about the results and therefore the professionalism, the discipline and the resolve to win became secondary to playing the game. This was ok in the beginning but became a problem when the situation failed to improve.
By 1999 the financial position of the club is reported to have become precarious with Bank insisting on regular independent financial reviews which in turn caused a further drain on Resources. For four years Bill Midgley took over as Chairman. It was during this period that Bill developed the approach of making Durham into a stadium for international matches. The first internationals were 1 day affairs with one cancelled because of rain. The first test was against Zimbabwe in 2003. Mr Midgley became President of the British Chamber of Commerce which indicates something of his national status in business.
Technically the chairman of Durham Cricket Club has been Bob Jackson from 2003 to the present time although his status has been significant reduced by the creation of a holding company as in effect the old Board was wound down. Bill has a seat on the new Holding board as well as being a Member of the English Cricket Board. In 2004 the new holding company and new board was established under the chairmanship of Clive Leach and it is under his leadership that success has come to the club. In the previous writing about the history of how is all began I indicated that in the North East the practice used to be to keeper the dirty linen hidden and to do the washing in private, unless as from time to time it has happened the national media or the judicial authorities have taken an interest, I therefore detect more than what is said by Bill about the taking over by the holding company and the plans led by Clive Leach in conjunction with the ECB to create the best international stadium at Durham outside of London.
The President of a club can be no more than a recognition award and an ambassador for the enterprise without power. It an also be the actual powerhouse albeit often behind the scenes. So much will depend on the individual involved. The First president was Ian Caller and he held the position for 11 years and this would have continued for life had he not suggested that the position become one of recognition and be held for only two years. Without Ian there would have been no first class cricket in Durham as one should not underestimate the good will he generated from the region with the ten years of festivals and that he ploughed back the profits (meeting the expenses) into the development of cricket in the region. Bill Midgley became the first recognition president. He was followed by Harry Banks 1998 2000 an individual who through his building and construction company has financed the development of league and youth cricket and who chaired the working group which promoted the concept of Durham becoming an International cricket ground. The position went to Don Robson 2000- 2002 Malcolm Pratt took the role in 2002 to 2004 and was the former leader of Chester Le Street Council. He faced major opposition to the proposal to build the stadium at the Riverside. I wonder if those involved still have the same view now. The petition was signed by 20000 individuals gives an indication of the strength of feeling which the proposed site aroused and most politicians would have found it difficult to press their support in such a situation. The mystery appointment was that of Lord Stevens QPM who had been Chief Constable of Northumbria 1991 1996 and then of the Metropolitan Police. Tom Moffat himself was made the President over the crucial years 2006-2008 and pens a note on the difficulties of leaving the top table and doing so with good grace. The present President is Ian Mills a distinguished local lawyer whose late wife was Judge Mary McMurray.QC. He has provided legal advice and assistance to club.
Mike Gear was the first Chief Executive Officer 1991 1992, an import from the English Cricket Board and when he left the present CEO David Harker together with Pat Walton PA to the Chairman and CEO took over for two years until what was hoped would be a long term appointment. However Alan Wright who had a background in the media was able to provide a good Media and PR image but the implication for the shortness of his appointment is that he did not have the commercial experience required by the club at that time Mike Canlish 1996-1999 had the industrial and commercial experience and after he left he continued to assist the club for two days a week in relation to the development of International cricket at the Riverside. David Harker was a young man when he was recruited in 1991 as the Finance Officer for the club and obviously was able to learn from all the CEO with whom he worked closely over the decade before the board gave him the position in 2000. That nine years later he is still proves the wisdom the decision.
Geoff Cook was the first Durham appointment made back in 1990 or was it 1991.Between 1995 and 2000 Norman Gifford came in as head coach and Geoff concentrated on the development of young players in the second team and subsequently the academy. He was followed by Martyn Moxon from Yorkshire who Yorkshire wanted back before he could no longer resist the situation mid season in 2006. The brilliant decision then was to ask Geoff not just to caretake but to take on the position himself and a major factor in the recent success is the way Geoff has created a winning team unity. A great deal of credit for the state of play was due to the grounds man Tom Flintoff from North Yorkshire who became Groundsman of the year in 1991 when working for Hampshire. When he returned in 1998 the position was taken by David Messor a local man who was Tom’s Assistant. The issue of continuity with the appointments of Coach, Chief executive and Groundsman has been important in unravelling the Durham success story. Brian Hunt retires this season as Officer Scorer, having been appointed in 1991. He held that position for 17 years with the Minor County side before then. Local Architect Bill Ainsworth was a cricketer under at Stockton under Arthur Austin and was responsible for designing the stadium from its Greenfield site the advantage of retaining one individual and one firm is that development has continued to be integrated even if the process has been gradual. According to Tom Moffat in addition to his design proposals Bill was given the contract because of his known work for the Lord’s Tavernier’s as much as for his architectural standing and experience. Bill accepted the invitation to add the following comment. “To have played cricket as a young man was a civilising process in my life and to have been part of designing a Test match cricket ground and in Durham was beyond a dream.” Someone unknown to me is Joe Sherrington who has been the ground administrator. I assume it has been his job not just to employ and organise the stewards but manage the constructions including the temporary stands used for international tournaments. Among other individuals mentioned by Tom is Maurice Johnson and his wife. Maurice was an assistant secretary with the former Durham Minor County Board who was given the job to help the first class bid. His wife was a qualified secretary. He also gives special mention to Jack Illey the then Secretary and it is interesting that Jack, Arthur Austin and Tom were all wicket keepers. Tom has also included copies of the autograph book of players from visiting teams as well as international touring sides.
So although only watching on TV it was a very special moment to witness England playing Australia at the Riverside and the lunch time interview with Graham Onions held at the Newcastle stadium. After the good start by the English pace bowlers Pointing and Clark appeared to take control although found scoring runs difficult and pit on 79 runs before there was an Australian collapse with spin man Swann looking as if could take a wick with every ball and gaining five for 2.8 off his ten overs. Australia were all out for 176 and when openers Straus and Denly put on 100 runs before a wicket fell it looked as if England would coast to victory in the pleasant sunshine as the day warmed up.. Then there was the continued failure of Bopara, Shah and Prior getting only 33 runs between them . It was left to Collingwood with 13 and Bresnen to get the required runs and in fact the wining run was a no ball. Australia had put out almost their best team and were well beaten due to good bowling on an English wicket which provided some swing and bounce as well as spin. The real winner of the day was the Durham cricket club.
I was able to catch the start of the Great North Run and heard the Red Arrows thunder over heard I also dipped into the Manchester United and City derby in which he city came back three times to draw 3.3 as the final whistle approached. Then former Liverpool. Newcastle and England Strikes Michael Owen who came on as a substitute for United scored the winner in the sixth minute of extra time. In fairness United dominated the second half and the result was a fair one on the play but dubious time keeping. As expected although Murray won his single match the 19 year old who played the final game was overwhelmed and the team is now back in the third division of the Davis Cup. Newcastle Rugby Union club lost away on Saturday with the game shown on RV. At Lunchtime Sunderland were beaten in a game which they dominated against newly promoted Burnley and Newcastle won 3.1 on Saturday afternoon in a game I listened to on the radio.
I enjoyed half a chicken with roast potatoes and a banana for lunch to day followed by mince and mash for tea with rice pudding. I had a cooked breakfast bought as a carton for breakfast. Saturday I enjoyed a butterscotch win in addition to fruit
It is only twenty years ago that that the stadium was planned and not until 1996 that the first game was played and the first part of the present main pavilion building completed. Then the new Chairman Don Robson and Treasure Tom Moffat had been tipped off that Geoff Cook the retiring captain of Northants would be the man to help fashion the first team and interested in coming back North where he had roots. He agreed on a sessional and part time basis until the plans for using the six playing grounds over three years and the permanent stadium site and building programme was agreed together with the required funding had been confirmed. All this was pointless without recruiting a playing staff which could perform in the championship then a competition in which all the teams played in one division and playing the other teams at home one year and away the next. No one expected Durham to be immediately successful but equally no one wanted the team to be humiliated.
It is not known who instigated the two big signings which the club made. Dean Jones had come to England before with the Australian touring Test side but was interested in the gaining the experience of batting in English conditions and he did not disappoint scoring 100 in the first official game of the 1992 competitive season, the Sunday 1 day match which Durham won, just. The other was that of Ian Botham, past his best but still the biggest name playing in English cricket. It is also important to put the signing of Botham in context as the Kevin Keegan era was also underway, taking Newcastle back to the then first Division and to the top of the Premiership, 12 points ahead, until the end season collapse to finish second to Manchester United .
Geoff brought to together a mixture of experienced championship players with local individuals who only had experience of Minor County playing conditions. He recruited David Graveney as Captain, the nephew of the legendary Tom, both Gloucestershire men, Wayne Larkins from Northamptonshire, a club with long standing links with Durham, Phil Bainbridge from Gloucestershire, Gary Brown from Middlesex, and Paul Parker of Sussex experienced batsmen, all rounders Simon Hughes who had been to Durham University and Yorkshireman Phil Berry. plus Steve McEwen and Christopher Scott one of two wicket keepers came from Nottingham. The local men included Simon Brown born Cleadon village and playing first class cricket with Northamptonshire, Darren Blenkiron batsman although born Warwickshire was raised in Durham at Bishop Auckland the home of the Prince Bishops, John Glendening from the Boro, James “Jimmy” Daley batsman born Sunderland, Paul Henderson all rounder born Stockton, Stewart Hutton Batsman also born Stockton, Ian Smith all rounder born Chopwell, Gay Wigham all rounder born Bishop Auckland, together with John Wood, “Woody” all rounder born Yorkshire but yet to play first class cricket. Andy Fothergill was born in Newcastle but brought up in Darlington was the second wicket keeper.
Most of the players came together to play in the Minor Counties league in 1991 and this included Geoff Cook scoring 63 in his last game as Captain before David Graveney took over. During the winter preparations for the first season continued with the use of the McEwen Indoor centre. Now the club has indoor facilities at the ground in the adjacent sports centre as well as cricket nets for players and for the public. The team also played in Zimbabwe.
The first game as a first class County was not against Lancashire at the Durham City University Racecourse ground but against Oxford University, when alas rain washed out most of the first day and also severely affected the rest of the game. Durham made 286 for 2 when they declared with Glendening and Paul Parker both making 100, Oxford made 105 for 2. After the euphoria of the opening home match against Lancashire, the team lost to Glamorgan in the first game of the Benson and Hedges Cup. Leicestershire were the first Championship visitors and they won the game by seven wickets. Durham were able to make 164 in their first innings to which Leicestershire replied with 342 with Boon and Smith making 100’s. Durham did significantly better in the second innings with Parker and Ian Botham making centuries. The great adventure had began as it was too continue for over the next decade with defeat after defeat, clawed draws and rare victories. More on what happened in those early years when I find my records but I will use the Tim Wellock book Summers with Durham over the coming week while at Worcester.
What I like about Tom Moffat‘s book is that he has penned notes about those who helped to get Durham into the Championship. He rightly begins with Arthur Austin Chairman of Durham Cricket club from 1975 to 1991. He is said to have been a gentleman with an aura who was nevertheless quiet and kind and with integrity. However it also appears that he saw his role as a narrow one of chairing committee meetings rather than being an activist. His position as Chairman was taken over by Don Robson without whom the dream would not have become a reality. He also had many critics. There have been three concerns over the years. He was foremost a major Party political leader and political party leaders if they are to get things done and survive have to be strong individuals. Secondly there was the debt which reached over £1.5 million at one point and continued to keep the club in the red a long periods, primarily in order to build the and develop the stadium So although the club achieved an operating profit over a year, interest on the debt meant the account was always in the red and this was said to have restricted the room to manoeuvre the development of players. Against this I would say just look at the stadium today and what will happen over the next three years before the Durham is to host an Ashes Test and then a twenty twenty finals day. Having good facilities also encourages the ongoing interest of business and commerce and the inclusion of a major commercial Fitness centre project within the grounds and with balconies overlooking the play was a smart move which brought in additional revenue but also the kind of individuals more at home with corporate hospitality that the Barmy Army area. The third concern is that he was satisfied with achieving first class championship status and the opportunity to watch the best players and best sides without worrying too much about the results and therefore the professionalism, the discipline and the resolve to win became secondary to playing the game. This was ok in the beginning but became a problem when the situation failed to improve.
By 1999 the financial position of the club is reported to have become precarious with Bank insisting on regular independent financial reviews which in turn caused a further drain on Resources. For four years Bill Midgley took over as Chairman. It was during this period that Bill developed the approach of making Durham into a stadium for international matches. The first internationals were 1 day affairs with one cancelled because of rain. The first test was against Zimbabwe in 2003. Mr Midgley became President of the British Chamber of Commerce which indicates something of his national status in business.
Technically the chairman of Durham Cricket Club has been Bob Jackson from 2003 to the present time although his status has been significant reduced by the creation of a holding company as in effect the old Board was wound down. Bill has a seat on the new Holding board as well as being a Member of the English Cricket Board. In 2004 the new holding company and new board was established under the chairmanship of Clive Leach and it is under his leadership that success has come to the club. In the previous writing about the history of how is all began I indicated that in the North East the practice used to be to keeper the dirty linen hidden and to do the washing in private, unless as from time to time it has happened the national media or the judicial authorities have taken an interest, I therefore detect more than what is said by Bill about the taking over by the holding company and the plans led by Clive Leach in conjunction with the ECB to create the best international stadium at Durham outside of London.
The President of a club can be no more than a recognition award and an ambassador for the enterprise without power. It an also be the actual powerhouse albeit often behind the scenes. So much will depend on the individual involved. The First president was Ian Caller and he held the position for 11 years and this would have continued for life had he not suggested that the position become one of recognition and be held for only two years. Without Ian there would have been no first class cricket in Durham as one should not underestimate the good will he generated from the region with the ten years of festivals and that he ploughed back the profits (meeting the expenses) into the development of cricket in the region. Bill Midgley became the first recognition president. He was followed by Harry Banks 1998 2000 an individual who through his building and construction company has financed the development of league and youth cricket and who chaired the working group which promoted the concept of Durham becoming an International cricket ground. The position went to Don Robson 2000- 2002 Malcolm Pratt took the role in 2002 to 2004 and was the former leader of Chester Le Street Council. He faced major opposition to the proposal to build the stadium at the Riverside. I wonder if those involved still have the same view now. The petition was signed by 20000 individuals gives an indication of the strength of feeling which the proposed site aroused and most politicians would have found it difficult to press their support in such a situation. The mystery appointment was that of Lord Stevens QPM who had been Chief Constable of Northumbria 1991 1996 and then of the Metropolitan Police. Tom Moffat himself was made the President over the crucial years 2006-2008 and pens a note on the difficulties of leaving the top table and doing so with good grace. The present President is Ian Mills a distinguished local lawyer whose late wife was Judge Mary McMurray.QC. He has provided legal advice and assistance to club.
Mike Gear was the first Chief Executive Officer 1991 1992, an import from the English Cricket Board and when he left the present CEO David Harker together with Pat Walton PA to the Chairman and CEO took over for two years until what was hoped would be a long term appointment. However Alan Wright who had a background in the media was able to provide a good Media and PR image but the implication for the shortness of his appointment is that he did not have the commercial experience required by the club at that time Mike Canlish 1996-1999 had the industrial and commercial experience and after he left he continued to assist the club for two days a week in relation to the development of International cricket at the Riverside. David Harker was a young man when he was recruited in 1991 as the Finance Officer for the club and obviously was able to learn from all the CEO with whom he worked closely over the decade before the board gave him the position in 2000. That nine years later he is still proves the wisdom the decision.
Geoff Cook was the first Durham appointment made back in 1990 or was it 1991.Between 1995 and 2000 Norman Gifford came in as head coach and Geoff concentrated on the development of young players in the second team and subsequently the academy. He was followed by Martyn Moxon from Yorkshire who Yorkshire wanted back before he could no longer resist the situation mid season in 2006. The brilliant decision then was to ask Geoff not just to caretake but to take on the position himself and a major factor in the recent success is the way Geoff has created a winning team unity. A great deal of credit for the state of play was due to the grounds man Tom Flintoff from North Yorkshire who became Groundsman of the year in 1991 when working for Hampshire. When he returned in 1998 the position was taken by David Messor a local man who was Tom’s Assistant. The issue of continuity with the appointments of Coach, Chief executive and Groundsman has been important in unravelling the Durham success story. Brian Hunt retires this season as Officer Scorer, having been appointed in 1991. He held that position for 17 years with the Minor County side before then. Local Architect Bill Ainsworth was a cricketer under at Stockton under Arthur Austin and was responsible for designing the stadium from its Greenfield site the advantage of retaining one individual and one firm is that development has continued to be integrated even if the process has been gradual. According to Tom Moffat in addition to his design proposals Bill was given the contract because of his known work for the Lord’s Tavernier’s as much as for his architectural standing and experience. Bill accepted the invitation to add the following comment. “To have played cricket as a young man was a civilising process in my life and to have been part of designing a Test match cricket ground and in Durham was beyond a dream.” Someone unknown to me is Joe Sherrington who has been the ground administrator. I assume it has been his job not just to employ and organise the stewards but manage the constructions including the temporary stands used for international tournaments. Among other individuals mentioned by Tom is Maurice Johnson and his wife. Maurice was an assistant secretary with the former Durham Minor County Board who was given the job to help the first class bid. His wife was a qualified secretary. He also gives special mention to Jack Illey the then Secretary and it is interesting that Jack, Arthur Austin and Tom were all wicket keepers. Tom has also included copies of the autograph book of players from visiting teams as well as international touring sides.
So although only watching on TV it was a very special moment to witness England playing Australia at the Riverside and the lunch time interview with Graham Onions held at the Newcastle stadium. After the good start by the English pace bowlers Pointing and Clark appeared to take control although found scoring runs difficult and pit on 79 runs before there was an Australian collapse with spin man Swann looking as if could take a wick with every ball and gaining five for 2.8 off his ten overs. Australia were all out for 176 and when openers Straus and Denly put on 100 runs before a wicket fell it looked as if England would coast to victory in the pleasant sunshine as the day warmed up.. Then there was the continued failure of Bopara, Shah and Prior getting only 33 runs between them . It was left to Collingwood with 13 and Bresnen to get the required runs and in fact the wining run was a no ball. Australia had put out almost their best team and were well beaten due to good bowling on an English wicket which provided some swing and bounce as well as spin. The real winner of the day was the Durham cricket club.
I was able to catch the start of the Great North Run and heard the Red Arrows thunder over heard I also dipped into the Manchester United and City derby in which he city came back three times to draw 3.3 as the final whistle approached. Then former Liverpool. Newcastle and England Strikes Michael Owen who came on as a substitute for United scored the winner in the sixth minute of extra time. In fairness United dominated the second half and the result was a fair one on the play but dubious time keeping. As expected although Murray won his single match the 19 year old who played the final game was overwhelmed and the team is now back in the third division of the Davis Cup. Newcastle Rugby Union club lost away on Saturday with the game shown on RV. At Lunchtime Sunderland were beaten in a game which they dominated against newly promoted Burnley and Newcastle won 3.1 on Saturday afternoon in a game I listened to on the radio.
I enjoyed half a chicken with roast potatoes and a banana for lunch to day followed by mince and mash for tea with rice pudding. I had a cooked breakfast bought as a carton for breakfast. Saturday I enjoyed a butterscotch win in addition to fruit
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