Presentation Night - 12/10/2008
Saturday 12th October saw the club hold their annual Presentation Night in the Social Centre at Norcross. Below are some clips from the programme including a list of winners. Special thanks to Andy Hill and his alternative awards if you werent there you missed a treat:
Congratulations to all Award winners
Team awards
Under 15 merit award - Matthew Berry
1st XI Batting - Adam Jackson
1st XI Bowling - Steve Hill
1st XI Players Player - Steve Hill
Marge Leahy Cup 1st XI Match Winning - Mike Veitch
2nd XI Batting - Lee Wilson
2nd XI Bowling - Andy Lester
2nd XI Players Player - Lee Wilson
Charlie Shawcross Trophy 2nd XI Match Winning - Lee Wilson
3rd XI Batting - Chris Lester
3rd XI Bowling - Chris Lester
3rd XI Players Player - Rick Blampied
J C H Trophy 3RD XI Match Winning - Chris Morrell
Winstanley Cup Best Batting - Adam Jackson
Bill Leahy Cup Best Bowling - Mike Veitch
Jim Owen Trophy – Club Person of the Year - Phil Dawson
Sponsors Trophy - Sponsors Award - Chris Openshaw
Pat Hull Trophy – Merit Award - Jason Dyer/ Rick Blampied
The club wish to thank the following for their continued sponsorship:
HASSRA / Civil Service Sports Council
Wyre Building Supplies, Bracewell Avenue Poulton le Fylde – for all your building requirements – contact Bob Ellis - tel no 895098
Macdonalds Estate Agents, 81-83 Redbank Road Bispham
Knott End Working Mens Club Salisbury Ave Knott End
The Pet Shop 38 Lancaster Road Knott End
Road Safety Services Wakefield Road Bispham
Club Sponsorship 2009– match or otherwise £25 per ball – forms available if you know of a sponsor. Other forms of sponsorship are available see Bob Veitch for details.
Final League Placings 2008
|
|
Played |
Won |
Lost |
Tied |
NR |
Ded |
Bat |
Bowl |
Pts |
Position |
|
Norcross 1st XI |
22 |
13 |
5 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
8 |
49 |
156 |
1st |
|
|
Played |
Won |
Lost |
Tied |
NR |
Ded |
Bat |
Bowl |
Pts |
Position |
|
Norcross 2nd XI |
22 |
13 |
6 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
9 |
48 |
154 |
3rd |
|
Sunday League |
Played |
Won |
Lost |
Tied |
NR |
Ded |
Bat |
Bowl |
Pts |
Position |
|
Norcross Sunday XI |
11 |
6 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
17 |
69 |
11th |
The Chair speaks …….
I started school, Disneyland opened, the first Guinness Book of Records was published, Elvis Presley released his third single, Winston Churchill resigned as Prime Minister, the last woman to be hanged in England lost her life, Simon and Garfunkel started their career together, Albert Einstein and James Dean both died, Rowan Atkinson, John Grisham, Nicolas Sarkozy, Bruce Willis, Dale Winton, Michel Platini, Bill Gates, Whoopee Goldberg, Allan Border and Ian Botham were all born.
Oh…………………………… and Norcross first team won a championship.
An auspicious year 1955! Let’s hope we don’t have to wait another 53 years for the next championship.
In fact this has been a tremendous season for the club. Not only have we won the first division (for the hard of hearing I’ll repeat that - the first team won division one) but the second team have finished third in division three. In many other years their record, having won as many matches as the firsts, would have been enough to see them promoted and I know that Lee will relive some of the matches lost thinking “if only”. Matches against the two sides who have been promoted, were ones that could have been won. They had an off day at Grimsargh and definitely met Springfields on the wrong day. If only!
I firmly believe that these things are cyclical. It was not all that long ago, less than ten years, since I proclaimed us the premier amateur club on the Fylde. Since then our fortunes have fluctuated with ups and downs, but we haven’t really built upon three cup final appearances and two league runners up spots and in those same ten years Great Eccleston CC have gone from the doldrums to Palace Shield Champions, Meyler and Loxham cup winners. There is no logical reason why we cannot follow suit. No logical reason why we cannot build upon this season’s success. Many of you here this evening will have enjoyed a measure of success, whether that is a championship winners medal this year, or one of the runners up medals we have won over the last decade.
