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March 2008
Dear Member,
Welcome to the New Season!
A warm welcome to you all, whether you are a senior player, a colt, or a social member. And a particular welcome to our new members for the coming season.
This is my first year as Chairman having taken the reins from Ken following his very successful time at the helm. It is an honour and a challenge to take on the Chairmanship and I hope that I can do the position the justice it deserves. As I write this letter we've had every kind of weather recently, from high temperatures to hailstones, sunshine to snow. Hopefully the weather will be kind between now and the start of the season so we can get the ground prepared and ready for the season ahead. With that in mind we need volunteers to help with a few small tasks so please let me know if you can give up an hour or so of your time to help out.
The pre-season gathering, this year will be held on Friday 18th April from 5.30pm onwards. The bar will be open and the colts will not be training, but registering. Hot food will be available to buy so feel free to come straight from work. Bring your cheque book because you will be expected to pay your subs at that time in order to be classed as a member and receive a fixture card and car park permit (there are new rules regarding the car park this year so you need your permit and to know the rules unless you want to be clamped). As last year, those of you that pay your subscriptions prior to or on the night will be entitled to a free drink and this year you will even receive a free shirt! You have to pay so why not pay early and get Ash & Tom off your back?!
As ever, outdoor nets will be held on Thursdays for the 1st team squad and Tuesdays for the rest of the senior membership, from 6pm as last year, commencing next week, 1st April (weather permitting of course). We have a stunning new net facility this year so please look after it and DO NOT WEAR SPIKES in it as we want to make sure they stay in the condition they are currently in. Batsmen in particular should be careful not to hit the ball too hard into the netting ... especially if I'm bowling! Colts nets will be on Fridays for all age groups and the bar will be open to all members every Friday.
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 only takes a few seconds) 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 18th April or if you won't be at the pre-season gathering, please post it to him at the address at the top of the page. This really isn't 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. Red tape it may be, but it's not our red tape.
(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
The Club is on the crest of a wave. The 1st XI have now stabilised themselves in the Premier Division with another pleasing fourth place finish, albeit fourth place was maybe something of a disappointment having started the season with such high, maybe too high, expectations. The 2nds not only held their own in their Premier Division but finished a very creditable second (thanks Ilford!) and had hopes of winning the league for much of the season. As with last year the 3rd XI struggled for much of the season in their Premier Division and the 4th XI, having been promoted to the 3rd XI Division 3 last year, again won promotion without really breaking sweat and so continue their march on up the divisions. The 5th XI won their league and earned promotion so very well done to all of them as well and the 6th XI continue to enjoy their cricket, come what may. This year we would obviously like the 1st XI to win the Premier League title, the 2nds should be looking to win their league, the 3rds to re-establish themselves as one of the dominant teams and there should be no reason why the 4ths and 5ths can't look to win their leagues as well. It's never easy and it's a Club effort, but I am confident that we have a strong enough membership that we can afford to look at the forthcoming season with high expectations. It is a sign of our strength that we want to improve year on year and not rest on prior years achievements and I wish everyone all the best in out pursuit of further silverware.
It does mean, of course, that competition for places will again be fierce. That's no bad thing if it helps put an edge on people's performances and it gives us strength in depth. We shall also 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 earn it. The fact that you might have been in a particular side for the past decade doesn't necessarily mean you will be there for the next decade ... and even if you are you might not get much of a bat or bowl!
Sunday cricket will once again be played under the banner of the Victorians, who have their usual full and interesting-looking fixture list, and I hope you will support these matches and make them enjoyable family occasions. Keen as they are they start their season several weeks before the rest of us have even managed to find out kit so please support them. Even if you can't play on Sundays, the bar is usually open when there is a game at home and the OCG is a fine place to go on a Sunday afternoon for a stroll round the boundary with a pint in hand.
Facilities
As I write this, the OCG is looking as fantastic as ever. It is a fantastic asset to the Club, an asset which takes a lot of hard work to maintain all, and I am pleased to say that we have now virtually paid off the overall cost of the freehold purchase. But we could still do with more money towards that target and there is always something that needs money spent on it. As with the last few years, we are prepared to offer Life Playing Membership to anyone who donates £1,000 now, or alternatively subscription-free membership until 2011 if you care to donate £500 now. With subs currently at £120 and rising, either offer looks like a good deal to me. And with our next project being the redevelopment of the pavilion, hopefully to include an indoor net facility, funds are more important than ever.
Teas and lunches are something of a problem as I write this. Ange has retired from her position having spoilt us all for a couple of years and we are struggling to replace her. If you know of anyone who may wish to help out in some way then please put them in touch with either Tom or myself. External caterers are expensive and that expense WILL have to be passed on to the players if we can't find a volunteer so it's in your interests.
Social Events
I've already mentioned the pre-season get-together, and as usual we have a series of social events planned at regular intervals throughout the season. Exact details and dates are shown in the fixture card and on the website and will be advertised in the bar and pavilion as normal so please look out for them. Last year's events were particularly good - and usually well-supported - and John Walford (Senior) has continued in his role as chief arranger. 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. We are, as ever, 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 either John or Tom. The Annual Awards Dinner will once again be held on the first Saturday after the end of the league season, Saturday 13th September, so don't go booking any holidays until the week after!
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.
Paul Webb
Chairman
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