CLUB NEWS

 

Thoughts from our retiring Chairman.

During the last few months of 1996 Alan Pyke, Tony Mundell, Derek Partridge and I met as a Steering Group to consider the merger of Theale Cricket Club with Tilehurst Cricket Club. On 19th February, 1997 the first meeting of the new Theale and Tilehurst Cricket club was held in the Pavilion at Theale.

In 1997 I was club secretary, and in 1999 & 2000 was elected as Chairman. I therefore feel very much part of Theale and Tilehurst Cricket Club. At the AGM in November 2000I did not seek re-election as it was not possible at that time to make any commitment of my time in 2001, although I still hope to be involved during the playing season.

I am delighted that the merger has proved so successful an am proud to have been involved in it. To think that 4 yrs ago both Theale CC and Tilehurst CC might not have survived as individual clubs: but the fact that the club now runs 4 senior teams, 3 colts teams, 2 indoor league teams and has a regular summer tour is proof of the success of the merger.

As Chairman for the past two years, I have seen that the strength and success of the club is based on an enthusiastic and hard-working committee with the duties and responsibilities of running the club being shared by all members of the committee. I believe it is very important that this shared responsibility is continued as problems can occur when all the duties are in the hands of a small number of members.

Although, quite rightly, the overwhelming feeling in the club is one of success there have been some disappointments too. Results in the league have not been as good as we have hoped, and a delay, due to circumstances beyond out control, in developing a second ground has been frustrating. However, these past disappointments are seen as future challenges.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members of the committee for their support over the past two years: it was very important to me in carrying out my duties as Chairman. May I also say a few thankyou's.

to Alan Pyke for his tremendous contribution to the club in the formation and management of the Colts section.

bullet to Ralph Jenkins and James Codd for keeping the Club's finances and administration in excellent order - increasingly important and time consuming jobs

.

bullet to Brian Cooper for the assistance he gave me on preparing the ground over the last two years.

 

bullet to David Cumming for captaining the club through an unrewarding period as far as results are concerned but still maintaining a good spirit amongst the players.

 

bullet to Derek Partridge for all the time and effort he put in over many years in making our wicket one of the best in the league.

 

bullet to Eddie Ellis for his continuing support as President

.

Finally, I would like to wish David Cumming, good luck and success as your new Chairman.

BRIAN BAREFOOT

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DAVID CUMMING

FIRST ELEVEN CAPTAIN  . . . . .  

 

After the first few league games of the season we knew that this might be a difficult year for Theale and Tilehurst 1st XI: so it proved.  Having missed promotion to Berkshire League Division 1 the previous season by a fraction of a point, we performed so poorly in the 2000 season that we could easily have been relegated by a similar margin to Division 3!

Although we generally batted quite well all season, we lacked penetration in our bowling . . . not surprising this as we lost enough bowlers to open the attack for three teams.  This was for a variety of reasons including :  “falling in love,” having a Saturday job, and having insufficient funds or insufficient will to  obtain an air ticket to Karachi.

On a brighter note, the Berkshire League Cup competition  was some consolation in our poor season.  We were drawn against West Ilsley, the previous year’s  Premier League Champions.  They strutted, we bowled and fielded well: they panicked, we won, due in no small part to a brilliant all-round display by one of our Saturday job boys, Chris Lemm.   I have but hazy recollections of the next match against another Premier Division side, Embrook.  I got my hands in a perfect position for catching . . . a football . . . and spent several hours in the Royal Berkshire Hospital being told the blatantly obvious by an assortment of NHS worthies, “You have broken your nose” . . . but we won, to get a semi-final place against Binfield of Division 1 at Woodley.  Their captain looked shocked when I told him who we had beaten in the previous rounds.  He said, “I didn’t know there were Premier Division sides in this competition” to which I replied, “There aren’t now!”  We duly won but then lost in the final, on a very dark and very wet evening, to Stratfield Turgis.

Despite the absence of talented players mentioned earlier, we should take heart from the fact that we put out three league teams every week.   This is principally due to the supply of younger players produced by our Colts team managers and coaches:  Alan Pyke, Bob Williams, James Codd and Brian Cooper.  On a further optimistic note, playing senior cricket a littler earlier than expected should prove invaluable experience for the younger members of our Club.

I should like to thank all those who have played in the First XI when I have been captain, especially James Codd for all his help and hard work.  I wish the new Club Captain, Brian Cooper, every success and enjoyment in the coming season.

 

BRIAN COOPER

SECOND XI CAPTAIN  . . .

Cricket has a tremendous ability to teach you things.  Amongst the lessons learnt from 2000 were:

A good start is simply that and nothing else
bullet Black Forest gateau doesn’t go with Guinness in large quantities!  
bullet You can fiddle  your batting, but you can’t fiddle your bowling .

These constant truths, handed down from generation to generation, were learnt in what could charitably be described as a mixed season for the 2nd XI. There were some very good performances, offer by some very bad ones.  I suppose that with England getting better, one team has to maintain the tradition of being able to collapse from 18-0 to 30-8.  However, not too much later the team successfully chased 180 for the loss of only two wickets!  Would the real 2nd XI stand up please.

Division Five was by far the tightest in the Berkshire League, and the number of points gained by the 2nd XI would have easily seen us mid-table in any other division.  It also means that there is no reason why the seconds shouldn’t be up there challenging for promotion to Division Four in the season ahead.  There are enough good players in the Club to achieve success across all three league sides if that is what members want.

Congratulations to Eddie Ellis for the batting award, to Osman Mahmood for Player of the Year and commiserations to all the other bowlers.

Best of luck to Roger as he takes over the captaincy of the 2nd XI, and here’s to an enjoyable and successful season.

 

BOB WILLIAMS

THIRD ELEVEN CAPTAIN . . .

I must firstly thank all  those involved with the Third team, not least being Carol Rutter and Chris Brain for the effort made with some wonderful teas.

On the pitch a captain couldn’t ask for more effort and commitment from a group of players than I received from my team.  Those who bowled never gave up, even when we were up against it.  Our batsmen (I don’t include myself in  this category) did really well against very good bowling from some of the teams we played and the fielding was excellent with some quite amazing catches being held!  We do our best in the Thirds to catch or stop the ball so that we don’t have to chase it to the boundary.  That’s because a few of us are nearing our sell-by date.  We still allow the younger ones to run though – that only seems fair.  Behind the stumps Pete Moore was outstanding.  Most of you don’t realise that he was only going to keep in two games to help us out but he ended up not missing a game all season!

All in all we h ad a most enjoyable season with a great atmosphere both in the dressing room and on the pitch.  Thank you lads.

 

ALAN PYKE

COLTS MANAGER 

October/November 2000:

Once again during the autumn and winter terms there (three?) secondary schools in the area were visited by Alan Pyke and a ‘taster’ coaching session took place with Year 7 boys 

January 2001:

Some of the boys were invited to attend softball coaching sessions at Theale Green Leisure Centre, directed by four qualified coaches  (Brian Cooper, James Codd, Martin Pyke and Alan Pyke).

February to April 2001:

Proper nets started at Bradfield College and continue until the middle of  April.  This involves boys at both Under 13 and Under 15 levels. Bob Williams joins the other coaches for these sessions.

April to October 2001:

Outdoor practice commences at the cricket ground (Englefield Road), plus, it is hoped, at Theale Green School’s all-weather wicket.

The cup matches for each team start at the end of April and are played on a league basis in the early stages.  Each of the teams plays in the West Region, which has 5 or 6 teams in each league.  The winners and runners-up progress to the quarter-finals together with teams from the other three regions.

Hopefully  some of the boys will move on to play in the Sunday side or even in the Saturday league teams.

September to October 2001:

Start again at the schools with the new Year 7 intake.

 

THE INDOOR LEAGUE . . .

Theale and Tilehurst won its first title in 2000 with the T&T “A” side winning Division One of the Berkshire Indoor League.  This was as joint winners with Holyport, as the final game against them could not be played.  However, as we beat them in our first game in the higher division this winter, I think we can claim to be the true, moral champions: certainly as we have now beaten them again!

The T&T “A” side has been doing well in the Indoor League and pushing for promotion for the last couple of years.  In 1999-2000 the regular team of James Codd, Edward Choules, Andy Johnson, Philip Jenkins, Brian Cooper and Steve Whitehead were able to win eleven games out of fourteen to ensure promotion. The regulars were augmented on  occasions by Alex Moore and John Morris.

Since promotion to the higher division the team has continued to do well, and to date, has won five and lost five in the 2000-2001 season.  This is a very good performance as the competition has become much stiffer, playing the likes of  Falkland (who finished third in the country last year), and other Thames Valley sides such as Kidmore End and Caversham and Redingensians.  Part of this success is down to one captain finally recognising the innate bowling talent of Edward Choules and letting it loose!

The T&T “A” side has also been doing well under the leadership of Dermot Healy in Division One.  In the 1999-2000 season they finished comfortably in mid-table and this year have continued to do well, being currently in fourth place.

                             BRIAN COOPER

 

Umpires urgently needed !!

League umpires for the 2001 season are urgently required. If you are interested, or know someone who is, please contact James Codd ,  Brian Cooper or Roger Puri.