Enjoy the evening! Celebrate the success! It has been a good year for the club. You have worked hard for it.
But just think how much more there is for you to get out of cricket. Just think how good it must be to win the Palace Shield, or the Meyler, or Loxham cup. It is not fanciful! It is not wishful thinking! There are players at this club who give their all and there are some who don’t. All we need to do is increase the ratio of do’s to don’ts.
If you do nothing else this winter become a do and encourage the person sitting beside you to become one as well and who knows next year there might just be a bigger trophy on show.!
Bob
View from the Boundary
Well what a season but in the end, a successful one. Sure that the captains will cover their respective seasons in the reviews later but can I just add congratulations to all teams – It does give us something to build on and hope fully the club goes from strength to strength. The form shown by all teams gives the club a base on which to build and hopefully more success will follow next season. What else have we done…………….
On a ground view -we need work to be put in early season next year – be available, only 6 turned up to put things away , poor show lads . We have taken great strides with the player’s patio area and the family picnic area. Plans for the future include new sightscreens, score box improvements, further improvements to the net area , netting at the dyke end of the ground and improving the square and outfield – it can only happen if we all get involved. One of the highlights of the season was the effort people put into ground force events now if we can double it next year even better. Special thanks to Stuart Berry for the catering – if you weren’t there, you missed a treat. And whilst on the subject of the grounds, nothing but thanks upon thanks to Phil and Bob – they have put hours of their time just getting the ground fit for purpose some weeks and given the weather this year we all know how horrible that has been. Cheers fellas.
We had a highly successful fund raising night in July when as well as boosting club funds we had a great night of entertainment – one to beat Hilly, but I’m sure that you will come up with something. Thanks to you for all your hard work and others involved.
Juniors – it been hard this year getting sufficient numbers to help out with nets and running teams, but we have money available for people if you want to go on coaching courses - it actually improves your own game as well!! Juniors are the life blood of any club and we have seen this year these lads come through and play senior cricket – indeed a few of the current 1st XI are products of the youth system here – Lets hope it continues!
One can’t let the season end without saying a very special thank you to Pat Hull who has been 1st team scorer for more years than I’d care to remember – Pat is well known around the Palace Shield grounds not only for her pleasant nature with all, but her tub of sweets that has fed many a NXCC cricketer as well as others. But she has decided to call time and hang up her pencil case. Her sweets but most importantly Pat herself will be missed, but she has promised to pop down and support the lads next year. Thanks Pat for the sterling service.
Finally – enjoy the night, congrats to the 1st XI and all winners, fully deserved (NXCC on tour to the PS do – 7th November @ Ribby Hall!!!!!!) – hope you have found the bulletins useful and entertaining throughout the season. I look forward to next season and reporting another successful campaign and hopefully the !st XI retaining their status, 2nd XI achieving promotion and success for the 3rd XI and Junior teams. Winter well……. its only 3 months to indoor nets.
Next edition will be out in the new year – perhaps some close season signings to report – Alan Hill is our Sulaiman al-Fahim, watch this space!!!!
Boundary Boy
Match Reports
1st XI
Premier Movers…
Our intention and main objective, both as a Club and, of course, that of the 1st XI has been achieved, and in some style. Losing the first three games of the season ensured that we had to do things the hard way – a familiar Norcross trait. Traditionally (and unfathomably) we are poor starters – something that we can’t afford to replicate in 2009. The first game was the coldest day I’ve ever experienced on a cricket field, the second game I missed through illness, and the third game we were missing three players, including, Mike and Steve who have both finished high up in the league averages and – shall we say - there were some regrettable ‘issues’ on the field that day. It was a close one as we lost with three balls to go. However, we put a great run together and in a rain ravaged (and nervy) end to the season, we gathered enough points to comfortably wrap up the title after the penultimate game was called off without a ball being bowled. This presented us with the very unusual situation of having one game to go with nothing to play for but a desire to end the season on a high (and beat Longridge!). This was contrary to previous seasons where we have had to win to stay up (remember W&G 2006…) or with a chance of going up (at F&B 2007…). And it’s partly that ‘feeling’ that some of us endured after that game against W&G that makes this year’s promotion all the more sweeter, such are the highs and lows…
Winning the league – any league – is very special. It’s great to have played a (small?) role in our success, made all the more exceptional given that the 1st XI hadn’t won a title since winning the Fylde Cup back in 1955.
