CAPTAIN marvel is an often over-used title given to sportsman.

But you would certainly put Alex Browne in that category.

Browne has given sterling service to his home-town club Weymouth and local rivals Dorchester Town over the years.

He has just been awarded three trophies at the Magpies' end-of-season awards. Player of the Year, Players' Player and Dorset Echo Player of the Year.

The 34-year-old has also been hailed by county town boss Mick Jenkins as having a great character and is a top centre-half and what he lacks in mobility he makes up for in heart. His positional sense is also second to none.' Browne has been written off many times, especially in 2000 when he spent the whole season sidelined through a serious knee injury.

He came back, and eventually played 610 times for the Terras, scoring 57 goals. He moved to Dorchester in June 2003 and many expected him to wind down his career at the Avenue.

Four years on and he is still going strong and has no plans to hang up his boots.

He says he is still enjoying his football, and still thinks he is doing himself justice.

He won't mind me saying this but he has constantly battled to keep his weight down but he has overcome this.

Perhaps Magpies' defender Ryan Hill can take inspiration from Alex as he is presently going through a tough time with his fitness.

After last Saturday's defeat to Bedford, Browne slated some of his team-mates. Accusing them of lacking pride and he felt the need to apologise on behalf of the players to the fans, chairman, the board and manager.

He said: Unfortunately you can coach and teach all you want about certain aspects of the game, but either people have a bit of heart, desire and personal pride or they don't'.

You've certainly got a big heart Alex and have given great service over the years and supporters really appreciate your commitment.

Congratulations, we salute you.

WHAT a shambles!

At long last the cricket World Cup is over.

The death of Bob Woolmer was a shocking event and the inept performance of the England team, on and off the field, alongside the overpriced ticket prices have added to the misery.

The early demise of big guns India and Pakistan knocked the competition and it really was a struggle to maintain an interest.

But to cap it all the longest tournament ever ended in a farce. The final between Australia and Sri Lanka saw officials failing to understand the rules and forced the players to play three overs in almost darkness.

The final had been reduced to 38 overs after a delayed start and Sri Lanka were chasing a target of 281.

After 33 overs they accepted an offer of bad light and the rules say that once the 20 overs have been passed in the reply there has to be a conclusion. So once the bad light offer was taken that should have been it.

Even the scoreboard in Barbados flashed up Congrats Australia'. But no the officials demanded play went on. Farcical!

Surely the tournament needs a major overhaul. There were too many meaningless clashes and the timetable needs condensing.

Perhaps in four years' time England may even have mastered the one-day game, you never know.

Let's hope, as the new Dorset League season begins today, that our local clubs can conjure up a more interesting and rewarding campaign.

I'VE had to put up with my colleague Adam Summers smiling like a Cheshire cat and bragging about how accurate his predictions were on the outcome of the Champions League semi-finals in this column the other week.

He said AC Milan's Kaka would overshadow Manchester's United's Ronaldo to lead the Italians to the final and also tipped Liverpool to overcome Chelsea at Anfield.

I'm hopeful now that his crystal ball will tell me when the takeover saga at the Wessex Stadium will end.

Please make it soon Adam!