Due the restrictions placed on recreational sport, the hospitality sector and leisure, the Cricket Club are generating ZERO revenue. You as players and members have not been asked to pay your membership for the immediate; match sponsors have not been approached; and functions that are normally arranged cannot be held. Our outfield mower requires some repairs and we have machinery insurance costs to cover for the immediate.
As such we have setup a crowdfunding page which is being supported by the ECB. If we can pledge at least £100 to the page then the ECB will also lock-in £100.
Can I ask you all to pledge your support via the below page – no pressure as to how much to pledge, but even the cost of a bottle of wine, or a couple of beers will help. Please share this link too, every penny helps.
Warmest greetings to all Christleton CC members and friends to this Bank Holiday bumper newsletter edition. Today would have been game day 4 of the 2020 season. Scheduled fixtures were against Stockport and Port Sunlight. We first played Stockport in 2011, with Port Sunlight appearing in our fixture list for the first time in 2001 – there were games against Port Sunlight last year, when club members were very excited about plans for a new pavilion. We send our best wishes to both clubs’ players and officials– we are sorry to have missed you. Current cricketing news can be found on further below.
Here, we’ll continue with a browse through some exciting May matches of the past. For both 1st and 2nd teams, we’re casting the memory back to the 2010 season. National Treasure David Attenborough was celebrating his 84th birthday on the day of these fixtures, and in the World Cup T20 local lads Pietersen and Kieswetter were helping England to a hard-fought win against South Africa.
1st XI v Irby 08/05/2010
Game day 4 of the 2010 season was productive for both 1st and 2nd XI’s. The 1st team played at home to Irby. The morning had provided several sprinkles of rain that persuaded captain Paul Allen to ask the visitors to bat first. The Mill Hill Lane men found life difficult at first and at 48-5 could have folded quickly. This was not to be as a defiant lower order shepherded the team to a respectable 159 at half-way. Skipper Allen was in good form with the ball with 4-37. There was a wicket for Matt Parkinson, 2 for Guy Newell, and 3 for Iroshan de Silva.
A mirror image of the first innings was seen after tea, with the loss of early, key wickets followed by a steadying of the ship. Jamie Creek provided the steadying with a diligent and determined 45 off 90 balls. However, when he was out, closely followed by skipper Allen, at 108-8 Swans’ hopes were hanging by a thread. At this point, Andy Heyland decided that he wasn’t going down without a fight and began to smash the ball to all parts of Little Heath. His run-a-ball 44* proved decisive in securing a Swans’ win. Nick O’Connell, experienced in so many similar situations, provided the invaluable support with a doughty 12*. Andy played many bigger innings but this was one of his most important as it helped to secure victory at 161-8 and 20 hard-earned points.
2nd XI enjoy success at Mobberley 08/05/2010
This weekend in 2010 was a 45 pointer for the club. The 2nds under (ever dependable) Richard Morgan-Jones travelled to picturesque Mobberley, always a delightful place to play cricket. Our hosts asked us to bat first that day, only to find Swans anxious to gorge on runs. Willy Lamb 63 and Ollie Morgan-Jones 30 laid the foundation of a big score. Rob Marks (clearly in great form– see below) added acceleration with a stylish 70* before Russell Butcher, in uncharted territory batting at number 4, larruped a lightening 41 to enable a declaration on 222-2. Many quality players did not get in that day.
The adrenalin was clearly still raging for Russ after tea as he quickly removed 3 upper-order players. He also caught 2– MOM stuff surely? Ollie, having a good all-round game, also had 3 wickets, and Jimmy Dathan bowled one with a lovely nip-backer. It was then left to the wily Wareing to entice the tail into playing some shots. Brian duly did this, finishing with 3 wickets to wrap up a very good team performance and the 25 points.
Over 40’s action from Bramhall
Around this part of April is the time when midweek matches start to be played. This week, we’re going to turn our attention back to 2005. You will remember the Vets’ photo from last week’s Newsletter. This week we get to see them in action a week before Tony Blair’s 3rd General Election
victory.