I think we have more in the tank. I believe that the squad as is are improving and can meet the challenges that the Premier Division will present. There will be – as there always is between now and April – speculation regarding new players, exits, retirements, et al. Whatever will happen will do just that – it will happen. I believe we are an attractive proposition. Let’s see what occurs, but the current players - and any additions - can achieve a whole lot more by being even more focused on their game. Nets have been difficult – I’ve never known so many weeks in a season cancelled or disrupted by the weather. Only through focused and targeted practising can hone our skills and get that extra 5% from our respective games. How we achieve that is the responsibility of us all. Should we net on grass in addition to the facilities we have? Should we arrange practise games, a 6-a-side comp, and additional indoor nets? Would having two practise evenings be beneficial – maybe to practise fielding one night and bowling and batting another? Should we practise on a Friday night so that we are practising closer to the game on the Saturday? This is all up for discussion, but very much down to you / us – the players – and to our collective input and efforts. If we want it bad enough, we’ll make some effort and do it. We are amateur cricketers and at times we’ve other stuff to do, work, families, etc. Not everyone all of the time can get to nets – that’s accepted. But if we are serious about our cricket and about achieving as much as we realistically can next year – then these are all things we need to consider and discuss in order to give us the best chances of meeting challenging objectives in 2009. This applies throughout the whole Club, not only the 1st XI. The 2nd XI narrowly missed out on promotion and it would be a tremendous achievement if the 2nd’s went up next year and would benefit the Club tremendously.
Thank you’s are always deserved but this year perhaps more than ever. Pat deserves special mention as she’s stepping down after more years than she’d care to recall. Since I’ve captained the side she’s been our regular scorer, providing not only her own pen but also sweets and a valuables security service… and the odd surprise for those unsuspecting players leaving the shower whose ‘middle stumps’ are exposed! Thanks Pat. Thanks also – and once again - to Phil for his efforts both on match days and during the week. Thanks to Bob for lots of stuff including a steady hand on the Club’s tiller and for enduring the difficulties of selection… many, many thanks also to the vice captain; to Andy Lester; to the old & young duffers on the Executive Committee (DT, Boris, etc); to Ang for doing the best teas in the league (if she’s making teas, she’s not buying shoes…) and for providing the skipper with beer money; to our ‘sponsor’ Mr Alan Hill for his support and ‘incentivisation’ scheme; thanks to Mrs Veitch for doing teas when Ang was in Pont Aven and Beth likewise when I was dying; and finally to all the players who’ve played 1st XI this season, making our promotion a reality. Let’s enjoy tonight and savour our success. There have been some superb team and individual performances – some of which will be rewarded tonight, and rightly so. I’m looking forward to the Palace Shield Presentation dinner this year… lets make sure it’s a great turn out and enjoy yet another night of celebration – we’ve earned it.
What was that I heard you say Bob, hospitality?
Dav
2nd XI –As the end of the season swings around again, its time to look back on things……
In some ways the season was quite successful, with many highlights and plus points to look back on and hope to build on for next season. These, I am sure people will agree on, have to include young Kieran McGann showing more talent, Jase taking the gloves and taking numerous half chance stumpings, also seeing Sam Bury showing some real pace and general all round promise, added to the fact we battled all the way to the end to finish in 3rd place.
We’ve also had the pleasure of seeing some comedy moments during the last few months, including Andy ‘the matrix’ Hill, Boycotts batting (more painful that comedy), and Whittingham attempting to move the sightscreen. Whilst also witnessing the painful sights of Dicko’s nice new motor blowing up on the way back from an embarrassing day at Grimsargh and the poor weather which left us playing in numerous bowling tracks and leaving the batsmen short of responsive pitches.
