Panther News
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Panther News Stratford-upon-Avon Cricket Club incorporating Stratford Bards Cricket Club Spring 2016 Oh No! Not Again! The amazing photo above illustrates the recent devastation to the ground. Luckily, the timely appearance of Martin Malone meant that our expensive £3,500 mower was saved from destruction, as he managed to drive (sail!) it to the relative safety of the car park. It's not clear how the cricket square has faired after being submerged for 24 hours, but the impact will undoubtedly have undermined the end of season works completed in September. Flood Appeal 2016 has now been launched to raise much-needed funds to provide the Club with the sort of financial provision it needs to address this and future flooding events. This is the third time in seven years that the whole ground has been overtaken by the River Avon. While we clearly can't hold the waters back, we can take some precautionary measures to mitigate the damage. Ironically, the Club made the final payment on the 'new' nets at Swans Nest Lane this month. They will now need some maintenance to get them back into a fully safe state. The Future is Bright The 2016 season is almost become Stratford 3rd XI upon us, and apart from the rather than maintaining their New flood last month, things are status as Stratford Bards 1st Overseas Player shaping up well. A number XI. This is set to change of us have been busy in the thanks to enthusiastic and signed closed season getting committed support from things in place to ensure we Emma Holman-West and hit the ground running at the the Alscot Estate team who end of April when the Birmingham will sponsor Bards kit and undertake a League kicks off. number of grounds and facility With the help of Andy We’ve changed the format of the improvements both before and during Flower and his Newsletter slightly this year. It’s been the season. contacts in Zim- babwe, the Club has broken down into clearly defined Overall, with the financial state of the managed to acquire sections which aim to address key Club and the quality of our facilities the services of Yasser interest items, including player continuing to improve, membership Parker, a 24-year-old recruitment, planned social events, and growing beyond expectations and the Zimbabwean, who is providing an update from our all- Club’s position and reputation in the a quality batsman and important sponsors. various leagues climbing, there’s much who plays and As you’ll read, REPL, our main sponsor, to be encouraged about. captains the famous Old Hararian have increased their commitment to the Whether you’re re-joining or joining for Sports Club. In 2014 Yasser was Club. I’m delighted by the way our the first time, I and the Club’s manage- awarded a First Class contract on a partnership is evolving. I’m equally ment team would like to thank you for pay-as-you-play basis which repre- pleased to announce a notably your support. Enjoy the read. I look sented his first step into professional enhanced relationship with the Alscot forward to seeing you this season. cricket. He is also a qualified coach Estate. I’ve been troubled by The Bard’s Best wishes, who, we hope, will add much to our loss of identity since merging with the Steve Cootes junior coaching set-up. I know you will Club in 2011. Simply put, they’ve Chairman make him most welcome. 1 REPL Renew Main Sponsorship President’s It gives me great pleasure to once again greet you on behalf of REPL Group as Message main sponsor of Stratford-upon-Avon Cricket Club. PRESIDENT When we became main sponsor for the first time last year, we were very much encouraged to take up this mantel by the energy, optimism and commitment we found at the Club. Following some challenging years on and off the field, we felt that everything was now in place for a new and vibrant partnership. And Mike Callender, CEO REPL Group goodness how those hopes have now about it, I would urge you to take a Great Joy! been fulfilled. moment to visit www.mollyolly.co.uk – it It was an absolute joy for us to be It's Here Again truly is a wonderful cause. associated with such a successful So attention turns to the new season, At this time of year I feel a certain season, and a pleasure to see the Club and I know expectations at the Club are lessening of my natural grum- performing in such robust fashion at all high. Strong domestic recruitment has piness.This is not because the days levels. Of course, those excellent no doubt been helped in part by are lighter, the little lambs are performances culminated in some well- success on the field, and in part by the gambolling and daffodils are bringing earned promotions for the 1st XI and the continued involvement of Andy Flower sunshine to grey landscapes. No! It is Bards; but even the 2nd XI had some off it. I'd like to add my welcome to because the cricket season is upon us! great moments in what turned out to be Yasser Parker, this year's Overseas However, Joy Unconfined has been a difficult season. Player, who will have a big job filling the dealt a swift kick in the teeth by the Perhaps as much as anything, we were sizeable boots left by Ben Cooper. And river Avon! You will, no doubt, hear how delighted to witness the growth of the I know the junior section has plans in things stand from our Chairman, and I junior section, which now has more than place for another successful year. add my pleas for help to make sure 90 members. The high level of In every respect Stratford feels like a that we can start cricket on time at community and grassroots engagement club going from strength to strength, Swans Nest Lane this summer. Steve at Stratford does great credit to and we at REPL Group are delighted to Cootes and the Committee, the everyone involved with the Club. play our part in that. We too go from captains and players, the junior A long, long way from the business of strength to strength. Although you may coaches led by Colin Davis, and he not have heard of us beyond this who is bearing the weight of the recent sponsorship, we work behind the catastrophe, Brian Webb, are working scenes with some of the biggest so hard to give us cricket this season. retailers and supply chain companies So, I beg you to support the Panthers around the world, and are winning new and the Bards by attending money- contracts for our technology solutions all raising events, supporting the Flood the time. As a result, the number of appeal, and by coming to watch the REPL employees grows weekly – and matches. while they are certainly not recruited for The REPL Group are once again our cricketing ability, we are hopeful that our main sponsor, and employees and real sporting performance, Swans Nest swelling ranks contain ever more management do enjoy coming down to Lane also hosted an extraordinary (for sporting enthusiasts capable of putting watch the cricket. I ask, therefore, that myself and my colleagues at least) on a good show in the sponsors match! members welcome and look after not game of cricket as part of the 2015 So here’s to 2016, and to another only our wonderful sponsors but all REPL Family Day. I won’t dwell on remarkable season on and off the pitch. spectators, including the many REPL’s narrowest of victories, or the On behalf of everyone at REPL I wish opposition supporters who come! bruises we earned along the way, but I the teams at every level and age group do want to take this opportunity to thank Wishing every success and enjoyment the very best of luck for the matches absolutely everyone at the Cricket Club to all the teams, both senior and junior ahead, and I look forward to seeing who helped us organise such a this season. many of you around the Club soon. memorable day and raise a lot of money Hugs and Kisses, for our nominated charity, Molly Olly’s Mike Callender Ali Troughton Wishes. If you haven’t already read CEO of REPL Group President 2 PLAYING MATTERS CONGRATULATIONS! Mike Brown pictured at the Stratford-on-Avon District Sports Awards 2016 After the bitter disappointment of losing out on promotion from the Birmingham & District Cricket League's District Division 3 on the last day of the season in 2014, the 1st XI responded by gaining promotion last season with some impressive displays. Their success brought them a nomination for the Stratford Bike Hire Senior Team Award at the Stratford-on-Avon District Sports Awards 2016. Unfortunately, they just missed out on the top spot. Hopes For This Season A Winter of 1st XI to Continue Momentum Content 1st XI Captain, Mike Brown, was upbeat of season standings. The Winter has been a time of great about the prospects for the coming season. Historically, we have development on the playing front. He stated, “Following on from last season's lost winnable games Winter nets have been well attended, success, we will be looking to take that early on, so I expect we had a superb pre-season training momentum into Division 2. The Club has the side to improve as recruited well over the Winter and there will a whole and get the camp at Loughborough and strong be greater strength in depth and competition season off to a much recruitment has brought no less than for places.