Hello all,
Happy New Year to all
of you.
Even though we are in
the middle of winter, work is well under way or planned for the 2018 season,
and I want to update you on what’s happening at the club.
Firstly, we have
secured the services of Aftab Habib (ex-Leicestershire, Essex and England
cricketer) to be our 1st and 2nd XI coach for this year.
Aftab will be doing training for these teams on Thursday evenings from Thursday 3 May to Thursday 23 August inclusive. In addition, Aftab will
also be involved on a regular basis with the colts’ training on Friday evenings.
Winter nets for senior
players, and those colts old enough to play in senior cricket i.e. 12+, will
take place at the Serious Cricket centre at Dummer, near Basingstoke https://seriouscricket.co.uk/cricket-centre/
on the following dates and times;
-
Sunday 4 March 9.00am –
11.00am
-
Sunday 11 March 10.00am
– mid-day
-
Sunday 18 March 10.00am
– mid-day
-
Sunday 8 April 10.00am –
mid-day
As well as batting and
bowling practice, the sessions will also include fielding and fitness training.
Although it’s a Sunday morning, I hope as many players as possible can attend
at least one of these sessions. The cost is a reasonable £5.00 per session.
The Thames Valley
Cricket League commences this year on Saturday 5 May, which is just over 11
weeks time. Captains for the 1st, 2nd and 4th
XI have been confirmed, but we are still recruiting for the 3rd XI captain.
If you wish to be considered for this, please let myself or Tim Mahoney know.
To ensure that the
round is in top condition for all cricket (senior and colts), preseason work
parties will be held on Saturday 24 March, Saturday 31 March, and Saturday 7
April, each starting from 9.00am. Specific details of the jobs that need doing
on each day will be communicated nearer the time, but please think about what
you can give back to the club and join us for one of these date, even if it’s only
an hour. We are fortunate enough to have one of the best home grounds in the
league, but it needs everyone’s support to keep it that way, whether you are a
senior player, colt, colts’ parent or a social member.
Repairs are now underway
to roofing and other items after the damage caused by the recent storm Eleanor.
This will be ongoing for the next week or so, and does involve scaffolding
around the clubhouse, so please be careful when visiting the club during this
time.
As for the clubhouse,
the bar remains open every Friday night from approximately 7.30pm. We remain
one of the cheapest places in Thatcham for a pint or a spirit, so please come
down one night. Our resident DJ takes requests!
As I said at the start,
we are in the middle of winter but conversely this is one of the biggest times
for us in terms of outgoing expenditure. To help alleviate that, and give us
income, I must remind everyone that all annual membership fees, whether player,
colt or social, were due from 1st January. An email will follow with
the fees for each category, and payment options.
That’s my update
complete, but of you have any questions on this, or anything else club related,
please contact me.
Regards,
Dominic
Club Chairman