Bramhall batted first and were pinned down by mercilessly accurate bowling, the innings closing in the 20th over at 85 all out. Nigel Campbell was remembered this week as a very fine leg-spinner by our Sweden correspondent Scott Thurling. This is true, but on this occasion one of his wickets was a really filthy ball smashed venomously into the waiting hands of Tony Collard, who had put himself into the right place, as he so often did and still does. Amazingly wickets fell in succession recorded as ‘Run out Hollindale’ and ‘LBW Hollindale’. [Not as under-bowled as Nick O’Connell, but definitely under-bowled.] Wickets also for Steve Johnson [2-8] Phil Tidy [2-9] and for current turf manager Alen Roberts. [There’s a nice picture of Alen below.]
The run chase was successful in the 19th over for only 3 down with Mike Field 30ret and Phil Tidy 27* stinging the hands of a busy backward point.
After the game a very welcome sight was that of a chap appearing in the pavilion with a large box containing 24 portions of rapidly demolished fish and chips– great hospitality fondly remembered even after 15 years.
Pictured relaxing at his street’s VE Day celebrations yesterday, squarekeeper Alen is clearly making the most of the limitations imposed by lockdown.
Cheers!
Under 18 season starts well
Back in 2010, Under 18 supremo Mark Astbury had assembled a side that he thought could do very well in the Cheshire Cup. The team’s first game of the season, a true test, was at home to a Brymbo team that had been strong in the previous summer.
Brymbo batted first that night and rattled up a useful 131-6 from 20 overs. There were 2 wickets apiece for the brisk Tom Allen and for future Peruvian international all-rounder Matt Astbury. We were left to hope that the 19 extras conceded would not prove to be the deciding factor.
The target was imposing but achievable and the young Swans chased it down with gusto, supplementing boundaries with daring and swift running between the wickets– always a feature of this side’s play. The Little Heath youngsters laid down solid foundations, only 44 at half way but with deep batting and wickets intact. Eventually Swans reached 132-8 after 19.4 overs to seal the victory, no mean feat against strong opposition. Rob Marks led the way that night with a dashing 52ret, whilst multi folk music award winner and broadcaster Greg Russell weighed in with a vital 27. There will be more reports from this U18 team later in the season.
Lockdown – thanks to the County Board staff who are keeping us informed
The Bank Holiday edition of the latest ECB newsletter covers the following:
Details of a new Emergency Loan scheme for junior/senior leagues
Info about the new Dynamos App (for 8-11 year olds) which launches next week
National Emergencies Trust (NET) Coronavirus Appeal
We have registered for Spacehive and need everyone to get involved. Pete Roberts will let you know how. Follow Swans social media pages and outline details can be found here: https://ecb-comms.co.uk/1FT6-6V2RL-D6SSQJ4NB2/cr.aspx
Other things that will be of interest:
Groundsmanship
Level 1 Cricket Grounds Maintenance (online)
Find out more and book here.
Umpiring– online courses
ECB Association of Cricket Officials has created a range of free online courses for aspiring umpires and scorers. The courses are a great way for people to use thecurrent downtime to learn a new skill or brush up on their knowledge.
Coaching
Cheshire Cricket Board have organised an online batting masterclass with former West Indies and current ECB batting consultant Toby Radford, which takes next Wednesday May 13th from 7pm. Register your interest via the link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/master-class
A reminder that coaches can also access ECB’s excellent online resource iCoach
Cricket free of charge, with hundreds of drills and games to choose from: https://icoachcricket.ecb.co.uk/
Mentioned in dispatches
This week’s ‘mentioned in dispatches’ looksback to GW4 in the 2019 season. Swans 1stXI visited near-neighbours Tattenhall on this day.
Asked to bat first, only 2 Swans’ batters recorded double figures, namely Kiwi Josh and Arslan. Fortunately, someone racked up 3 figures. This was Mubashir Hassan. Muby scored 116, completely dominating proceedings. When he was 7th man down, he had amassed 116 with 7 fours and 10 sixes. A
final total of 182 looked formidable. Scored off only 87 balls, the power and class of his strokeplay will long be remembered.
