Chairman's A.G.M Speech 2005

We started the year with having the wall knocked down, Brian worked tirelessly in getting this rebuilt and due to some shoddy building working and with a lot of help from some of the local youths it is now entirely demolished. The fabric of this wall is made up of many component parts Bricks, sand cement etc with the labour being the most intrinsic part, the coming together in the way we are here tonight.

The 1st team having achieved promotion and the 2nd’s having achieved relegation in the previous year was enough to tell you that we were short of players. The 1st team missing some players and playing at a higher standard clearly felt the early pressure and with tensions running high it was not long before this spilled over into things being said. I have had some good conversations with the 1st team skipper regarding players being available and support from the club. Looking back although tense it was a good time in the season, It is right we fill like this at times but the important lessons to learn were that the skippers run the teams, the committee runs the club, and unless we communicate together we can’t move forward. The way that the 1st team captain conducted himself at this time is to be complimented and I am grateful to him for his honesty and integrity.

It seems at this point onward the 1st team consolidated their move up a division and found a good competitive run and proved they are worthy of their position. The 2nds lacking continuity and fielding colts found they were playing well below their standard which for some reason made the season more difficult than it should have been. There was one particular game where all the players showed the grit and determination that if carried forward to next season will see them promoted next year.

I came to watch the Sunday side and played three times for them. The spirit in which all the games were played was excellent, which as Jim will confirm some teams asking for extra fixtures next year. I would like to compliment the Sunday captain for the way the team conducted its affairs and for upholding the traditional values that apply to social cricket.

As current acting Chairman it gives me great pleasure to thank all of you involved in the club over the last 12 months with special thanks to and in no particular order.

Andy – for the square preparation including his associates

Jim – for talking to all the other clubs and sorting ground arrangements

Brian – For all the hard work he puts into everything he does for the club and I’m not just talking about the things you see. He is always scrounging for things to improve the club. The paperwork and running around.

The Captains, Dave, Adam and Peter. For your conduct and co-operation in often difficult circumstances.

Penny for organising the membership details
Chris for money matters

Peter – for his outstanding works with the colts

And I would personally like to thank John Reeve for his council in fact all of the
Committee who have put up with some half-baked ideas.

But !!!!!   We are in a position of progression. We have two new players confirmed for next year, two returning players and a number of people on the fringes that could join. But the real strength lies with the Colts there is 16 young players that will make senior cricket over the next three years adding strength to what we have

One of the above mentioned new players is an overseas player of good reputation. Our thanks to the kind efforts of Nic Nolan who is sponsoring him for work and arranging his permit here, which without, it would not be possible to attract such quality players.

I am extremely happy to announce that we have a sponsor for next year in the Name of Sussex Garage Doors, Moor details to be announced

The Club is growing, this is a time of opportunity which to move forward we have to collectively embrace what is happening. I have asked Trident and Males to price two mobile nets for us and have additionally asked them to supply Budget costs for a lightweight frame steel clad structure to replace the existing clubhouse. This information will enable us to program funding and set targets, which we must achieve to move forward. This is where the analogy to the wall comes in, we are just like it, we are the component parts of the cricket club, and together we bond into a stronger unit and achieve better results on and off the field. It will require every member to make a lot of effort to make this happen or you run the risk of being just like the wall and slowly you erode to nothing.

Fred Robertson has retired and Gill Jennings has taken up the post of town clerk. I have found her pleasant and approachable. She is happy to help and only last week agreed to donate the mowing gangs to us. She has emailed me 7 times in the last two weeks. To continue receiving this support we have in turn got to prove our desire to move forward. This is our window of opportunity.

The dinner dance has been sold out. We have a number of colt’s parents joining us for the evening. We are building relations in the community; people want to be a part what is going on. The club is growing and we are in a strong position fiscally and structurally. I look forward to a very positive 2006 and wish all the teams the success they deserve. Good luck.

John Martin

Chairman

Selsey Cricket Club