Cronkbourne Cricket Club 2016 Board Summary

Well another year has flown by and it is time for us to reflect on what has been achieved; it is quite remarkable how quickly the season has come and gone!

We have some excellent players in the club, with a host of youngsters coming through, and despite team selection difficulties from time to time, all teams have performed with great credit. With the new relaxed registration system in place, we have provided the majority of players for the school XI and have also had players representing other clubs when they have been short. We really can hold our collectives heads up high as we have done everything asked and expected of us by the IOMCA.

We entered four teams into the midweek leagues, thus giving opportunities for all our members to get games, something that was of particular benefit to our teenagers. We won the Monday Cain league and filled three of the top five places in the Forrester league which was a great achievement. There was a tremendous rapport amongst the players with some superb reporting of matches by a number of people, so thanks to all of those. Team selection and team management can be very demanding, and sometimes was, so very special thanks to the four captains Max, Carl, Nathan and James.

The weekend league was won by Peel and St Johns, with our being once again a creditable runner up. We did take our revenge, by thrashing them in the semi final as we regained the Tinker Cup with a dominant display in the final. Although it was a great team effort, it was nice to see that a century by Max saw him named the Man of the Match.

The senior player of the year is Matt Ansell, who also picked up the best bowler award with Jaco Jansen taking the best batsman prize.

Our junior section has continued where it left off las season, winning all before it, and whilst there was no under 15 league, the youngsters in that age group all enjoyed long and successful stints in the senior teams, which augers well for the future. Harry McAleer has continued to represent Lancashire juniors, starring in many of their games.

The junior awards day takes place on Sunday 11 September.

Our Thursday training sessions were well supported and without the commitment of a number of stalwart coaches, they would not take place. Additionally the coaches also organise our junior fixtures and festivals so a really big thank you to Oliver, Jaco, Peter, Max, Sam, Jack, Nathan and the rest.

An unsung hero of the club is David Slack who continues to spend many hours giving love and attention to the cricket square, and we should all be very grateful of his efforts. We are the only club that has grass wickets, and despite the time, effort and expense of maintaining them, I think that we are better for having them.

I should like to make a quick mention of the senior presentation evening that we had recently which I thought showed the club in its best light. It was brilliantly organised by Amanda, Carl (LYW) and Max and was very well supported with a number of guests, principally from sponsors. It will be repeated next year without a doubt.

The arrangement allowing Valkyres Cricket Club use of the club’s facilities ran through for a fifth year and it continues to work well for both of us.

I am delighted to report that Baker Tilly have recently agreed to another three year term as our headline sponsor which is absolutely fabulous news and we are indebted to them. We also have a large number of long standing sponsor partners who have backed the club for some time and you will see their advertising boards dotted around the field. We are hugely appreciative to all of them for this help, thank you.

We should have an new online shop up and running shortly which will have a good range of club items from the Surridge catalogue at discount prices. This will make it easy for you to order additional cricketing kit that you would like.

Earlier this year the section ran a Racenight to raise funds for the wider club, and it turned out to be a resounding success with over £1,900 being raised. This amount has helped considerably towards the cost of reupholstering the chairs and stools.

Our discussions with Government in respect of a new lease over the field rumble on, and I remain hopeful that I shall be able to announce a positive outcome in the not too distant future. (I said this last year but I am afraid that it is moving at glacial pace)

Finally I should like to thank the committee for its efforts in administering and managing the cricket section on your behalf. As I mentioned last year, and every year actually, we are always looking for new blood and new ideas, so if you fancy getting a little more involved then please let me know. It is worth emphasising that this may not mean that you have to sit on the committee, and either way, it need not be time consuming as you can give only as much of your time that suits you!

Thank you

James Stokoe
Chairman
Cronkbourne Cricket Club

31 August 2016