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March 2007
Dear Member,
Welcome to the New Season!
 A warm welcome to you all, be you a senior player, a colt, or a social member. And a particular welcome to our new members for the coming season.
It seems a bit early to be writing a pre-season letter, especially as the winter monsoon season has not yet completed. But with Easter falling in early April, and the season getting underway soon afterwards, suddenly it's time to exhume the kit from whence it's reposed since last September and check for signs of mildew and decide what really does need replacing.
The pre-season gathering, this year will be held on Friday 4th May from 7.30 pm onwards. The bar will be open from 5.30 onwards as the colts will be training. Hot food will be available to purchase. Those of you that pay your subscriptions prior to or on the night will be entitled to one free drink. Bring your cheque book because you will be expected to pay your subs at that time in order to receive a fixture card and car park sticker.
There will also be examples of our new range of kit for sale at Fenton's at attractive prices (don't forget the rule that only Brentwood caps and sweaters may be worn on the field in the senior sides - unless you've represented your country - you could be a bit chilly early season when Jonathan or Boony makes you consign your Old Buggeronians sweater to the dark reaches of your bag).
Outdoor nets will be held on Thursdays for the 1st team squad and Tuesdays for the rest of the senior membership, from 18.00 as last year, commencing next week, 27 March (weather permitting). Colts nets will be on Fridays for all age groups.
Attached to this letter is a registration form that every individual must complete before he can be classed as a member. Please complete it (it's not onerous) and return it to Tom Reilly. If you have received this letter via email you can email the form back to Tom (thomas.reilly1@btinternet.com) - it doesn't matter that it won't be signed. Otherwise give it to him on 4 May. If you won't be at the pre-season gathering, please post it to him at 21 Knights Way, Brentwood, CM13 2AR. This is not us being pedantic - it is already a requirement of the local licensing authorities, and is shortly to be a legal requirement of the Government and applicable to all sports clubs.
(Note from web site administrator. A soft-copy version of the form in Microsoft Word format can be downloaded by clicking on the Word logo. Complete the form and return to Tom Reilly using the instructions above  ).
Aims and Expectations
We all know that the Club is riding high at the moment. Last year the first team established themselves in the Premier Division, with an excellent fourth place finish, in their first year. The seconds achieved promotion to the Premier Division. Well done to those two teams. Unusually the 3rd Xl struggled for much of the season in their Premier Division and the 4th Xl finishing mid-table, but being promoted to the 3rd XI Division 3, with Wanstead 4's, because of their record over the last few years, the season was overall very successful. This year we want the 1st Xl to win a trophy and the Premiership would be very nice, the 2nds to consolidate their position, the 3rds to re-establish themselves as one of the dominant teams and the title would be very nice. It's never easy, but we have acquired a few new members who we believe can help us achieve those aims; we still have the nucleus of last year's squad, and the younger members will be a year older and stronger and hopefully knocking even harder on the door.
It does mean, of course, that competition for places will be fierce. That's no bad thing if it helps put an edge on people's performances, and if anyone finds himself playing in a side lower than perhaps he has done for a few years, then I hope he will knuckle down and try to win back his place, but give the utmost support to his new captain in the meantime, which is exactly what happened last year. And we shall continue to develop our colts and give them every encouragement to work their way up the Club sides. It is our stated policy that we will not impede their progress, and if they are good enough for selection they will get it. The fact that you might have been in a particular side for the past decade doesn't necessarily give you security of tenure!
Sunday cricket will once again be played under the banner of the Victorians, who have a full and interesting-looking fixture list, and I hope you will support these matches and make them enjoyable family occasions.
During the winter, Ben Debenham, captained an MCC team on a short tour of Australia. Also in the tour party was Jonathan Walford. I believe they were more successful than the other English team touring at the same time. In a match versus the Bradman Foundation XI, Jonathan opened the batting with a well known Yorkshire man, Michael Vaughan and outscored him. Congratulations to Ben & Jonathan.
Facilities
As I write this, the OCG is looking in good shape. It is a fantastic asset to the Club, and I am pleased to say that we are well on the way to completing the repayments of the £45,000 part of the overall cost of the freehold purchase. But we could still do with more money towards that target. As last year, we are prepared to offer Life Playing Membership to anyone who donates £1,000 now, or alternatively subscription-free membership until 2009 if you care to donate £500 now. With subs currently at £120 and rising, either offer looks like a good deal to me.
Social Events
I've already mentioned the pre-season get-together, and as usual we have a series of social events at present we have ten planned at regular intervals throughout the season. Exact details and dates are shown in the fixture card and on the website. Included in this years is a new Saturday evening event, "Tarts & Vicars" and we also have a celebrity cricket match, followed by a dinner and dance. Last year's events were particularly good - and usually well-supported - and John Walford (senior) has taken over from Paul Webb running this side of things again this season. Please continue to support both him and the events so that we can raise enough money to be able to maintain the quality of the Club and its facilities, bearing in mind that we still have to find a lot of money from within our own ranks in order to pay for the ground. We are, incidentally, open to enquiries for the hire of our ground and facilities from time to time during the season, so if your firm or an organisation to which you belong want to take advantage of this, please speak to Paul.
Last year was a good one. We have the ability to make this season just as good. Let us aim to be the envy of all the other local clubs by the quality of our cricket on the field, our administrative excellence off it, and our collective ability to support the bar until it closes and drink anybody else under the table!
Good luck for a happy and successful season.
Ken Lingwood
Chairman
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