BLACKHEATH CRICKET

NEWS LETTER ~ JANUARY 2005

Hope you all had a decent break, with the correct quantities of food and beer consumed.
The start of the year is always a good time to start thinking about cricket and putting some dates in the diary.

The pre-season indoor nets start on Monday, March 14th at 8pm at the Oval (Surrey Cricket Ground).
They will be held on March 14th, 21st (None on the 28th - it's Easter) April 4th and 11th.
It's possible that we will hold some sessions at Woolwich, we are still waiting for dates.
Deano will be holding several fitness sessions prior to the indoor sessions - details will be posted.

The 2005 REGULAR SEASON starts on the weekend of APRIL 16th & 17th.
As usual there will be a pre-season mini tour to Cambridge. There will be 2 Saturday and 2 Sunday fixtures and that should ensure that everyone who wants a game can get one. Mark Reading will co-ordinate accommodation and beers in Cambridge. The fixtures are decent, the session good and it's a great way to kick off the season.

April 23rd and 30th will be for friendly warm up matches / trial matches.

May 7th ~ The League programme begins. For the 1st XI it is a trip to Maidstone to play the MOTE while the 2nd XI entertains BEXLEY at the Rectory Field. The South Thames and Kent Div 4 fixtures will be published in January - Watch the website for details.

September 3rd ~ is the last league weekend ~ where the opening fixtures are reversed meaning the MOTE at the Rectory and Bexley away.

Big Cup Run Required
The 1st round of the National Knockout Cup is against Linden Park on Sunday 24th April & the 1st round of the Evening Standard Cup is also against Linden Park on the 15th May - How's that for co-incidence. If, as we should, we progress to the 2nd round of the National Knockout it is away to East Grindsted on 8th May. This means that there will be some very competitive Sunday cricket in the first 3 or 4 weeks of the season. It would be great if we can have a few supporters, helpers and scorers for these matches - make a day of it. Also it would be very helpful to skipper Jim Hands if he could have full availability to select a winning side from. Make an effort to support a decent Cup run this year.

We will enter a side in the Bertie Joel Cup under the management of John Olufawo this year. The cup has been in competed for since 1967 and it was pre runner to the national knockout. There are many strong teams that still compete for the cup and I think it will provide some interest for club members. The matches will take place mainly on Sunday, although there is scope for mid-week games.

Sundays

Over 25's vs Under 25's
This has proved a popular inter-club match where the older players can pass on experience and knowledge to the younger members of the Club. Well that's part of the theory!! We have had a number of good matches over the years and I'd expect this year to be no different. Make a note that it will be played in the 1st quarter of the season - not the last. Its in the fixture list for May 22nd.

Sunday League
The Sunday league has been expanded this year - It means that there are 8 group matches before the final. The 1st match is on 5th June at the Rectory versus BOCA. The remaining matches are spread through the season.

Sunday 2nd XI
There is a full programme for the Sunday 2' - starting with the Cambridge match on April 17th. Other highlights include a trip to Godstone, John Fisher (so good we play them twice), The Red Dogs, Tatsfield and The Strollers.

Days off Work
MCC ~ Melbourne Cricket Club XI - Wednesday 22nd June
We will host a touring team marshalled by our Man in Melbourne Hamish Purdey. Selection will be open to the entire Club - so book a day of work or college and let me know availability.

Cricket Week
As always the week of cricket at the Rectory takes place in the first week of August. There will be matches every day, including the all day match on Tuesday 2nd August where Blackheath play the Rest of the World. On Monday the match is versus OD/Cuaco, Wednesday versus Bapchild and Thursday versus the wandering team Sydenhurst Ramblers. Friday as always is for the London Flood Light 6-a-side competition. If you cannot take the whole week off, at least book a day or two to play some cricket at the Club, it's a fantastic way to spend the day. Mark Calnan is cricket week co-ordinator this week.

Kit
Blackheath kit is available this year - see the website for prices and information. Get your orders and cash in early to avoid disappointment.

Subscriptions : Set up a standing order and you will not notice it going from your account
I have included the standing order form at the bottom of this piece. If you fill in, sign and send the standing order form to Laurie Baker this month you can spread the cost over 9 months so that means £15, £9 or £5 a month - which really is unbelievable value. Full subs this year are £135, new members fees £85 and students £45. If you want to send post-dated cheques that is also fine - and of course if you wish to pay the whole sum now with your Christmas bonus, Laurie and the Club will be more than happy to accept it. (If your circumstances change through the year - we always make the necessary adjustments)

Website
We'll keep the website updated as usual - so keep your eyes peeled for news and information. The chat board is very active, so keep posting your thoughts and comments.

Recruitment
Chris Collinson will be putting up posters around Blackheath to invite umpires and scorers to join the Club. We currently have 4 umpires, but we need 3 additional Saturday umpires as well as one who can stand Sundays. We would welcome as many scorers as we can find. If you can put a poster up at work or know someone who is reliable and keen - email Chris : Chris.Collinson@DrKW.com

Obviously if you know anyone in the area who plays cricket and is not playing for Blackheath make sure that you either certify them or get them along to the best club in London. It is our intention to have 6 league teams on Saturday and 3 Sunday XI's. I think that is reasonable and it will give us a decent platform to work off. So - remember to ask everyone you know. If they play cricket - sign them up.

And Finally ....

It may seem early for availability, but in order to help us plan for the early part of the season can you let me know if you know that you will NOT be around.
Do you want to play in the National Knockout cup matches?
Do you want to play in the Evening Standard Cup matches?
Do you want to play in the Bertie Joel Cup matches?
Are you available for the 16th & 17th April?
Will you play Cricket Week?
Are you planning significantly MORE or LESS (exams, babies, age!) cricket in 2005 than last year?

Let me know now - it makes us more efficient.

I want to hear from you

If anyone you know at the Club did not receive this - let me know and I'll adjust my email contacts list.

Standing Order ~ Cut off along the line

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Standing Order to BLACKHEATH CRICKET CLUB   To Manager: _______________________________________________(name of bank/building society)   Address _________________________________________________________________________   Account Number : ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___   Bank Code : ___ ___ - ___ ___ - ___ ___   Please pay £___ on ___/___/200__, followed by £____ on the ___ day of each month until September 200__ (inclusive) to Blackheath Cricket Club (Account Number 34065709) at NatWest Bank plc, Blackheath and Westcombe Park Branch, 13 Stratheden Parade, Old Dover Road, London SE3 7SY (Sort Code 60-23-27). This cancels any previous standing order to this account. Name : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . House /Flat : . . . . . . . . . . . . Street : . . . . . . . . . . . . City : . . . . . . . . . . . . Postcode : . . . . . . . . . .. . Signed:   Date: