Captain's Corner

Pre-Season 2008

It is a huge honour to be re-elected as Fairburn CC captain for the third time, and I hope its 3rd time lucky in regard to winning some silverware. I cannot stand Mark Abdy’s claim that he has won more silverware as captain in one-day than I have in two years (he captained our successful 6aside team in 2006).

Like everyone at the club, I cannot wait for the new season, more so, as were joining a new league in 2008. The Ponty League has established an excellent reputation for organisation and quality, so to lead the club in this new journey is certainly exciting. We shall rightfully begin in the 3rd tier, where we shall meet some tough opposition, but is this year when we can shake off our bridesmaid tags and actually win something? I believe so!

The Signing of Bobby Banerjee is a major boost for the club, and is a sign of the attitude towards bringing youth to the club which we hope will take the club forward. From what I have seen, Bobby is a classy leg-spinner, who I reckon will take a bucket load of wickets this coming season. We had hoped to add two other leg spinners of quality, but unfortunately that was not to be, but adding new players is not always a priority at our club. Young players gaining another 12 months of experience from the 2007 campaign is like signing a new player, and hopefully this will mean we can perform on a more consistent basis (our major weakness during my two years in charge).

Our major weakness is our inconsistency, particularly in our batting where one week we are breaking league records with 300 plus scores, followed closely by a shambolic collapse a week or two later. Time will tell if we can bring this trophy-less run to a forceful end.

With our decision to leave the LWRCL, I felt it was important our club had a solid 2007 to show our new league that we would be a worthy addition.

Early on, this was proving quite a struggle as we lost early matches and without doubt missed the runs of the injured Craig Piggott. However, with an excellent finish to the season I remain confident that our club is going places and will improve year on year.

My personal highlights would have to be the seamless transistion of Guy Abdy into a first team player. I pondered long and hard on whether 2007 would be too early for Guy. I questioned whether he would get the exposure in a competitive first team environment, so I had to chuckle when Guy was opening the batting and bowling withing a few games. The same can be said for Gareth Weaver's debut at home Vs Netherton where despite questioning his ability before the game, showed the potential he could offer the club in future years.

2007 was an enjoyable year as captain, and I have everyone to thank for that. In particular I want to honour my vice-captain Martin Sugden who made sure I didnt have to be worried who was doing the teas or collecting any money.

I would also like to say a special thanks to the work of Lamby, who keeps churning out top-quality wickets, My Dad for his continued devotion to the club and Booker for his excellent work as secretary.

Time will tell if I am re-elected, but for whoever is captain in 2008, I'm sure they'll be honoured to captain a great club and relish the new challenge of the Pontefract & District Cricket League

Cleggy

Pre-Season 2008

This will be my fourth and final year as captain as we hope to move house and won't be quite as close as we are at the moment. So during the coming season I will be looking for that “special one” amongst us whose attributes include the following:-

Leadership

Organisation

On the field diplomacy in the heat of the battle

Never letting the side down

Yearning to be the standard bearer of the team

Failing this you might just be LOONY enough to want the job (see above)

The new league we have entered represents an exiting opportunity for the one who feels he may be suited by the new format of losing and winning draws. Therefore we might employ a new tactic of having that floating specialist batsman who would be padded up for the whole game waiting for his opportunity to defend one end in pursuit of those losing draw points (you know who I mean!!!!!!!!!)

I expect that we will play as we always do with a smile on our faces as our bowlers aim for the opposing batsmens throats and our batsmen pepper cow corner

Most of all we should ALL ensure that we celebrate or commiserate after the game with a pint or six down at the Wagon.

Good Luck

The Flashing Blade

I’D LIKE TO START BY SAYING THANKYOU TO EVERYONE THAT PLAYED ON THE FIELD AND TO EVERYONE THAT CONTRIBUTED OFF THE FIELD, WITH A SPECIAL MENTION FOR MR. LAMB FOR PREPARING THE BEST WICKET IN THE LEAGUE BAR NONE AND FOR ALL THE UNSEEN HOURS THAT HE PUTS IN. THANKYOU BILLY.

BEFORE WE BOWLED A BALL THIS SEASON OUR FIRST TEAM CAPTAIN TOTALLY DESTROYED MY CAREFULLY THOUGHT OUT PLANS FOR THE SEASON BY TELLING ME HE WAS TAKING ONE OF MY OPENING BOWLERS. THIS TURNED OUT QUITE RIGHTLY OF COURSE TO BE FOR THE WHOLE SEASON. SO IN RETURN I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHICH OF THE CURRENT 1ST TEAMS ELDER STATESMEN WE WILL BE OFFERED FOR NEXT SEASON “BRACKETS NOT GUARANTEED A PLACE !”

BUT WORRY NOT MY TACTIC OF LOSING THE TOSS 13 OUT OF 15 OCCASIAONS AND STARTING WITH GAZ AND DAZ TO OPEN THE BOWLING WORKED A TREAT. GAZ TAKING 22 WICKETS AT 9.9 A PIECE AND DAZ TAKING 32 WICKETS AT 11.3 ALTHOUGH DAZ DID BOWL 61 MORE OVERS THAN GAZ MAINLY BEACAUSE HE KEPT BEGGING ME TO LET HIM BOWL 22 OVERS FROM ONE END USUALLY UPHILL AND INTO THE WIND.

SO IN THE LEAGUE WE WON 9 AND LOST 3 FINISHING IN SECOND PLACE WHICH WOULD HAVE MEANT PROMOTION.

IN THE BARNBOW CUP WE WON 1 LOST 1 AND IN THE FESTIVAL TROPHY WE HAD A 1ST ROUND BYE, OUR QUARTER FINAL OPPONENTS DROPPED OUT AND WE WERE NARROWLY BEATEN BY TONG 1ST TEAM IN THE SEMI FINAL. SO ON APPEAL WE GOT TO THE FINAL WITHOUT WINNING A GAME AND FOR ONCE I WON THE TOSS AND PUT HORBURY INTO BAT. IN THE END WE WON OUR FIRST CUP TROPHY FOR THE SECOND TEAM WITH AN OVER TO SPARE THANKS TO A GREAT TEAM EFFORT AND ESPECIALLY GAZ’S KEY WICKETS AND GUY’S RUNS.

FINALLY I’D LIKE TO FINISH BY SAYING THAT I HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYED PLAYING IN OUR MOST SUCESSFUL SEASON SO FAR AND IF I UPSET 1 OR 2 ALONG THE WAY I’M SORRY I’LL TRY AND UPSET A FEW MORE NEXT SEASON (IF RE-ELECTED)

THANKYOU VERY MUCH.

Fairburn Cricket Club

Silver Street

Fairburn

Knottingley

N.Yorkshire

WF11 9JA