NEWSLETTERS 						 

 

MARCH 2008

GENERAL INFORMATION & DATES FOR YOUR DIARY (posted 25.3.08) This Thursday (27th March) is the last night of junior training at the NSC for kwik cricketers between 5.30-6.30 and seniors between 7-8. I am proposing that we start outdoor training for seniors on Thursday April 10th down at Tromode, from 6.30pm, weather permitting. This is the Thursday after the school Easter holidays. Junior registration day for all under 11 kwik cricketers, under 13's and under 15's to be on Saturday April 12th from 2pm at the clubhouse. Forms will be available on the day. Junior training will start the week after Saturday April 19th. Kwik cricketers 9.30-10.30, under 13's and under 15's 10.30-12.00. Cricket Force Day Saturday April 5th. We should like to encourage all of you to come down and give up an hour or two to help in getting the club ready for the new season, from 10am onwards. There will be free T-shirts; please don't be one of the few not to earn one. The committee would also like to ask that all members subscriptions be paid by 30th April. These are £25 juniors and £90 seniors. Standing order forms are available from me if you want to pay in this way. The committee would also like to formally inform you that, as you can see from the website, the cricket club has a new sponsor for this season, russellgrant.com. This is very exciting news for the Club having a new high profile sponsor and we hope very much to see Russell at events once he has taken up residence on the Island. Club coach Jeff Levin, who arrives next month, will be getting a new phone for the time he is here so that he can be easily contacted. When I get his new number I will let you all know it and it will be put on the club website with all the other contact details. Duke Marketing have approached Cronkbourne to hold a sale of cricketing goods at the clubhouse with discounted prices on leading brands. We have agreed to this in order to gauge the level of interest amongst the members. It will take place on Saturday 19th April from 11am - 3pm. Items for sale will include - International shirts New England strip available for pre order for May delivery Whites - shirts and trousers Bats and footwear Pads and gloves DVDs and books Caps and towels Gifts and memorabilia If you have any questions please let me know!! Phil

CRONKBOURNE JUNIOR VISITS DERBYSHIRE CCC ACADEMY Cronkbourne junior Max Stokoe recently visited the Derbyshire Academy for a couple of days. During his time there he was involved in net practices, scenarios and cricket psychology. Max states "I did well and also picket up coaching points. I will hopefully go back again at start of next year. I trained at the Gateway Centre which is at Debyshire's ground, and the facilities there were excellent.  Karl Krikken was the academy director who allowed me to go and was really helpful."

MESSAGE FROM PETE RICHARDS - aka CHUCKLES (post spelling corrections - oh for a KWC education!) Hey ho campers,   As some of you are aware I am running the London marathon this year in the hope of raising loads of cash for a charity called the Gentlemen's Night Out. Yes I know how it sounds but believe me when I say they are a fantastic charity.   The GNO was established 40 years ago as a charity who helps sick and poorly children, regardless of race, colour, creed or age, for individuals or organisation, and makes their dreams come true by improving their quality of life. The GNO have no admin fees or overheads so every penny raised goes straight to the charity and is distributed to the individuals and families we are helping. Their website is www.thegentlemensnightout.co.uk where you can see examples of the great work that they put in each year for these very special people.   As you know the marathon is a gruelling 26.2 mile run through the streets of London on 13th April this year. I have been in training for 2 months now running approx. 30 miles each week along with a special diet to keep me fit and healthy for race day. That includes giving up alcohol!!! Hard to believe I know and it has been tough.   Like many others you will no doubt consider you lycra-clad friend an object of great amusement and ridicule rather than the fine athlete he really is *ahem*! However, if you would like to pledge your support to this worthwhile charity whilst having a good laugh at my expense in the process please drop me an email and I will be in contact before and after race day. My target time is 4hrs which works out at 9 mins per mile!   The team I am running with aim to raise £60,000 this year (a new records) and I have set myself the target of £8,000 so your help and support will be greatly appreciated.   I look forward to hearing from you soon and hopefully seeing you on race day!   Peter Richards

NATWEST CRICKET FORCE Saturday 5th April 2008 The Club is once more taking part in the above. As those who have so generously helped in previous years will be aware, the objective is to get as many Club members as possible give up a little of their time on the day to help ensure the Clubhouse and ground are ready for the start of the new season. You help is required from 10am onwards, please come down and support,   This year the tasks which require to de done include:- Interior:- Clean & repair the decoration in the Hallway Clean & paint the woodwork in the changing rooms Repair the wallcoverings in the changing rooms including wall tiles. Exterior:- Cut & roll the cricket square & apply fertiliser/weedkiller Hang the practice nets Repair the holes in the artificial wicket All members of any DIY ability who feel able to give any of their time to assist will be made most welcome. The Clubhouse facilities including the bar will be open all day which will ensure subsistence levels of food & drink shall be maintained throughout the exercise.

FIXTURES   This season’s fixtures have now been finalised. The first club fixture will take place on Saturday 26th April when the 1st XI play Peel at Tromode. The weekend 2nd XI play Loaghtan Rams in their first game on Sunday 18th May at Tromode. The midweek A team play their first game in the Cain League on Tuesday 6th May away vs Ramsey. B team’s first game in Forester League One is away to Ronaldsway on Wednesday 30th April. The next evening, Thursday 1st May, the C team play their first game in Forester League Two at home to Crosby. The junior leagues all get underway a week or so later. A full list of all the club’s fixtures can be found on this website.

CLUB MEMBERSHIP  SUBS   These were set at the AGM at the beginning of the month and can be paid to your team captains as soon as possible. They are £90 for senior players and £25 for junior players for the year. Kwik cricketers, U11 and U13 cricketers can pay their subs as usual at the registration day, date to be announced soon.

