The Clarion - SPRING 2009
Welcome
Welcome to another Season - one which promises much and one that sees many changes, not least of which is the appointment of Olly Roland-Jones as 1st X1 Captain. As an aggressive bat and more than useful slow bowler Olly is a most popular choice with his somewhat laid back approach whilst remaining fiercely competitive, definitely 'a thinkers captain' - and we all wish him well.
As has been reported previously we attained Clubmark status towards the end of 2008, followed shortly afterwards by the additional recognition of being appointed a Focus Club - in simplistic terms it means Sunbury have 'ticked all the boxes' and that the Club is run in a most professional manner both at Junior and Senior level. Of great significance it means that the Club is entitled to financial support from the ECB via Surrey CCC on any major projects in the future.
The first project will be the installation of a new 4 lane fully enclosed artificial practice area, which should be in place sometime in early June. The Committee took the decision to select what turned out to be the most expensive system, but the one they considered the best. With a total cost not far short of £50000 including the purchase of 2 new bowling machines (which might have to follow later) we have been extremely fortunate to be awarded a number of Grants in support of our 'dream' which after a number of years is coming to fruition, these include:
SITA Trust £25000
The Foundation for Sport And the Arts £10000
The Lords Taverner's £ 3000
Surrey Cricket Trust £ 3000
…and a further £3000 from members in response to an earlier appeal.
so to date £44000 raised. We can go to the ECB for the balance but we prefer not to, as if we can show to them that we raised the whole amount without utilising their financial support then we might just get even more help from them for the next project.
Don't be surprised if in 2010/11 the rumblings of a newly re-furbished Pavilion with grant aid of something in the region of £150000 don't start to circulate!!!
All of this has only been made possible by the immense amount of hard work that has gone on behind the scenes. Starting in 2007 with John White and Frank Sharman supported by Dave Papworth the project has been taken to it's conclusion by our Secretary, Penny Hughes to whom a tremendous debt of gratitude must go. I know personally of Penny's dedication as I was with her when we initially spent the most part of a day on just the SITA Trust grant application., and there were others.
To everybody concerned now and in the past with the project… a big thank you.
Dave Smith has taken over as project manager for the installation and I know he is equally dedicated to make the facility second to none. Watch this space for news updates!
As usual we have a full fixture list with nearly 150 Colt's Fixtures as well as the normal fixtures for 4 sides in the Surrey Championship, all playing in their respective Premiership Divisions on Saturdays, and a varied list on Sundays including The National Cup and the Conference Cup which replaces the ESCT in which we were runners-up to Ealing in 2008. Can we go one better in 2009?
There is also the Surrey T20 competition where the winners go on to participate in a National Competition with the final on TV, I think at the SWALEC Stadium in Cardiff sometime in September.
A full Social programme will also be undertaken and with changes that have been made in other areas see further on, there is a lot to see and do and I really look forward to welcoming you and your friends and family in the coming months.
Tony Schaffer
President
Let's Play Cricket
Sunbury Cricket 2009
Optimistic of turning great potential into great success, Sunbury enter the 2009 season with a potent mixture of belief, youth and talent. This year is a year for fresh starts, with new captains for the 1st, 3rd and 4th elevens. Matthew Golding continues his role as second team captain and will receive fine support from Kevin Smith as his deputy. With many of his young team pushing for a first eleven place, there is a real scope for some outstanding individual performances from a very talented group of players and Golding's side will be hoping to go one better than last year and capture the league title. Colin Bentall's off spin will be key, as will be the unerring accuracy of Scott Anstiss and the batting of Darren London, Charlie Holcomb, Neil Khanna and Golding himself. With the likes of Smith, Stuey Poynter, Shane White, Holcomb, Khanna and even Anstiss pushing for 1st team places the future looks very bright for the 2nd X1.
Scott Napier has relinquished the fourth team captaincy after several years of struggle culminating in a good 2008 and deserves the chance to fulfil his potential as a wicket keeper batsman in a higher X1. Nobby Clarke fills the void and although he inherits a young team, he will be supported by the hugely experienced Micky O'Sullivan. The 4th X1 made a real impact in the newly formed Surrey Championship 4th X1 League in 2008 and will hope to continue to provide an ideal platform for younger members of the club to launch their adult careers. Watch out for the all-round talents of Joe Spencer, while Andy Rauf and Winston Vereeender have been keen participants at winter nets and are more readily available on Saturday's this year.
