Newsletters

Easter 2008
Dear Member,
After the sunniest February on record and a very wet and windy March so far, it is good to appreciate that the new cricket season, and the welcome sound of leather on willow, is now less than a month away.
However, I would like to begin this newsletter by reminding you of some of the many achievements over the last year, both on and off the field:
1. Congratulations to the 1st XI on holding their place in the Premier League, the top flight of the MCCL. This is where we believe we belong, but we must consolidate again and continue to prove it!
2. The 2nd XI also had a good year, the team bounced back, after an undefeated league programme, with promotion to their top division.
3. The 3’s once again held their own in the top division of the league. A fantastic achievement achieved with an exciting mix of youth and experience, and in spite of regular team selection issues, often due to late changes in availabilities and the demands of the other two XI’s.
Competition for positions in all three MCCL XI's next year will be strong; a situation that must be healthy for the club as a whole.
4. Victory v the MCC. At the end of July, the club secured an exciting victory against a strong MCC side, the foundation of which was a magnificent century from Luke Towers.
5. On the social side, Sara was again central to the planning for the Family Fun day, held on the Sunday before August Bank Holiday. Her efforts and organisation were outstanding and everyone rallied for a second year to support her with enthusiasm and good humour. The money raised was a valuable boost to the coffers and we can confidently anticipate more success in 2008 , weather permitting of course!
6. The annual dinner dance, held for the first time at Lord’s, was truly an occasion to remember. Thanks again to Sara and all who contributed to the organisation. Nearly 200 members and guests revelled in the fun at this wonderful venue. Especially pleasing in recent years is the growing level of attendance from our younger players – long may that trend continue.
7. In December the AGM, and in February the OGM, provided well attended opportunities for lively discussion about issues, both past and future, that are important to this club. Hopefully the debates and points raised will help us ALL to enhance the development plan going forward. This should then ensure that whether it be on the cricket field, the dance floor, or drinking at the bar, we are united as members of a club that has a lot to be proud of.
8. The club has made good progress over the past 12 months with our desire to achieve “Clubmark” recognition. I cannot thank Peter and Denise enough for the many hours of thought, effort and administration that they have contributed to this cause which should come to fruition this summer.

Moving on to the new season:
On the 3rd August, we can look forward to the bi-annual President’s v Chairman’s XI match. This friendly but competitive all day game is always enjoyable so please put the date in your diary and try to be there.
I am very hopeful that our Ladies’ and Gentleman’s teams will be able to fulfil some social but challenging fixtures over the coming months. We need to enlist more players for both of these sides to prosper so do try to make yourself available so that ambition becomes reality.

Denise Broom and Neil Stevens (with support from the indefatigable June Roan, John and Brenda Goodchild, team managers and coaches/helpers) have continued to develop what we hope will be a robust and successful environment for the colts. We thank all parents for their continued support in this vital seed-bed for the senior XIs of the future. The colts’ activity starts in early April this year and it would be nice to see more of you stay on for a drink and a bite to eat from the bar-b-que, particularly on Friday evenings.

I am very pleased to confirm that we have secured the services of another exciting young overseas player from “down under” for the upcoming Premier League season. This time we welcome Tom Scollay who, like Luke Towers, hails from Perth, West Australia. He will join us in April and should add some extra quality in depth to our 1st XI as we strive to consolidate our top level status. Thanks again to all the Collier family for looking after Luke so well last summer, and I am sure the Dunns will do a great job this season with Tom.

2008 will see the 10th ECC Tour to Nottingham – it should be the biggest and best yet! On the evening of 3rd August the club will travel to Trent Bridge, as it has done every year since 1999. The big difference this year is that any player, who has toured over the last decade, will be welcome to join us for the 5 fixtures. It should be the reunion of all time and I know that each member of the touring party will have as much fun as they did the first time they went. One of the highlights will be a special dinner, kindly arranged for us by David Collier and the Nottinghamshire County Club, in the pavilion on the Monday night. Also on the agenda will be the old favourites such as Ten Pin Bowling – and possibly another visit to Hooters!

Aside from the cricket, I hope that you will continue to support the social events that are being planned over the coming year and note that there are a couple in the diary before the season begins. Sara has once again been working hard and your support is always valuable at these functions, not least when it comes to fuelling the main financial lifeblood of the club, the bar! The recent quiz, admirably hosted by Dave Bowers, attracted 11 competitive teams and over 80 people in total. This event not only raised funds for the club, but also enabled the excellent work the club has helped with, under the guidance of Faisal and Mona, at orphanages in Sri Lanka to continue.

As many of you will recall, Jeanette Miles, a former committee member who we sadly lost early in 2007, kindly left the club some funds in her will. It has been our intention for some time now to utilise her generosity by doing some clubhouse renovation. Over the next couple of months we will mark her contribution by improving both the furniture and the carpeting in the pavilion.

Finally, a number of challenges still face us pre-season. For example, the nets sightscreens and scoreboard are in need of further care and attention. Similarly, as always, there are a LARGE number of jobs around the ground and clubhouse to be done too. Cricket Force day on Sunday 6th April will provide a great opportunity for EVERYONE to play a part in getting the 2008 summer off to a great start.

To sum up, we must continue to build on our strengths and successes. We can start to do so very soon by completing our preparation for the new season with the same dedication, team spirit and respect for each other that has got us this far. I look forward to seeing you all over the coming weeks and months and hope you find time to enjoy, in any way that you are able, the new cricket season.

Come on Eastcote!

Sincerely yours,

John Clouting
Chairman

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