Brentwood CC 2004 Season Preview

Whilst the Shepherd Neame Essex League season doesn't start until 8th May, the competitive season starts this Saturday for Brentwood with the first round of the Essex League Cup. Brentwood 1st XI begin with a home game against Old Southendians.

The team enters the season with high expectations following last years promotion form Division 2. All the other teams at the club are in their respective Premier Divisions and therefore the 1st XI will be targetting promotion from Division 1. Richard Whitehall has remained as captain and is joined this year by Jon Walford as his vice-captain. Brentwood have strengthened their batting with the addition of opening batsman Ben Debenham who has joined from Bishop's Stortford and Dai-Morgan Rushbrook who is an MCC Young Cricketer. The bowling department should remain a strength spear-headed by Australian off-spinner Paul Sutherland. The squad has been further improved thanks to the addition of Mark Tyler and Phil Pineo.

After the 2nd XI achieved their second successive promotion last year they are looking forward to their first season in the 2nd XI Premier League. It will certainly be a tough league as the last four sides to have been promoted have all been relegated at the first attempt, but the team is well equipped with a blend of youth and experience to give some of the larger clubs a run for their money. Breaking the mould and making an impact on the league is well within their capability.

The 3rd XI have genuine aspirations of success, success being the winning of the League. They have in previous Premiership campaigns finished in mid-table mediocrity, but in each year the strength of the team has grown and this season promises an even stronger squad, as the Club begins to reap the benefits if its excellent colts set up. Competition for places will be fierce. The 3rd XI has done a first rate job of nurturing the young talent of the Club, and has always seemed to get the balance right in terms the colts coming through and more experienced players going in the other direction. Our relatively new 3rd/4th XI cricket square will be in its 3rd year of use and if it improves to the same extent as last year it will be a very good surface for both bat and ball. The League is very strong this year, yet the team has nothing to fear and approach the season with confidence.

The 4th XI will be endeavouring to repeat their successes of last season by defending their Premier League crown when their campaign gets underway away to Hainault and Clayhall on 8th May. Much is expected of some of the younger members this year, with highly rated off spinner Tim Barbone (13), all-rounder Joe Surtees (14) and top order batsman Nick Childs (15) expected to progress onto greater things this summer having given indication of their blossoming talents during the 2003 campaign.

The colts section have been very active during the winter with approximately 60 young players from the ages of seven to sixteen receiving coaching from two professional coaches as well as the clubs own qualified coaches. The club also entered Under 11, Under 13 and Under 15 teams into the Panacea Indoor Cricket Leagues in the indoor school at the County Ground, Chelmsford. The Under 15s had a successful time reaching the final on Easter Sunday, where they were narrowly beaten in the last over by Havering & Redbridge.

Brentwood run colts' teams during the summer at Under 11, Under 13, Under 15 and Under 16 age groups, and all sides have a full programme of fixtures. Outdoor coaching sessions start in late April and any young players who are interested in joining the club should contact Ken Hobbs on 01277 210735 or via e-mail to colts@brentwoodcc.co.uk.

Off the field, the Club has been busy attracting sponsors to assist with the financial cost of buying the freehold of the Old County Ground last year. The Club are particularly appreciative of the support shown by SpringHealth Leisure and the Thai Orchid Restaurant, both of whom have entered into sponsorship deals with the Club during the close season. Both sponsors now have links on the Club web-site and can be accessed at www.brentwoodcc.co.uk.

Brentwood Cricket Club Colts are sponsored this year by solicitors, Huggins and Lewis Foskett, and the Club are similarly very grateful for their support of youth cricket at Brentwood.

The Club is always looking for sponsors at all levels and as the major Club in the Brentwood area is keen to support the local community. The ground and facilities are available for hire for a wide range of events, including matches, and anyone wishing to use the facilities should contact the Club on 01277 212580 or Paul Webb on 07989 852772. The Club will be holding various events throughout the season, one of the highlights being the August Bank Holiday Monday Six-a-Side tournament, and all events are open to non-members. Anyone interested in sponsorship, hiring the facilities or hearing more about the events should contact either Paul or the Club.