Jason Orr stepped down as 3rd X1 Captain and will be replaced by Paul Gabb. Paul, a highly capable all-rounder, is in his debut season as a captain and will be keen to be fighting at the right end of the table after the team bravely fought against relegation in 2008. Jason will continue to play a key role both as a source of information and as an all-rounder, while the likes of Elliott Shaw, Rhythm Bedi and Vishal Manro will be looking to build on promising seasons in 2008. Paul will be hoping he can secure the services of Anoop Manro and Bill Kincaid who have nearly 7 million wickets between them, but then so does Nobby in the 4th X1, and will be hoping that youngsters Stan Raymonde, George Pearce and Matt Nichols can turn their potential into wickets, pushing naturally for 2nd team selection.
Oliver Roland-Jones will captain the 1st X1 for the first time with the club choosing, purely on financial grounds, not to retain the services of Luke Woodcock. Oliver having had one full season back from captaining Leeds UCCE is a natural and hopefully longer term option. Adam Stanier will be vice-captain in a team that has stuttered in recent League campaigns but has shown glimpses of real potential, particularly evident in last year's Evening Standard Cup run. Much will depend on the availability of Adam London, John Maunders and David Nash who are all contracted to counties, while the return of Toby Roland-Jones from University will add genuine all-round strength. That being said, Steve Lewis, Dan Pope and Adam Stanier have worked consistently hard throughout the winter and Matthew Todd, as ever, will provide variation, control and a wicket-taking threat with his off-spin. Gavin Spencer is recovering well from an injury that kept him out of the second half of 2008, while Max Hall and Neil Khanna have impressed with their batting and attitude over the winter. The first team now consists of organically grown players which is a feature of the strength and depth shown throughout SCC.
The season promises to be an exciting one - with the opportunity of challenging for trophies throughout the Club. Sunbury have a superb array of young players which is complimented by an assortment of experience: this provides an ideal blend and the energy provided by the three new captains and an improving atmosphere off the field with Jack Gabb taking over as Club Manager, not to mention Ian Pope ably assisted by John London and Dave Nash Snr making vast improvements to the appearance of the ground. All augers well for 2009.
Written by Adam Stanier & Oliver Roland-Jones
ALL CHANGE!!
Yes it really is all change - not only 3 new captains on Saturdays but a new Groundsman, a new Club Manager and a new Chairman of The Sunbury Sports Association.
Groundsman - for some time we have realised the need for a full time Groundsman. Chris Notton our contractor simply couldn't cope with our requirements (something in excess of 150 home matches this year!!) whilst working with a number of other clubs, and was quite relieved when we informed him of our intentions for 2009 and beyond. Ian Pope (part of the Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum duo with John London) stepped up to the plate and his enthusiasm with support from John and now the new Ground Chairman Dave Nash Snr has been more than noticeable and compliments about the ground have been coming from all directions. A great start guys, long may it continue.
Club Manager - Jack Gabb supported by Lesley and helped behind the Bar by Richard and Paul, has taken over the mantle and changes are being made. Bar food is now available each evening of the week with a small and interesting menu all very competitively priced. Last orders are at 9.00pm.
At weekends bacon and sausage sandwiches will be available from about 10.30 in the morning.
The Bar is open from 5.30pm each evening during the week and from 11.00am at weekends. Jack and Lesley need your encouragement to make things work - so far so good but your support is needed so please make full use of these added and vastly improved facilities.
SSA Chairman - after more years than he cares to remember Les Wood has stepped down as Chairman of the SSA, although fortunately he has agreed to continue in the role as Treasurer a role he also performs for the Cricket Club. If anyone deserves a thank you it is Les who, almost single handedly, has worked diligently for more than 20 years on behalf of everyone to make the Club work.
Who knows where we would be today without Les's tireless work? Thank you Les but please do not give up the day job as Treasurer!! Into the breach has stepped Paul Watts. Paul has a wealth of experience in local community organisations and with a breath of fresh air will continue to drive the Association forward.
PLAYING MEMBERS SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscriptions are NOW due.
Last year was a bit of a disaster and the Committee seem to spend hours discussing those members who having played would not pay. Everyone has received an invoice showing what is due and Andy Griffiths has undertook to be around to listen, cajole and even pressurise YOU into paying he's a big lad so beware - you have been warned!!!
At the end of last year we were still waiting on hundreds of pounds of subscriptions and match fees to come in and this cannot be allowed to happen again in 2009.