The season has also seen glimpses of the potential future of the club, with players like Rick showing he can build innings at the top of the order, and people stepping up from the 3’s such as Henno, Swinney, Woody and Dicko to do capable jobs when required. As well as the return of the Dentist and Rick Peat, who have come in and added quality to the squads.
For me personally the highlights have been the togetherness of the lads that have gone out on the pitch to represent the side, the standard of fielding in the most part as anyone who plays in my teams will know how important I see this, and the attitude and fighting spirit show in most performances!
Individual standout performances have come from Kieran in numerous bowling spells, Rick’s knock at Freckleton, Wilko’s innings at home against Wrea Green, and Jason’s ability behind the stumps. But for me, the one surprising and most pleasing performance was Hilly’s bowling at home against Grimsargh in getting through 23 overs and bowling as quick as I have seen him in a while.
It has been a largely enjoyable season with all players contributing and excelling at times, however like everything there are areas in which we need to improve and work on in order to hopefully go one step further and be looking at finishing in the promotion places next season…… This includes people taking more responsibility when batting in order not to gift sides wickets at important times, etc.
Last but not least, I’d like to thank each and every person that has played for me this season for the effort and hard work that has gone in to things. Not just on the pitch, but off it as well.
Special thanks for all the drivers to away games, Rick for being an excellent VC, and Big Drew and Wilko for numerous times I have leant on them for advice, guidance and general help.
All that’s left to say is enjoy your winter, and I hope to see you all next year to lead you in another crack at getting the 2’s up to the standard of cricket this clubs needs and deserves.
Lee
3rd XI
Match 1 Vernon Carus away -. Bowled well at the start with Henno and Opey, Henno chose his end and Opey had to run into the wind. Opey bowled 2 wicket maidens at the start of his spell and Henno bowling very steadily, then the runs started to come until Lee Wilson came on and bowled his spell finishing with figures of 9-2-36-4 and Opey came back and picked up another to finish with figures of 10-5-15-3 Henno picked up 2 wickets and Blamps got 1 to bowl them out for 186.
We started well with the bat Opey (23) and Swinny (29) ,Wilson came in at three and batted well for 72 to get within a fighting chance of the total but a few quick wickets of Blamps, Morrell and Sam Bury left a lot for the tail to do. Unfortunately too much as we fell 1 run short at the end.
Match 2 St Annes away - Won the toss and had a bat both openers were out in the first few overs playing poor shots but Rick Peat went in and played very well for 55 (not bad for his first game in 3 years ish) to put on a good partnership with Lester (24). Wilson (16) hit a few quick runs at the end but we were all out for 144 in 37 overs.
In reply the bowlers bowled really well, Lester and Woody picking up one each for not many. But it was Wilson who was the pick of the bowlers 10-2-26-3. Opey picked up 1 victim and young Kieron McGann took 2 and Lester getting a brilliant run out! Blamps took a catch at silly mid off, off Kierons bowling, which resulted in a broken little finger! We bowled them out for 84.
Match 3 TBC home - With skipper Blamps out injured with a broken finger he had to watch his side get battered by a strong TBC side. Before the game the wind was so strong it blew the site screens over so the game was delayed till they were picked up. Temp skipper Rick Peat went out toss up in gale force winds and lost so had to bat. All I can say about the batting 41 all out with Morrell top scoring with 9!!!! What can a skipper do when you are only defending 41? Not a lot in our case. Early wickets from Lester and Heys but we got beat by 8 wickets.
Match 4 Penwortham away - 4th game and 4th different captain. We had a bowl Lester bowled fantastically throughout the match making it hard work for the Penwortham batters taking home figures of 7-2-13-5. Young Chris Kelly got his first bowl in senior cricket but didn’t go to well for him getting hit for 15 runs in 2 overs. Kieron bowled well for his 1-17 so too did Wilson for his 1-29 however he should have had 6 or 7 with 5 catches dropped and 2 stumpings missed of his bowling. However we bowled them out for 137.
Swinny (24) started well but Opey was aiming for the small boundary and top edged 1 to cover for 8. That sent Chris Morrell into bat and I don’t think he will forget this innings in a hurry. He took a bit of a beating at first when the bowler kept bouncing him but when he realised he could play the pull shot he won the battle and more or less the game for us with an unbeaten 82! Dicko finished 13 not out to record a 7 wicket victory!
