Before I look back at to the 2014 season I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those from the club who sponsored me for my Prudential Ride London 100 cycle event. Also of significance for me was the fact that the 2014 season was the first time since I joined the club in 1990 that I hadn’t picked up a bat in anger. Of more importance at the start of the season was would we still be able to get out four league sides? The first few weeks were a struggle and being 4th XI skipper is a tough job. John Kershaw had to relinquish the reins due to work commitments and the club owes Peter Baker a debt of gratitude for coming to the rescue and taking up the unenviable task. In the end, the 4th XI finished a comfortable 6th in their division and had to cancel a lot fewer games than some other big clubs in that division. Please read Peter’s review of the 4th XI season for greater detail.
The start of the season also saw the unveiling of the new electronic scoreboard. Thanks goes to John Heslam for organising the quote and getting the design put together. Richard Roberston and John then hired a van and drove to Yorkshire to pick up all the parts, after which the club carpenter, Paul Watts, was on hand to redo the facia and put all the parts in place. We have also got a new website that will hopefully stand the test of time and be a resource for those who want to see who we are and what we have achieved in our history. We have come a long way since 1956 and I think it is very appropriate to see who were the players involved and how we have managed to get to where we are now. It’s true that Richard Robertson and John Heslam really did play, and the Press Cuttings section has the evidence to prove it.
Given our recent record, it is easy to forget that winning the Keatley Cup back in the early days was quite an achievement, as Royston were the dominant local club. Also, of course, some of the younger members won’t even remember the Webber League and Barker Cup. In today’s Keatley Cup we may only play three games, which shows the decline of midweek cricket. In the 2000s when I was midweek Captain we would often play three games a week!
I will leave it to the Captains to review their seasons, but it shouldn’t go without saying that we were once again successful on the field.
As League runners-up the 1st XI made it to the Premier Division play-off against Potters Bar, only to fall just short on the day. We are a small village club and considering our size the level we play at is quite remarkable. There is no shame in losing to Potters Bar and to come second to a very strong Hertford side is a considerable achievement that we should all be proud of. Once again we looked in good form in the Davidstow National Village Cup. I didn’t witness the storm of biblical proportions that cut short the quarter-final game against Dinton, cutting all the power in the process, but I do know that in Buntingford the game could have been completed. The fickle nature of the weather might well have robbed us of a repeat visit to Lords and the chance to play Woodhouse Grange once again, who went on to win the cup. A degree of good fortune is always needed to win the Village Cup and Dinton used all theirs when the rains came, as they were very easily beaten in the semi-finals.
The rain also robbed Andrew of his showpiece President’s Day as the following Sunday we had to travel to Dinton for the replay. However, our President is very tenacious and after a lot of hard work it was successfully rearranged for September. However, I think we would all agree that nothing beats a President’s Day in August with the sun beating down.
Marcus Martin’s 2nd XI repeated last year’s promotion and are now in Division 5B. Maseeh Naeem’s 3rd XI put together a great end of season run to get us promoted into Division 8A. These names may well seem odd to you, but the Saracens Herts. Cricket League has decided to move to a ten team league structure where we play everyone home and away.
The strong performances in the second, third and fourth elevens were thanks in part to us picking up some new players. This is vital to a small club like ours.
It was great to see Howard back at the club at the end of the season after his health scare. It is never quite the same in the club without seeing Howard perched on his stool at the end of the bar and buying us drinks! Club’s like ours rely on volunteers not just playing, but off the field too. The league requires us to provide an umpire for 2nd XI games and Paul Watts once again did a wonderful job for us. The 1st XI also need a scorer and Neil Haslem has fulfilled that role for them. Neil has decided to retire from scoring and we thank him for his contribution over the years. I’m sure he will never forget scoring at Lords just as the players won’t forget their magical day at the Home Of Cricket. This means we have a vacancy. If you’re interested in being the club scorer please speak to someone on the Committee.
I will also be standing down from my role as “Hon Sec”. Peter Baker has agreed to stand for election for this position at the next AGM. Although I wouldn’t want to prejudge any vote, I doubt their will be a queue of people to challenge his nomination and I wish him well in his new role.
A club like Reed depends on its volunteers. You can’t be successful on the field without help off it. Richard Robertson once again produced some of the best wickets around and certainly no one visiting us would complain about the surfaces they get to play on. The tea ladies once again make life so much easier for the Captains by giving them one less thing to worry about (and serving up really excellent teas in the process). We thank everyone who helps keep the club running smoothly.
I can report that the club finances are in a healthy position, helped once again by record bar profits. This was due mainly to the run of home games in the village cup, but also to social events such as President’s Day, the Quiz Night and Stuart’s party. These all contributed significant amounts to our funds, which allowed us to keep subscriptions relatively low and spend heavily without reducing our bank balance. We spent money on improving the drive and car park, buying a new television, and of course upgrading to the new electronic scorebox. We are also indebted to Roger Bowcock who saved us thousands of pounds when our bar shutters decided to reach their use-by date and fell apart. Replacement shutters are not cheap, but Roger used his initiative, identified the problem and repaired them. An example of just why our club is so very successful.
Baz Curtis – Hon. Secretary