After tea, Kiwi Josh and Javid had 5 wickets apiece as spin won the day, delighted Swans leaving the Flacca with 25 very useful points.
Cricket Sudoku – Week 4 Lvel: Easy
Holiday bonus
Some cricketers have been animated here. How many can you name?
Which bears most resemblance to a Swans’ player?
Swans Cricket knowledge question – Level: Hard
Which legendary Swan took 14 catches for the 1st XI in 1984 (joint club record) and 13 catches for 2nd XI in both 1983 & 1990 (a club record)?
Last weeks answer for amassing 814 runs for both teams: Mark Hughes
How our ground is judged by others
Chairman’s Lockdown Newsletter – Week 3
Warmest greetings to all Christleton CC members and friends. The previous spell of beautiful weather seems to have broken for now. Let’s hope for a return of some sunshine which has made such a positive difference to many of us during these extraordinary times. Today would have been game day 3 of the season. Scheduled fixtures were against Stockport Georgians and Oxton. We first played Georgians in 2002 when they became the 65th club we’ve played league cricket against. Oxton appeared on our fixture card for the first time in 2005, thus becoming our 79th opposing club. We send our best wishes to both clubs’ players and officials– we are sorry to have missed you. Current cricketing news can be found on page further down in this newsletter. Here, we’ll continue with a browse through some exciting early May matches of the past.
1st XI v Chester Boughton Hall 07/05/2005
The third game of the 2005 season saw the Swans make the short trip down the A51 to near neighbours Chester Boughton Hall. This was to be our first-ever 1stXI league match against CBH, and what a remarkable match it turned out to be. Heavy rain on the Friday had left some residual dampness, a factor that led to the visitors being asked to take first knock in this 110 overs game.
Wickets fell steadily throughout the Christleton innings as the team was bundled out for 131 in 42.2 overs. The only contributions of substance came from Simon Ratcliffe and Darron Cruickshank. Stylish left-handed veterinarian Ratcliffe battled manfully for over an hour for 25, whilst Cruickshank lost 7 partners before being the last man out with 11 fours in a commendable score of 62. Trinidadian Cruikshank was 19 at the time and playing for only the third time in England.
So often, as we all know, batting looks more straightforward after tea. Although, on this day, the hosts also found runs hard to come by, even though they had a theoretical 67 overs at their disposal. Jason Ashcroft, Darron Cruickshank and Alex Barr all chipped in with wickets. However, skipper Guy Newell decided that Maroof Khan’s bowling was too controlled to be replaced. Maroof bowled unchanged from one end, a spell of 29.5-8-51-5, an exceptional feat of concentration and control. This is the longest spell of bowling in club history and will never be surpassed. CBH were finally all out for 129 as the last man was out caught at slip off Khan in the 59th over of the innings for a narrow victory margin of just 2 runs. [Both sides conceded more than 2 in no balls– just a thought bowlers]. Scorers that day were the meticulous and affable Brian Ruks and Jim Law.
The 22 points earned the hard way on that day helped to kick-start a very good Premier League season for the Swans.
Leg-ends
Some Christleton Legends pictured at an Over 40’s home match in 2006.
11 points are available, one for every player you can name [Ed: I got 9].
Answers below .
2nd XI earn a hard fought victory hosting Oakmere
This week I’ve selected a match that will be fairly fresh in the memory banks for a lot of current players. It’s a home 2nd XI match against Oakmere from early 2017. Triple platinum track ‘Symphony’’ was at #1, surprisingly for only one week. It is approaching 1 billion YouTube views:
Swans won the toss and skipper Ian Mitchell fancied a bat on a Terry Dandy straw-top. The weather was recorded as cool and partly cloudy, similar to today. Swans’ openers Robbie McNally and Joe Wells were cautious and circumspect at first but crucially laid firm foundations by keeping wickets intact. Perhaps the batsmen were just stringing the bowlers along before deciding to cut loose? Runs were shared out that day: Wells 44, McNally 36 (must talk to him about getting out when well set) Mitchell 44, Guy Newell 46, Nick O’Connell 45* and 14 year old Max Wade 17*. It was unusual that the only batsman to miss out was run-machine Dan Hamp, and also for the fact that no-one scored 50 in a final total of 251-5 after 43 overs.
After tea, the men from Overdale Lane had a good crack at trying to reach this sizeable target, before closing at 164 all out. J. Williams scored a stylish 72 for the visitors as Adam Gittins, a very young Jack Harding, and Harisankar Kunhi Krishnan [Hari] finished with 3 wickets apiece in a pleasing win.
Mentioned in dispatches
I am delighted to be able to give our Sunday 3rd XI a mention. In 2007 we were playing in CCCL Sunday 3rd XI Division 1, and on May 6th we hosted a game against Upton from the Wirral.
The visitors batted first and put together a respectable total of 156, the main bowling damage being done by a cunningly flighted mix of off-spin and doosra from Willy Lamb. With 4-11. Richard Morgan-Jones [ever dependable], Dave Phillips and Andy Dyne secured the balance of the wickets that day.
After tea Willy Lamb was hoist with his own petard*, stumped for 30 off airy spin. Cellar master Dave Swift and skip Mal Joyce both hit a rapid 35. Dave Phillips was 48* at the end and the ever dependable you know who hit the winning runs in a nice win.
* Hamlet– classy newsletter this.
Lockdown
Last week I pointed parents in the direction of some skills practices that can be done in small areas, as well as some activities for All-stars aged children. See last week’s newsletter for details.
This week, once again there are some items of cricket news that you may be interested in. The latest ECB update has:
• News on The Hundred [postponed]
• National Programmes [All Stars/Dynamos]
• A link to online umpiring and scoring courses
You can see the update here:
On a more local level, the Cheshire Cricket board has done a great job in securing the services of former West Indies batting coach Toby Radford who will lead an online ‘masterclass’ exclusively for Cheshire-based coaches.
This session (date TBC) will be free of charge for all Cheshire club members. All coaches are encouraged to complete the survey and you will then receive an email with a link to dial into the online session:
Who is the missing player? – Level: Hard (Answer next week)
814 runs in 1989
…of which 402 for 1st XI and 412 for 2nd XI
ANSWERS: Christleton Legends pictured 2006.
Back: Norman Goodwin, Mike Field, Jonny Read, Willy Lamb, Geoff Hawkes, Steve Johnson, Nigel Campbell,
Front: Paul Evans, Mike Hollindale, Tony Collard, Terry Jonas.
Chairman’s lockdown Newsletter – week 2
Warmest greetings to all Christleton CC members and friends. Little has changed cricket-wise since the last newsletter. The weather continues to be glorious and you can imagine how perfect it would have been this afternoon on our lovely ground. We’ll never take it for granted after this experience will we? So we’ll continue with a browsing through some April matches of the past. More lockdown news follows , including suggestions for children’s activities in a limited space.
1st XI v Bollington 26/04/2008
The second game of the season in 2008 saw our 1stXI entertain Bollington on a cool, overcast day at Little Heath. At this early stage of the season, these sound like ideal bowling conditions and this was skipper Matt Parkinson’s thought as he invited the visitors from East Cheshire to take first knock. Both sides had strong line-ups that day that included future Cheshire players, with Callum Rowe opening the batting for Bollington, whilst Rick Moore was at number 3 for Christleton. Both players did well for their teams. However, it was Christleton’s popular and prolific all-rounder Iroshan de Silva who was the pivotal player, producing a tour-de-force with both bat and ball.
The Bollington innings progressed quite serenely to 50 before Rowe was out for a patient 21. Form this point, wickets tumbled regularly and at 90-7 after 37 overs, the visitors were in trouble. Then N. Iqbal, batting at number 9 for Bolly, produced a dazzling counter-attack, hitting 53 from only 26 balls to boost the final total to 149 all out. Iroshan took 6-47 from a long spell. He also took a catch and had a direct-hit run out. There was also a catch for Russell Anderson that day– what a fielder this young man was.
