Firstly, a Happy New Year to everyone and let’s hope it is better than the last one!
Although this is a period of relative dormancy for the Senior Cricket section, we did enjoy a
very pleasant Annual Dinner and awards evening at the G&D in November and many thanks
to all of those who contributed. The attendance was very good, and plans are already afoot
to ensure an even bigger and better event in 2025. No pressure Pat!
Some of you will recall that when I accepted the poisoned chalice considerable honour of
this role, I was keen that we had a Development Plan looking forward. A number of you
contributed to the preparation of that document and we are approaching its first anniversary.
On the premise that it must be a ‘living’ plan I would like to review it with your help and I will
send a note out on Spond in due course. Spoiler alert – we did actually achieve a
considerable amount at a Club wide level during 2024!
The area of the club that never seems to sleep is the Junior Cricket section and I am
incredibly impressed by the dedication of all the young cricketers and their coaches to
maintain the development of skills over the winter period. Prior to Christmas I had the
privilege of attending the final session of the U12 Advanced Coaching which was a game-based scenario. The level of individual and team skills on show was exceptional and very
uplifting with the future in mind.
The Winter coaching period across the wider group starts in earnest this weekend and
having attended the Senior Coaches meeting this week, the initiatives for continual
development will ensure that our young cricketers are hitting the ground running when the
outdoor season commences. Francis has kindly produced a Junior Cricket year end update as follows;
October to December; should be a quiet time for cricketers. Not at Speldhurst!
The Under 12 and Under 14 Indoor League teams have just finished the first half of their season.
We were competitive in nearly all the matches even though we deliberately give a wide group of
players the chance to experience the Indoor game – unlike most other clubs who field their
strongest team every time.The Under 12 and Under 14 Advanced Coaching programme of 10 sessions each has also just
finished and the improvement in performance of the players over the period of the programme
was remarkable and a testimony to the hard work of all the players and the high standard of
coaching delivered under the direction of Rob McAllister.At the Club’s Annual Dinner in November two members of the Junior Cricket section received
Awards. Rob McAllister won the George and Dragon Cup, the most prestigious award of the year,
and Sam P won the Richard Moon Trophy for his leadership in the Under 13s, his
commitment to helping to coach younger players and his engagement with Senior Cricket.Lots of planning for 2025 going on too.
- Winter Coaching starts on Sunday 5 January starting at 4.30 for Soft Ball and progressing through Under 11,13 and 15 at hourly intervals.
- We will be running a Girls Cricket coaching group this Summer, for Years 3 to 6, on Saturday mornings, led by Tom Churton.
- All Stars cricket coaching starts on Saturday 10 May so lots to do to be ready for the latest group of keen very young cricketers. One of the great pleasures of coaching 5 and 6 year olds is you never know which ones will eventually be playing Senior Cricket 10 years (or less) later. Sam P joined All Stars as a 5 year old!
Francis Booth
Head of Junior Cricket
Finally, the dates for Senior Cricket section indoor nets will be confirmed shortly and if you
haven’t included them on your list of New Year’s resolutions you are still in time!
Regards
Mark
Speldhurst Cricket Club 