Match 5 Whittingham away -Blamps back match fit and won the toss and put them into bat. All bowlers bowled well throughout the innings especially so for young McGann taking 3-33 including both batsmen who were taking the game away from us. Skipper took 2-3 including a smart catch from Morrell behind the stumps, Woody also took 2 wickets and Lester, Heys and Opey took 1 each to bowl them out for 112.
The second innings became a bit more difficult than Blamps thought it maybe when we lost a few early quick wickets leaving Dicko at the crease and Blamps on his way in. They then put on a partnership of 70 which turned the game around Dicko 9 and Blamps 57, but that wasn’t enough yet Chris Lester batted well before getting out for 17 with 10 runs required. Tom Harrison 8* and Chris Heys 4* pulled us across the finish to win the game by 3 wickets.
Match 6 Whittle-le-Woods home A lovely summers day saw skipper choosing to bowl again. However the bowlers bowled really well though we only managed to take 5 wickets in the 45 overs. Opey the pick of the bowlers taking 3-19 and Henno 2-13, but we restricted them to 125. Again after the loss of a couple of quick wickets , Dicko 22 and Blamps 34 at the middle again this time they put on 52 runs to give us the advantage. Still more work to do and Lester made easy work of it finishing on 25 not out and Heys on 9 not out to give us a 5 wicket win.
Match 7 Longridge away - as we turned up at Longridge all we could see was water but with a bit of hard work from the local lads we got started for a 35 over game. Again Blamps won the toss and again we bowled but this time our openers took a bit of a hammering until Wilson and McGann calmed the batsmen down, bowling well. Then Blamps 2-30 and Woody 4-19 came on and with some disciplined bowling reduced the score to 169 for 8.With the bat we didn’t put up any sort of a fight and were bowled out for 78. The only batsmen to make double figures were Wilson 21 Dyer 18 and Lester 16, a bad batting performance and a 91 run defeat.
Match 8 BAE Preston away - Blamps was absent for the last game so Wilson ran the side again. He opted to bowl. With Lester and Heys started us off 9-3-9-3 (Lester) and 6-3-4-1(Heys). The other bowlers bowled very well with Opey taking 2 wickets and McGann and Wilson taking 1 each. This kept the score down to 134 but again we were unable to bowl them out!!!
Parker (26) and Swinny (18) opened the batting and got us off to a good start then Opey came in and hit a quick 11. It was all left down to the Wilson (45 not out) and Lester (17 not out) to give us a 6 wicket victory.
All in all the season was a good season for our 3rd team as we just missed out on a play off place which is disappointing. Another thing for Sundays is that some individuals need to realise this is competitive cricket and some peoples only game a weekend so everybody should take it seriously and play a proper game and not spoil it for others. Everybody deserves a game and everyone is in the team for a reason even if it’s to practice your bowling or batting, or even just to get some runs under your belt. So use it as match practice and take it seriously and don’t just think of yourself or try and show off because most people think your a t**t and getting fed up it will drive people away!!!! Others than that Well done this season boys lets try and improve next season and get into the playoffs. - Blamps
Junior round up
First of all I would like to start off by expressing thanks to Bob, Billy Rowe and Keith Butterfield for the effort they have put in this season. It didn’t start well when we have to withdraw teams from the league’s under 17’s and under 13’s due to lack of numbers. The under 15’s team survived and achieved some decent results despite coming up against lads who were older and more experienced – hopefully the experience will serve them well for next season. Some of them including Keiran McGann, Matt Berry and Chris Kelly sampled senior cricket. Also a big thank you to all the parents, for their help in getting the lads to fixtures and supporting the lads at games, it does make a difference - we would be lost with out your support. Encouragingly, numbers on the under 13 front increased towards the end of season and coupled with us establishing links with Montgomery school as well as Cardinal Allen, the future looks bright. What we as a club now need to do is to get a few volunteers to go on the coaching courses and get down to nets to help the junior section develop. Interested ? – let Bob know