SCOREBOARD BUY-A-BLOCK TICKETS   Unfortunately, due to the lack of interest that has been shown in this attempt to raise some funds for the club, it has been decided to scrap it. The couple of envelopes with money in that have been handed back will be returned.

PADDY’S DAY BASH   The next club social arranged by the bar committee is a Paddy’s Day Bash on Saturday March 15th starting at 6pm. Tickets can be found behind the bar at the clubhouse. There will be Irish Stew for the adults and hot dogs for the kids. Special price Guinness for the night, Easter egg hunt for the kids and fancy dress is optional but a prize will be given for the best. The cost for the night is £2.50 per person.

CRICKET DIRECTOR & COACH APPOINTMENTS The Club is pleased to announce two very important appointments to its management team.   Firstly James Stokoe has agreed to assume the role of Director of Cricket. James has been involved with the Club for many years as he has watched both his sons rise through the ranks from Kwik Cricketers to regular first team players. James brings a wealth of experience in the Island’s financial sector with him and his appointment will help cement the quality of leadership at the helm of the Club. A warm welcome and thanks go to Jamie for agreeing to take over and we wish him every success for the future.   Secondly coach Jeff Levin shall be returning to the Club from South Africa on the 22nd of April and will be with us until mid August. Everyone who worked with Jeff last year will know what an inspirational coach he was, and his return will ensure that the work he commenced with player development at Cronkbourne in 2007 will continue over the coming season. Jeff will oversee all the club’s senior and junior training sessions and will also be available for any private sessions if desired. Again a warm welcome goes to Jeff from all at the club and we wish him another successful season  with us

NETS/CLUBHOUSE   Club nets continue on Thursday evenings for the juniors and seniors. The clubhouse is open after nets every Thursday night from 8pm so, especially the seniors please try and make it down. The clubhouse is also open every Saturday afternoon 4pm till 7pm.

CRICKET COACHING COURSE The IOM Cricket Association will be running a UK Sports Coaching Assistant Course (Equivalent to old ECB level 1) over the weekend of 2/3/4th May. Any members who are interested are urged to contact Phil Richardson or David Slack (dwscricket@hotmail.co.uk) at the earliest opportunity. Cost is £25.

JAN-FEB 2008

JUNIOR CRICKET SWEATERS The Club currently has a stock of very small size junior cricket sweaters. They are are white V-neck with Club colours around neck line. Any members interested in acquiring such should contact any of the Club coaches. The Club shall provide them free on payment of annual subscription.

JUNIORS ATTEND TRENT BRIDGE   Up and coming Cronkbourne all rounders Max Stokoe and Luke Lacey have been invited to join the Nottinghamshire CCC indoor school for a couple of days on the 13th and 14th of February 2008 for coaching/assessment under the eye of County Coach Mike Newell.  The opportunity arose as consequence of the attendance of legendary Test star David Steel at the IOMCA Annual Dinner in the autumn. They are the first junior Club members at Cronkbourne to have been given such an opportunity and hopefully will not be the last. They were accompanied by coach Christian Steriopulos of Castletown CC who hopefully also benefitted greatly from the experience.

IOMCA FIXTURES MEETING A volunteer is urgently needed to represent the Club at the above on Thursday 21st February in the Clubhouse at 7.30pm. Anyone interested please contact Phil Richardson (phil.richardson@manninmedia.co.im).

DIRECTOR OF CRICKET At the Cricket AGM on Thursday 7th February the Club failed to elect a Director of Cricket due to the absence of any volunteer for the post. As this position is extremely important to the future of the Club is vital that the position is filled as soon as is practical. Anyone who is interested in helping and contributing  to the Club by fulfilling this role is urged to contact the Club at the earliest opportunity. Remember it is YOUR Club and it cannot exist without voluntary effort.

CRICKET CLUB AGM   A date has been set for the Cricket Club AGM. It will be held at the clubhouse on Thursday 7th February 2008 at 8.45pm. There will be several things on the agenda including election of officials (Director of Cricket, Secretary, Treasurer, Players Representative, Team Captains and Junior Team Managers), setting membership fees etc.   It is your club and it can only run with your help and input. Please put the date in your diaries and come down.

DIRECTOR OF CRICKET (formerly Cricket Chairman)   At the AGM as you can see above we need to appoint a new Director of Cricket, if anybody knows of any volunteers please let me know.

SPONSORSHIP   As Manx Telecom has declined to continue their sponsorship the club is looking for a new sponsor for our senior cricket sides.   If any players/parents know anyone who maybe interested in sponsoring the club please let me know.   We are also still on the look out for potential new sponsors. If you think your company would be interested in match-ball sponsorship for next season please get in touch.   We would like to thank Manx Telecom for their valuable support over the many years they have been our sponsor.

SCOREBOARD BUY-A-BLOCK TICKETS   At nets Phil will be giving you all our buy-a-block tickets to sell which are raising funds to go towards the scoreboard. Please sell as many of these as you can and return all tickets and monies to me. A draw will be made when all tickets are sold. Prizes are £200 1st prize, £100 2nd prize and £50 3rd prize. Date of draw will be arranged at the AGM.

NETS/CLUBHOUSE   Club nets started last night for the kwik cricketers and seniors. The turn out was good and great to see. Next Thursday is the turn of the junior hard ball nets and again the seniors. The clubhouse is open after nets every Thursday night from 8pm so, especially the seniors please try and make it down. The clubhouse is also open every Saturday afternoon 4pm till 7pm.