Firstly, I hope you are all well in these difficult times. As we rapidly approach the season, I thought it was time to let our members, both social and playing, know the current situation of the Cricket Club. Probably the most important news is that despite the current situation with Covid, we are financially secure thanks to being a Company Limited by Guarantee and having received Government grants via the District Council. We must not be complacent however as our main sources of income are temporarily, I hope, on hold. The Speed Awareness Courses are not running at the moment. It has been decided that it would not be financially advisable to hold the Ball and probably not the Beer Festival this year due to the situation with Covid. We do hope to hold lots of smaller events and certainly are working towards there being food available every Saturday Evening. We still owe Birdy a big celebratory bash for his retirement from running the bar! If anyone would like to organise a social event during the season please let us know.
The Cricket Season is due to start with Friendlies at the end of April and the leagues starting the first week in May. All our leagues are planning to have full seasons with promotion and relegation back on the table. Obviously early games may be under Covid Tier rules but we as a club will follow ECB and GCB guidelines. Training and Cricketforce are due to commence on the Easter weekend. Captains will be contacting teams with details. We have ordered a new net cage and new netting for Pounds Close and I am hoping that we will also be in a position to put in new nets for St Peters in the next year. Our Groundsmen Eric and Nev have already been busy and we have been fortunate enough to be loaned a new Robotic Mower courtesy of Dursley Garden Machinery. Clever piece of kit this!
Here is a link to see it in action: https://atomic-temporary-34433282.wpcomstaging.com/news/robot-mower-launch/
An interesting point raised at the West of England Premier league is that there is a shortage of umpires at all levels. So, they have put forward an innovative approach. Any club who provides a newly qualified umpire for any league Saturday game in the 2022 season, will earn a point for the 1st XI umpire for each game. A second newly qualified umpire could gain a point for the 2ndXI for each game covered. This adds up to 18 pts if each game was covered which is the equivalent of one winning game. So, are there any aspiring Umpires out there? There are courses available and umpires also get paid for each game. If anyone is interesting please contact Eric Woodmason on secretary@frocestercc.com any help would be appreciated.
We have been holding lots of meetings by Zoom and it has been decided that we will have to hold our AGM in the same way as we will not be able to hold it in the normal way until too late for the upcoming season. It will be held on Sunday 21st March at 11 a.m. and the details for Zoom thanks to Ali Bray will be sent out the week before.
Ali Bray is also our Media and Sponsorship Officer and has put together a great package relating to Sponsorship, which you can view by clicking this link: https://atomic-temporary-34433282.wpcomstaging.com/sponsorship
Any help would be gratefully received so if you have links to a company please try and help. As always, any company making a profit are able to reclaim any Sponsorship back against their end of year tax. Again, any help with this please contact Ali on: ali_bray23@hotmail.co.uk
Finally, our flourishing Youth and All Stars Sections are raring to go under the guidance of Chair of Youth Wigs Catto (youth@frocestercc.com) and All Stars administrator Dorcas Binns (dorcasyoung@gmail.com) Sessions are due to start for youth on: Monday 19th April at 6:15pm and all stars on: Friday 7th May at 5pm
On-line registration letters with further information will be sent out in the next few weeks. The Youth section is always looking for parental help, any parents willing to offer a hand especially with the running of matches, should contact Wigs on the email above. Wigs will be writing to ask for help before the season starts. Our Women’s and Girl’s sections for both Softball and Hardball Cricket will start on the same Monday as the youth on: Monday 19th April at 6:15pm.
Our Bar Committee will be looking to open the bar as soon as possible under whatever Covid safe restrictions apply and I look forward to seeing you all there. I’m certainly looking forward to my first proper pint for a long time.
Let us hope for a great season.
Best Wishes,
John Evans – Chairman
FROCESTER CRICKET CLUB 