Dear players, members and volunteers

The start of the 2026 season is now within touching distance and I wanted to write – as my first time as chairman – to update everyone on the weeks ahead.

It’s an honour and privilege to replace ‘Evo’ as chairman of our club. As a player, captain and chairman for 15 years, he has been at the forefront of the club’s development on and off the field and on behalf of everyone, I’d like to thank him again for everything he has achieved, while also congratulating him on retaining the Silver Ashes as captain of England in Australia – an incredible achievement.

The season we have ahead of us is extremely exciting and I hope everyone is inspired to take the club forward. We continue to be the leading club in Gloucestershire, and I want us to strive on and off the field to make ours the club of choice for players and members, men and women, boys and girls.

I am very pleased that Will continues to lead the first XI and am delighted to welcome two new captains for the 2s and 3^rds – Chris Whincup and Josh Roberts. Sam Wear will again skipper the 4s and Denise Holder the women’s team. Winter nets are already well underway, led by Luke Woolway, who has joined us from Painswick, and Wimma and the feeling is good. The wheels are turning before we get onto grass.

The youth section continues to flourish under the expert leadership of John Higgs, and many young players will feature in senior teams this season while playing at the highest standard of youth cricket in the area. There is a huge amount of ambition and an already stated aim that we get back to Lord’s within 10 years in one of the senior competitions with a team featuring many players who have come through our youth system. The journey starts now.

Off the field, please keep a look out for updates on our various social activities. The Breakfast Club, The Festival, our 200 Club and many other events all contribute to the sustainability and health of our club, and I urge as many people as possible to come, try them and get involved. With the Six Nations Championship underway, the club will be open, and it would be great to see it busy in the next few weeks.

There is lots to be done but some fantastic work continues to happen. I would encourage anyone with any ideas or questions to get in touch with me, and I look forward to the clocks changing and our great game returning to Pounds Close and St Peter’s Field in the near future.

Many thanks, Al Downey, Chairman, FCC