Margaret Borley Memorial Cup

22/08/2025

This Sunday from 13:30, the Tonbridge Bobcats Alumni take on the current Tonbridge Baseball Club in memory of the late, great, Margaret Borley MBE in the Margaret Borley Memorial Cup

Margaret took so many young people under her wing in & around Tonbridge & forged a legacy which all admire in the baseball community & beyond.

If you were ever involved in Baseball in Tonbridge or knew Margaret at all please come down to Borley Field this Sunday.

The Alumni roster is set & all are raring to go!

15/08/2025

On August 24th an Alumni Tonbridge Bobcats team will face off against the current Tonbridge Bobcats team in honour of the late great Margaret Borley MBE.

The eleventh Alumni player featured who will be suiting up is;

Name: Gary O’Hare
DOB: 30/04/1984
Currently residing: Tonbridge
Year started & left Tonbridge: 1994 - 1999
Favourite MLB team: New York Yankees

I was first introduced to Tonbridge Bobcats Baseball back in 1994 by a work colleague of my Mum at Hayesbrook School. Her son Nick Taylor played and my Mum had got chatting with her about my fondness for the game after playing rounders at school. I attended some indoor training at Hugh Christie and immediately fell in love with the game. I got a local friend of mine Tim Hartley into it and from there I met some great childhood friends, Ben Lucocq, Will and George Lintern. We all hit it off from day one and formed a very strong bond and team. We went on to win countless tournaments for years. Apart from when we went to the American Airbase and got an education to the game from the Yanks. I think we ended up coming second overall though.

Mrs B was like a second mum for the whole team and took everyone under her wing. For example a game against a very angry Brighton team that didn’t like losing. One of the local feral kids started effing and jeffing at Mrs B, she just let it roll off of her back and helped to encourage the boy and show him where he was going wrong and how to be a better person/player.

Due to the love of the game I have been fortunate to visit the US and got to the following stadiums New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, St Louis Cardinals, Anaheim Angels, LA Dodgers and the San Diego Padres.

Position wise I’ve played all over, Pitcher, Catcher, 1st Base, 2nd Base, Shortstop, outfield and was always known for stealing bases.

14/08/2025

There are a LOT of urbuts here & only Mrs. B could control them!

13/08/2025

On August 24th an Alumni Tonbridge Bobcats team will face off against the current Tonbridge Bobcats team in honour of the late great Margaret Borley MBE.

The tenth Alumni player featured who will be suiting up is;

Name: Iain Hall
DOB: 19-02-1977
Resides: High Brooms
Tonbridge playing career: 1992-1996, 1999-2002 & 2004-2006
Favourite MLB team: Atlanta Braves

I started playing in May 1992 at 15 years of age, when Mrs B came down to Hayesbrook school. Mrs B trained me (& all of us!) really well & I settled on pitcher, 1st base & centre field. I played to 1996 then returned in 1999 to 2002, then 2004 to 2006. Played for GB youth 1993/4, adult 1995/6.

Just getting back into the game after 19 years in hibernation & love watching the weight literally drop off me!

12/08/2025

1993

Tonbridge Bobcats v Maidstone Sluggers

Can you name the players?

Bobcats v Mariners

12/08/2025

On August 24th an Alumni Tonbridge Bobcats team will face off against the current Tonbridge Bobcats team in honour of the late great Margaret Borley MBE.

The ninth Alumni player featured who will be suiting up is;

Name: Mark “Max” McCrory
DOB: 28/1/1974
Resides: London
Tonbridge playing career: 1987-1992
Favourite MLB team: Atlanta Braves

Mark’s words

“After playing little league in an American school, Mark McCrory (aka Max) arrived back in Tonbridge with the Great Storm of 1987, hungry to stay active on the diamond. His prayers were answered by a flyer advertising try-outs for Margaret Borley’s mighty Bobcats. First training took place inside the Angel Centre where the dodgy strip lighting contributed to a ball in the face, from which some would argue Mark never recovered. For the next 5 years, Mark (throws left, bats right!) toured London and the South-East in the Bobcats’ luxury team transit, giving battle to all comers in the BBF South. All points on the diamond were occupied in that time, with a slight preference for 2nd base, centre field and the mound. Home runs were hard to come by in those days, given the lack of any fences and the sheer physical effort required to actually run them out. In 1992, Mark reluctantly relocated to the mean streets of East London and signed as a free agent for the Walthamstow Angels, before disappearing into alcohol and injury-plagued obscurity.”

09/08/2025

On August 24th an Alumni Tonbridge Bobcats team will face off against the current Tonbridge Bobcats team in honour of the late great Margaret Borley MBE.

The eighth Alumni player featured who will be suiting up is;

Name: Ben “Bennyman” Carter
DOB: 01-02-1975
Resides: Tonbridge
Tonbridge playing career: 1987-1994 & 2014-2017
Favourite MLB team: Cleveland Indians

Ben’s words

“I Was lucky enough to meet Mrs B while walking home from school with my brother Nick and a few friends. She was coaching primary school kids so we stopped to watch and of course she asked us if we wanted to join in.

