Magazine 2025 Final - Flipbook - Page 21
The Junior Sec}on comprised 12 age groups u}lising
28 coaches and assistants. 11 teams par}cipated in
the Surrey Junior Cricket Championship from U8s to
U17s, playing a mixture of pairs and conven}onal
cricket. The U11Bs and U12s won their divisions.
Stuart Clarke and his team of coaches, managers and
volunteers, and parents for their invaluable support,
all deserve special thanks.
Posi}ve results and a winning mentality spilled over
into the Clubhouse. There was a buzz about the
place. Success on the pitch transferred to the social
side.
President9s Day saw members of the 1996 league winning side play a Club XI in a fun, well spirited match.
An evening catching up with old friends, was further enhanced by the appearance of Monkey Trap, and due
to some great fundraising in the form of a bumper rane, over £1200 was raised for the Club. Another
popular Quiz in early June was supplemented by the Race Night, which raised a record £1400.
A mixed party again visited Oxfordshire in early August – four 昀椀xtures played at picturesque grounds – for
another enjoyable tour organised by Phil Mander. More support from young players will be required going
forward to make this or similar ventures sustainable.
The accounts con}nue to show a healthy and stable posi}on. Valuable fundraising and much appreciated
sponsorship s}ll falls short of mee}ng the an}cipated commitment of overseas and professional players9
expenditure. However, the Recruitment Sub-Commi琀琀ee will further address this should plans for 2025 and
beyond require similar investment.
Two more PVC sightscreens were delivered in May; all old wood-panelled versions are now redundant and
have been destroyed. Proposals to protect these lighter screens from wind damage remains outstanding.
Very li琀琀le progress has been made in regard to the addi}onal 2-lane nets project. Fresh energy is de昀椀nitely
required to take this project forward.
Wet condi}ons hindered ground prepara}ons and there were too many occasions when rain late in the
week prevented much 昀椀rmer surfaces being prepared. It was thus di昀케cult to assess whether the deep-drill
aera}on undertaken in November 2023 would have made a di昀昀erence to bounce and carry as hoped.
The Surrey Championship held an SGM on 21st October to vote on a mo}on to merge with the Surrey
County League and the Surrey Cricket League, whilst dissolving the Surrey Championship to form a new
League – The Surrey Cricket Championship. This was passed. Driven by the Surrey Cricket Founda}on, who
seemingly limited interac}on and communica}on to the bare minimum, rushed proposals were pushed
through including an open pyramid system with a more regionalised in昀氀uence. The 8ra}onale9 suggests a
8modern, robust structure conducive to greater par}cipa}on and compe}}on, addressing challenges with
governance and 昀椀nancial stability, and a future vision for cricket development9.
Ul}mately, the proposed new structure o昀昀ers li琀琀le to bene昀椀t TMW, including cricket formats that we as a
Club don9t want to play&.we voted against. Scheduled consulta}ons along the way never materialised and
suggested deadlines were missed. There is no }med cricket (below the top 2 divisions – old Premier and
Division 1 1st XIs), we might well be playing all white ball cricket in coloured clothing (1st XI), fewer overs
(2nd and 3rd XI), and there9s a real concern that many will be playing on grounds with facili}es that don9t
match up to those that we currently enjoy (all XIs). Inclusivity whilst selling out the standards that the
Surrey Championship have spent many years to achieve.
Last year I wrote&.
