SHREWSBURY CRICKET CLUB Minutes of AGM: 9th November 2016 @ Clubhouse @ 7.30pm. Present : As listed on the Attendance sheet attached (30no) 1. Apologies: Kevin Bland, Simon & Shelley Edwards, John Bennett, Laurence Fletcher, Josh Anders, Dan Manders, Tom Somerville. Ref Minutes 2 Minutes of Previous AGM Approval of 2015 AGM Minutes proposed by Ed Griggs and Seconded by Kevin Morris. Approved. 3 Chairman’s Report As last year I must start off this report by passing on the congratulations of all the clubs members to Rob Foster and the 1st XI for achieving 3rd position in the BDPCL after what was a very difficult season for all concerned. Rob managed a vastly changed team structure from last year and what he and the team achieved was way beyond our anticipation prior to the season commencing. The 2016 cricket reports off the team Captains & Junior Co-ordinator will detail their season’s achievements. This will be followed by announcing the clubs intentions on the playing side for our 3rd & 4th XI’s in 2017. The Past 12 Months at the Club. Many cricketing members may believe the clubhouse, following the AGM, goes into hibernation during the winter periods but this is far from the reality. Our facilities are now heavily utilised for twelve months of the year. In addition to our very successful Table Tennis section the clubhouse and grounds are used for numerous outside functions ranging from: Christenings, Wedding receptions, Anniversaries, Funeral wakes, Slimming clubs, Kiddiewinks, Band practice Training days, Charity functions, BBQ’s. You name it…..we do, or can do it. It must be stated here that all the hiring of the clubs facilities and our fundraising is ultimately for the benefit of club members whether they be players or social members. Those members who were present at the start of the 2016 summer witnessed the commencement of our new ladies Rounder’s section playing in the local league. This sport was an eye opener for many including me who read a part of the rules dealing with violence on the field of play. Luckily this rule, I believe, was not required last season. I am pleased to say the “genteel” sport of rounder’s is set to continue at the club in 2017 and I am sure Emma Anders will be pleased for any additional ladies who may wish to participate. The Committee took the opportunity over the past year to undertake the following tasks around the ground and clubhouse: Ref Minutes • Replacement of the white timber fence fronting the pavilion. This has yet to be completed and painted. • Provision of fencing within the car park to maximise the spaces available and therefore the income generated from its use. Continuous maintenance of the car park has also been undertaken. • Replacement of 5 windows to the rear of the garage and front of the changing rooms combined with two smart new doors for the changing rooms. • Provision of an alarm system on the garage. This was deemed necessary due to the numerous machinery thefts from cricket clubs around the county. • Provision of a new pedestrian path from the car park to the playing field side of the pavilion. A much appreciated addition following the very wet weather early in the year. • Waterproofing and draught proofing the scorebox to increase the comfort of those who spend many an hour in there. On the cricketing front our club hosted: • The County Club for a one day KO game. • The Salop Leisure 20/20 knock-out, again played over three separate Friday evenings, but for the 1st time in many years we did not get our hands on the winning trophy. • Three County Over 50 and 60’s games, one of which was a match against Fingletoads a team from New Zealand. • And a club XI played a touring team from Lancashire. On Monday nights during the season it was a pleasing to witness around 80 youngsters receiving 1st class coaching from Adam Shantry and his team, ably supported by club volunteers and all under the overall management of Peter Andrews. It was a memorable site to see all the juniors out on the field all wearing identical coloured shirts donated to them by Salop Leisure for their training nights. The one size shirts were very much appreciated by all the youngsters, despite the shirts almost touching the ground with some of our smallest youngsters, but they still insisted on wearing them. For the second year the club hosted three junior training camps which again were deemed a success as they resulted in new junior members, some of whom played in the clubs senior 4th XI for the first time. And finally on the cricketing front I am delighted to announce, if you are unaware, one of our players has finally reached international status as John Foster our President has been selected to Captain an England Over 60’s side to tour Australia before Christmas. I understand this includes three games against an Australian XI. 2016 Fund Raising & Socials Prior to the season commencing club members were invited to select and manage a club Fantasy Team. Despite some initial grumblings by some players on their personal valuations around 40 teams were entered raising approximately £300 for the club. Thanks to a further donation of a bat off Woodstock we again held a raffle through the summer. The club social this year was on the last day of the season to ensure as many players and social members could celebrate, or drown their sorrows, on their achievements during the season. Thanks again go to Alan and Becky for the preparation of the curry’s available during the evening. All the annual club awards were presented or announced during that evening and the four main awards were: • Players Player………..Ed Griggs • Club Person………..…Alan Hughes • 2016 Young Player ….Henry Blofield • Chairman’s Award…...”Spot” Davies Ref Minutes 2017 and beyond The challenge for the club membership and the aim of the new Committee is to ensure we continue to provide 1st class facilities and opportunities for cricketers of all standards and development whatever their age and ability. The Committee would therefore like all members to inform them what they believe the club should be providing to achieve this aim. Finally I will like to take this opportunity to thank all those who through their efforts have ensured this club continues to provide cricket in Shrewsbury to the highest standard possible as without their support this would not be achievable. My special thanks extend: • To our numerous Sponsors especially Salop Leisure, GKN, Greenhous and Orbit. • To all our club volunteers • To Bill and “Spot” Davies for providing our playing facilities during what was a very difficult year due to the weather and the new surface on the square. • To Alan Hughes and his team for continuing to ensure members & visitors do not go thirsty in addition to attracting functions at the club thereby increasing our bank balance which goes a long way in funding our future projects. • To Adam Shantry and his cohorts for the cricket coaching they have provided for our junior cricketers during 2016. • To the clubs Committee Members, Team Captains and Junior Managers who have strived to ensure the clubs aims are met. • And finally to Pat & Shelley Edwards who, after providing thousands of cups of teas and match day nutrition, have retired from this task. Their catering was appreciated far and wide and will be sorely missed by many, especially their cream & strawberry scones. On the clubs and players behalf I take this opportunity to present you with these flowers as a mark of appreciation for all your past achievements. 4 Cricket Reports st 4.1 1 XI (Rob Foster): Following on from the success of the 2015 season was always going to be a tough ask with the loss of so many key first xl players some to relocation for work and others to the financial offerings of other local clubs the 2016 season for the first xl was always going to be a tough season but one which I believe can largely be viewed as a success with the team finishing 3rd in the league. A much changed side found the early season rather tough with poor weather and several new players trying to establish themselves early season form didn't look to promising, thankfully a much better second half of the season led to an eventual third place finish and a much better feel heading into the coming season. Disappointingly our cup season performances were very poor. Some key highlights from the season; Oli Westbury who has earned his first professional contract with Worcester County Cricket Club on the back of some outstanding performances for England U19s and good league form for the club, I feel the club are very lucky to have a player of Oli's quality at the club, The return from long term injury of Dillan Pennington for the last few league games of the season he was able to show what a fine talent he is scoring a maiden first xl hundred at only 17 and also bowling some promising spells of quick bowling, a special young talent along with the development of Lewis Evans who played in the first at only 14 years old, I feel we have some outstanding young players which we can build a side around for the coming years. Finally the time has come for me to stand down after four years in my role as first team captain, A few thankyous firstly to Claire Green for all her hard work scoring, also Bill and Spot Davies for their hard work on the ground, Jon Anders, Ed Griggs and Tom Crouch who often felt the full force of first xl issues for and finally the committee for their support over the years.