After tea Iroshan (68) and Rick (61*) put on a watchful and patient 129 for the second wick-et as the Swans overhauled the target with 2 overs to spare, with Simon Jones making a cultured 2* in with Rick at the end.
So for Iroshan that day, runs, wickets, catches and run outs. All of this was achieved as always with class, great technique and the minimum of fuss. And for the team, 20 useful points. The scoring that season was done by Rick’s dad Andy Moore, and the book is immaculate and a real credit to him.
Pictured above…
Iroshan getting 4 more through backward point and with head outfield groundsman and former 2nd XI captain, Brian Wareing
2nds earn a hard-fought victory at Offerton
We’re going back 25 years to a second week of the season game at Offerton in April 1995. TakeThat were at Number 1 for the third consecutive week with the classic ‘Back for good’ as the Swans tried to find the ground in deepest Stockport in the days before satnav. Bob Lewis was captain that season and asked the hosts to take first use of a damp early-season pitch. The attack fired with good control in helpful bowling conditions, restricting Offerton to 143-7 after 45 overs. The opening bowlers Bob Lewis and ‘Eggsy’ Quayle demonstrated relentless accuracy and had combined figures of 26 overs, 3-52. There were also wickets for Charlie Scales and Bob Ellis. For the bowlers it was fists of pure emotion, for the batters just a head of shattered dreams. 55m views can’t be wrong….(Ed: See what you did there 😉 )
In April 2005 Swans 2ndXI visited Bollington Rec. Jimmy Dathan was like a finely-tuned engine that day, firing on all cylinders to record figures of 7-4-5-4, with 3 victims bowled and one caught by skipper Wareing. Richard Morgan-Jones had 3 victims bowled. Ian Rule and Russell Anderson bowled one batter each. This was a remarkable innings in which 8 batsmen were bowled, 1 caught and 1 run out. Bolly’s 72 was knocked off for 1 wicket after tea.
In the interests of balance, I am aware that although 2 of today’s wins were against Bollington, not all of our games against these tough opponents went so well!
Lockdown
We are indebted to all those bodies who are supporting cricket clubs during these extraordinary times. The Cheshire Board, The ECB, Cheshire West and Chester Council have all been welcome sources of advice and support for which we are most grateful. The latest ECB communication to clubs can be found here: https://ecb-comms.co.uk/t/1FT6-6UBN4-2E2203387/cr.aspx
You will find news about the club game and the professional game. Parents of young children may like to download the All Stars booklet which can be accessed via a link in the document. The skills challenges look good, especially if you have kind neighbours who will throw you the odd ball back.
The nice people at Fearnley Cricket have posted a series of cricket practice videos that can be done in small groups or even individually. Cricketers young and old can have hours of fun and get some valuable practice by doing these activities. One of the youngsters is hitting the ball very confidently towards windows. Be careful– this can lead to difficult conversations with parents– I remember such moments only too well!
Another skills challenge that I can recommend is not cricket related. It’s a basketball app but it offers a good variety of interesting challenges that can safely be done in a restricted area. Normally $7.99 a month, Home Court is free until 31st May. It’s Homecourtai at the app store with this logo.
Take care, stay safe.
Chairman’s lockdown newsletter – Week 1
Warmest greetings to all Christleton CC members and friends. It is the time of year when I normally look for-ward to settling into the Chairman’s seat and getting ready for the roller coaster ride of another cricket season. This time around, that will not be the case as our ground is all dressed up with nowhere to go. All cricket play-ers, officials and supporters know that the cricket season’s 22 weeks normally pass by in the blink on an eye. This year, it will progress a bit more slowly. I have fingers crossed in the hope of some cricket, although other things are clearly much more of a current priority.
April is always a tricky month for cricket as you try to find some early season form and confidence. In times gone by, it was a productive month for bowlers on uncovered, soft pitches. Bowlers themselves would look sur-prised at times at the extravagance at the movement. Mid Off was always busy as you scooped one up after weeks of indoor practice. It’s raining as I write, and this is so typical on the first cricket Saturday after a spell of fine weather.
