Please find attached the first newsletter of 2009, to bring you up to date with dates and events etc.

Further to Darrin’s last letter, I can confirm that Bernie Tennant and I are sharing the Secretaries duties. Bernie is the Fixtures Secretary and will deal with ground issues, I am the General Secretary dealing with all other issues.

Pre-Season Practice

Following the success of last years pre-seasons outdoor practise at the rec, Jeff and Peter have kindly agreed to run the sessions again this year. Practise will be on Tuesday evenings for four weeks prior to the start of the season, i.e. 14/4, 21/4, 28/4 and 05/5; from 6.30pm. As advised in your last newsletter it was decided at the AGM that no pre-season nets would be booked by the club this year. The first Hampshire League matches of the season are on Saturday 9 May for all sides, with Dorset starting a week earlier on Sunday 3 May. 

Hampshire League AGM, Rule Changes and Club Together

Prior to the AGM the Hampshire League Committee proposed a number of rule changes, which were subsequently passed at the meeting. The most significant of these are: i) The duration County Division 1 matches to be increased from 48 to 50 overs with start times to be moved forward to 1pm throughout the season, ii) Maximum number of overs per bowler reduced from 12 to 10 for all divisions.

A representative from The Rose Bowl also gave a presentation on a new ‘Club Together’ initiative aimed at forging closer links between HCL Clubs and The Rose Bowl. Under the scheme, Hampshire CCC will provide participating clubs with a number of benefits which include; 30 free tickets to the Hampshire Hawks v Worcestershire Friends Provident trophy game on Sunday 19 April. The Club will be selling these on for a nominal fee of £2 per ticket on a first come first serve basis. Other benefits include a 30% cashback scheme on match tickets for all Friends Provident, LVCC and Pro40 matches, and also 20% cashback on all new HCC membership applied for through the club.

Please can anyone interested in tickets for Sunday 19 April contact myself. For HCC Membership tickets on the cashback scheme please contact me again or one of the other nominated club contacts, i.e. Bernie Tennant, Simon Keeping or David Vines. Other benefits include discounted ASICS footware (35% off RRP) and discounted Canterbury Teamware in the Hampshire shop. Money saved on the cashback scheme will come back to the club.

Pavilion

We intend to have a pavilion ‘spruce up’ weekend on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April mornings only, so please come along and lend a hand with painting (bring a paint brush), erecting the sight screen, clearing the gutters etc. sounds too good to miss!

Umpires and Coaching Courses

The HCL are running a number of umpiring and cricket rules courses. The nearest to us is on 31 March at Langley Manor CC, from 7pm – 9.30pm. The courses are free and are intended for team captains and players who find themselves doing a bit of umpiring. Anyone interested in going please contact me, four people from the club have already expressed an interest in attending.

As mentioned in your previous newsletter, the club is always looking for members interested in obtaining their coaching badges, anyone interested please contact Bernie Tennant.

Club Website

The club now has its own website ‘mudefordcricketclub.co.uk’, thanks to David Vines for all his hard work. The site is still being populated, but please take a look and any suggestions for additional content, contact David.

Players Details

Can I ask you to let me have your current email address. This will greatly assist me with distribution of future newsletters and also save the club money. My e-mail addresses are on the front sheet of this newsletter.

Club Shirts

Anyone requiring a new club shirt, please contact your team captain. We are currently trying to obtain price details for the shirts.

Membership Fee

This Seasons Membership Fee remains at £35.00 if paid by start of the season and £40.00 if paid after the season has commenced, match fees also remain unchanged from last season, i.e. Seniors £6.00, Students and under 16’s £4.00 and midweek £2.00.

Pre-Season Get Together

And finally, there is an informal pre-season ‘Get Together’ at Mudeford Mens Club on Saturday 11 April from 7pm.  All members are welcome to attend.

I look forward to seeing you at the pre-season training.

Best Wishes