I Started playing adult ball in 1987 at the age of 12 (the BBF youth commissioner has raised his eyebrow 🤣) playing outfield with a great group of grown ups who took me under their wing. A few years later our unbeatable youth team lead by Mrs B (driven all over the place by her husband Colin) was formed and we took 2 consecutive National titles.

I Retired at a very early age in 1994. 20 years later at the age of 39 I found my passion for baseball again and met a great group of new friends at Tonbridge. In my second stint at Tonbridge we were crowned Single A champions, Single A runners up and Double A runners up before moving on to new pastures in 2018.

Thank you to everyone I've had the privilege to meet at Tonbridge baseball club especially Mrs B who always believed in me on and off the diamond ❤️.”

06/08/2025

On August 24th an Alumni Tonbridge Bobcats team will face off against the current Tonbridge Bobcats team in honour of the late great Margaret Borley MBE.

The seventh Alumni player featured who will be suiting up is;

Name: Nik “Big Thumb” Patterson
DOB: 12/03/1974
Resides: Worthing
Tonbridge playing career: Played at Tonbridge briefly in Late 80s and also in the mid 90’s when it was the Tonbridge Bucs (farm team for Brighton)
Favourite MLB team: New York Yankees

Nik’s words

“Spent all my youth life in senior teams as there were no teams for me to play on but always looked up to and learned so much from Mrs B.

At 12yrs old Mrs B was the first ump I had ever met, she scared me to death, but since that day she made me feel welcome and at home especially behind the plate or on the mound..

True legend and I will hit a Dinger for her on the big day!”

05/08/2025

On August 24th an Alumni Tonbridge Bobcats team will face off against the current Tonbridge Bobcats team in honour of the late great Margaret Borley MBE.

The sixth Alumni player featured who will be suiting up is;

Name: Mark “T” Tynan
DOB: 19-12-67
Resides: Maidstone
Tonbridge playing career: 1985-1993
Favourite MLB team: Red Sox

Mark’s words

“Got into baseball through Ian’Letch’Letchford. I hadn’t played or knew anything about the sport but instantly loved it.
Pitching suited me along with playing short stop.
Had some great times over the seasons. Mrs B was a real leader, a good umpire(she always called the corners 👊🏻). She pushed the sport forward and has left a legacy to be proud of.”

04/08/2025

On August 24th an Alumni Tonbridge Bobcats team will face off against the current Tonbridge Bobcats team in honour of the late great Margaret Borley MBE.

The fifth Alumni player featured who will be suiting up is;

Name: Ian ‘LETCH’ Letchford
Date of birth: 11/05/67
Resides: Maidstone
Tonbridge playing career: 1985-1993
Favourite MLB team: NY Mets (due to Gary Carter Catching and hitting ability)

Ian’s words

“Introduced to the idea of playing Baseball by my cousins Mark and Neil Borley and of course, my Auntie Margaret … (Mrs B)
Went and watched a game at second time of trying

Team needed a catcher and that was it .. crouched behind the plate for those following seasons playing competing and meeting many ..
Bringing players over from Maidstone.. Firstly and namely Mark Tee Tynan ( side arm pitcher ) starting a great pitcher / catcher partnership

Batting 4 clean up

Highlights.. Captaining the team to winning 3rd division South in -91- ( Mark B Manager )”

03/08/2025

On August 24th an Alumni Tonbridge Bobcats team will face off against the current Tonbridge Bobcats team in honour of the late great Margaret Borley MBE.

The fourth Alumni player featured who will be suiting up is;

Name: Mark Borley
Date of birth : 24th February 1961
Currently residing : Hoo, near Rochester
Tonbridge playing career: 1983-1997
Favourite MLB team : The Boston Red Sox (of course!)

Mark’s words

“I started with the Tonbridge Bobcats right at the beginning, playing friendlies in 1983. I became Manager in 1985, which I continued for 10 years. I had the privilege of playing with an amazing collection of players over the years, with highlights being division wins in 1986 and 1991.

I played every position on the field at one time or another, but specialised in Shortstop and Second Base, before moving over to First. Another favourite memory is a floodlit game against the London Sluggers all star team, which included actors Glen Murphy and Todd Carty, when our 1991 'dream team' took the win!

I'm delighted to be part of Margaret's memorial game, as she did so much for the club and UK baseball (as well as me personally!). It was wonderful to see her as guest of honour at the first MLB game in the country at the London Stadium in 2019.”

02/08/2025

On August 24th an Alumni Tonbridge Bobcats team will face off against the current Tonbridge Bobcats team in honour of the late great Margaret Borley MBE.

The third Alumni player featured who will be suiting up is;

Name: Jon Carter
DOB: 22 June 1972
Resides: Aveley
Tonbridge playing career: 1989-1998 & 2016-2017
Favourite team: Atlanta Braves

Jon’s words

“Was roped into playing by my brothers & found I could hit & throw pretty good. Was a player, coach & general manager at Tonbridge & was fortunate to play alongside a great bunch of guys & gals.

Margaret was such an inspiration to the youth of Tonbridge & the surrounding area, something which I hope to emulate even just a little bit by encouraging as many youths to pick up a mitt. Without youth we have no sport.”