As there is no current cricket to comment upon, I have been having a look through the archives to see what our teams were up to in seasons gone by. Obviously, I am going to pick out mostly successes of the past. Therefore, we will be having a lot more April wins than has sometimes been the case in the sluggish starts of several recent years. I’ll try to mention a lot of people in the coming weeks.
1st XI makes a winning start to the season
In 1996 our 1stXI travelled to Woodford for the season’s opening fixture, dodging the showers in that year’s wet April. The scorer for this and many other seasons was the inimitable and much-missed Harry Graves, always a vociferous and enthusiastic presence, usually encouraging batsmen to, ’Run up, there’s three** there.’ The 1stXI attack was in miserly mood that day, bowling our hosts out for 116 in 44.2 overs. Neil Glover opened the bowl-ing and set the tone, conceding only 4 runs in 6 overs. There were wickets for Richard Dandy and Jim Gillson, with 2 for Chris Spencer– the first 2 of his 54 that year– well bowled Spen! Chief destroyer on this occasion though was Guy Newell with 5-33. Terry Jonas bagged his first stumping of the season and there was a ct. P.W. Evans b. R. Dandy in this match– a classic dismissal if ever there was one.
After tea, Jim Gillson 58* and Steve Johnson 27 made rapid inroads into the required total before Paul Evans applied the coup-de-grace with a quick 23*. This was a 21 point haul on the day and a great start to the season.
** Or four, or sometimes even 5.
Opening day win for the 2nds
The first day of the 2011 season saw a strong Christleton team travel to Upton for the 2nd X opening fixture. After winning the toss the hosts opted to take first use of the pitch and found batting tough against an accurate attack. Russ Butcher (3-18), Jason Ashcroft (4-23), Ollie Morgan-Jones (2-6) and Steve Jackson (1-11) had their personal bowling radars finely tuned that day and, remarkably, extras was the highest scorer with 27 out of a total of 89. After tea, Harry Peel decided that attack was the order of the day as he smashed a rapid and powerful 60* to help land the win. The team that day was very strong and looks very sociable- with Rob Marks, Andy Heyland, Matt Allen, Matt Astbury, George Bryant and Keith Jaynes all turning out on this occasion in an encouraging start to the season.
Mentioned in dispatches
Not quite a win but a great effort from the Morgan-Jones brothers
We’re heading back to the first week of the 2014 season and a very good home game against Cheadle Hulme, played during an excellent spell of weather. Skipper Mike Gaynon won the toss and was delighted to take first use of a straw coloured wicket. The Morgan-Jones boys then proceeded to put on ninety for the first wicket. Olly was the more circumspect of the pair with 35, whilst Josh raced away to a rapid, boundary-crunching 93. The engine room then chipped in as Alex Powell 30 and Adam Gittins 34* helped to post a highly respectable half-time score..A draw was the eventual outcome with CH 9 down at close. Details… https://christleton.play-cricket.com/ website/results/1569666
Lockdown
Sadly, not a great deal has changed since I wrote to you at the start of lockdown. In the meantime, the club’s activities are largely paused, though certain essential work in grounds care and financial matters continues My thanks to all those who are still working hard on behalf of the club.
The events that we would be looking forward to are on hold. I’m sure that you would have been looking forward to doing some of these things: attending pre-season training and practice games; playing in the opening fixtures; junior registration and first action; getting some new kit together or dusting off a time-honoured cap; seeing if your kit still fits, always an anxious moment; knocking-in a new bat; trying to remember which guard you take or how many paces your run-up consists of; being stood under the first catch of the season; enjoying cricket teas and thanking the lovely people who provide them; meeting our sponsors at afternoon tea time; seeing old friends and talking about how good we all were – (strangely, the longer you’re retired, the better you get!); competition against respected opponents; unleashing the new shots and/ or deliveries you’ve been working on over the winter; seeing if you can still hit it, land it or catch it; watching the change from April to May as our lovely ground takes on its full resplendence again. Please remember: these pleasures are merely delayed, they are not cancelled. Hopefully, we will enjoy them again before too long.