The Committee have far more important things to discuss each month than outstanding subs, so please help us!!
LIQUIDATION SALE
We have a large number of Club Sweaters in stock at ridiculously low prices, well below what they cost.
Long Sleeve Sweaters are reduced from £48 to £35
Sleeveless from £35 to £28
and don't forget Club Caps at a tenner as well as Club Shirts at £20.
ONE SNAG - NO CREDIT - CASH WITH ORDER ONLY.
Sweaters from Les Wood 020 8398 0637
Caps from Frank Sharman 01932 783869 or Micky Lowe 07710 278344 and Shirts from Micky on the same number
100 CLUB
How would you like to win £1000, £500 or just £100. These are just some of the prizes on offer, all for just £5 per month, payable monthly, quarterly or annually - you choose. Basically we pay out £3000 a year and if all the tickets are sold and there are, as the title suggests only 100, then the Club makes £3000. At the moment we are struggling with 12 unsold tickets ie £720 in income. That also means the Club will only make £2280 and will be down on budget. So why don't you give it a go. For more information contact Tony Schaffer on 07802 757937 or Les Wood.
QUIZ
Tony Schaffer's FUN QUIZ was scheduled for 1 May, but the date has had to be changed to Friday 29 MAY, 7.45pm kick-off.
Tickets are £10. (Juniors £5) and include supper. It's all a bit of fun, not too serious. So why not make up a Team (max 6) or just turn up and be partnered with Einstein or Lurch!!
To book your places, just call: Penny Hughes 07775 991144, Clive & Mary Shaw 07979 808980, Tony Schaffer 07802 757937 or just tell Jack you will be coming!!!
FANTASY LEAGE 2009
The 2009 Fantasy League details are now on the Web site. It's a bit of fun, but fiercly competitive. So see if you can beat the experts.
APPEAL
As was mentioned earlier the appeal for the Net project has fallen short of target. Can you help?? All donations gratefully accepted, just call Les Wood on 020 8398 0637 to discuss and did you know as a Tax Payer you can sign a Gift Aid Form which will mean the Club benefits by a further 27.5%? You donate £100 we will get £127.50, you feel no pain!!
CONGRATULATIONS
Andy Poynter for being selected in the Ireland squad for the ICC World Cup qualifying tournament in South Africa in April. They qualified…and now Andy is in line to play against the big boys!! Well done.
Adam London for getting a contract with Middlesex. Was it for kissing the SKY TV camera after Middlesex won the T20 final at the Rose Bowl at the end of last season or for his burgeoning talent!!
…and to John Maunders who after one season away from the County circuit has been snapped up by Essex.
IT'S YOUR CLUB
With Jack Gabb at the helm, we are keen to make full use of our facilities for:
Company Training Days & Meetings
Anniversary Parties
Christenings
Children's Parties
Formal Dinners
Skittles Evenings
Can you help by spreading the word? If you know of anyone wanting to take advantage of our facilities, by far the least expensive of any similar venue for miles, simply put them on to Jack on 07752 829316 or jackgabb@hotmail.co.uk.
WELL DONE BOYS
A Trophy already in the cabinet with the season barely under way. Congratulations to Kevin Smith and the coloured clothing Surrey Trust League side, league winners in 2008, who defeated Bromley their counterparts from Kent in a play-off postponed from last year, full details on the web site.
FAREWELL
During the winter we have said farewell to
Life Member Clive Taylor, a founder member of the Club from it's earliest days at The Cedars and London Irish,
Peter Graham a Vice President who did much behind the scenes to promote the Club in the local community,
and to Shaam Nayyar a 1st X1 regular for many years in the 60's and 70's. Shaam was one of the nicest people you could ever have wished to meet. A great batsman, dedicated in the few years he played with us to get Sunbury on the cricketing map, as his 10000+ runs testify. A true gentleman.
SPONSORSHIP
One thing we have relied heavily upon over the last few years has been the generosity of Perton Signs who have supported us with the supply of the numerous Ad-Boards that surround the ground. As a source of income it has become key, but with the state of the economy as it is at the moment our level of income for 2009 is way down.
DO YOU KNOW OF ANY COMPANY OR ORGANISATION WHO MIGHT CONSIDER HAVING A BOARD?
The 15'x3' Boards, priced at just £250 including all artwork are a real snip, considering the many thousands of people who visit the Ground each summer.For more information contact: Tony Schaffer on 07802 757937 or Adam Stanier on 07834 741080.
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