Cricket is not top of our priority lists right now, but please be ready to support your club when our activities resume. Take care and stay safe.
Important Dates:
1st August – Cricket Rocks
5th December – Christmas Party
Message from the Chairman
I normally enjoy sitting down at this time of year and writing my ‘Chairman’s Corner’ for the fixturebooklet in anticipation of another splendid summer of cricket. However, the past few months have been anything but normal, and the ongoing virus crisis will affect both our club and our sport in severe ways. As many of you will already be aware, the committees of both the Cheshire County League and the Cheshire League have made the decision to delay the start of the 2020 cricket season. The leagues have stated that whatever happens this season, there will be no promotion and relegation this year. The league set up for 2020 will be taken forward as the basis of fixtures in 2021.
The situation that we find ourselves in is fast-moving and totally unprecedented. It is incumbent upon us all to follow the strong guidance and advice issued by the Government and the ECB in order to try to stop the spread of Covid 19 as best we can. The health and safety of everyone is our priority.
Consequently, all cricketing activities at Christleton CC are suspended indefinitely and will not recommence until the advice from the Government and the ECB gives us the green light to play cricket again. This means that there will be no outdoor or indoor training or practice, no nets and no matches. This applies to all junior and senior teams.
The leagues will monitor the situation and will tell us when we can play cricket again. No one knows when that will be. In the meantime, our job is to keep the club in a state of readiness. The ground looks magnificent and could be played on now. It will be kept in its usual beautiful condition by the people whose care, expertise and pride in what they do remains constant. The clubhouse is newly decorated and also looks magnificent. A similar band of volunteers have been managing a comprehensive restoration of the clubhouse in recent weeks. The results are impressive and it is sad and so frustrating that we cannot yet bring the clubhouse back to life.
Above all, we need our members to show personal readiness, and real pride in their club. For now, not only are there no cricketing activities, there is also no income. At the point when we are able to play cricket and hold social functions, hopefully later in the summer, we need to see our members throw themselves into what remains of the season with positive energy and enthusiasm to help our club and the sport to bounce back.
When updates are available, they will be sent on to you.
I normally close ‘Chairman’s Corner’ by hoping to meet members and supporters old and new on our lovely ground at the start of the season. I very much hope that this year it won’t be too long before Ihave that pleasure. In the meantime, please stay healthy, and ready to play cricket again.
On Monday 30th December, we were stunned and shocked to find that our Clubhouse had been ransacked overnight. Thieves/Vandals broke in through one of the windows but then proceeded to throw chairs, glasses, bottles, pictures etc through all the other windows. They tried to kick in the double-glazed doors and the fire exits. They broke into the bar smashed the optics, poured themselves drinks and then went on to have a destructive frenzy. Furniture was thrown around the building into the TV, PA System and the framed pictures showing all the history of our club.
These despicable characters also went into the kitchen ripping cupboard doors off, yanked the telephone and router out of the wall. They trashed the credit card machine, the cash till and most sickeningly they ripped the defibrillator off the wall, which was left scattered around in pieces.
Their final present to us was to let off all the fire extinguishers (both powder and water) which left a horrible mess but also their foot and handprints. Forensics have taken excellent evidence from this along with DNA from the glasses and bottles that they drank from.
The culprits will not be able to get away with this heartbreaking, thuggish behaviour and we urge people to contact the police with the names of these people.
Anyone with information relating to the burglary/vandalism are encouraged to call 101 quoting IML600400.
We have also set up a Just Giving page to help raise funds for the repair and replacement of damaged items.
Congratulations to Chairman Mike Hollindale
who was awarded Life Membership in recognition and appreciation of his outstanding loyalty, hard work and dedication to the Club.
The Clubman of the Year Award was awarded jointly to two well deserved members
Pete Roberts & Mark Inchley for their immense voluntary work for the Club this Season.
The newly elected officers for 2019 can be seen on this link