GOOD evening ladies and gentlemen; welcome to the 160th annual general meeting of Devon County Cricket Club.
Ladies apart, Gentlemen after looking around the room it looks to me that we are all attending an Audition for Last of the Summer Wine.
I am not going to twitter on too much about the games played because they have been covered many times over by other contributors in the excellent brochure, so thanks to David Thorneley, Terry Mohan, Colin Wright and their helpers for putting it all together, also what a good idea to ask Nick Folland and Nick Gaywood to write about their cricketing life with Devon CCC, two quality players, that’s for sure, and I think that in James Horler and Elliot Hamilton we may have found another pair to step into their boots, big boots I know but they both know where the boundaries are, so fingers crossed on that one
Incidentally I agree 100 per cent with Folly and his thoughts on club cricket today, is there no pride in representing your home town at any sport without being paid for it? And what is the point? There is no huge trophy to be won, no cash prize from the league, just a few words in the local paper at the end of the season. If there is money available why not hire a qualified coach to talk to the youngsters and get them off on the right track, surly a better way to spend money?
On the field it was obvious we do not play Twenty 20 very well. Hopefully things will improve with more experience. We also dropped out of the 50-over competition at the quarter-final stage.
A wonderful season in the Championship to get back to the first division, and cometh the hour cometh the man. Callum Haggett our pro. was in top form with both bat and ball meaning that along with Matt Thompson, James Horler and Elliott Hamilton our top order looked a lot stronger.
Coach Dave Tall had achieved his goal, his faith in the younger players over a couple of years came to fruition as the season developed. His is the hardest job of all and he fully deserves every accolade.
This season will not be an easy one with Cheshire, Oxfordshire and an old foe in Berkshire lining us up. It will not be any easy ride at all, but one thing's for sure, it won't be for lack for trying My thanks to Tim Western and Mike Cherry for working the Sunday morning net sessions at Bicton College and looking after the Lions’ matches. This is a most important part of our future.
Thanks also to our two scorers – Rachel Tozer and Peter Langford – and to Mike and Jan Skinner for their reliability in selling score cards at our home matches
In conclusion I must thank the three gentlemen sitting beside me for all the work they do on our behalf. If they were paid for the time they spent on the tremendous amount of extra paperwork coming from the ECB after they involved National Counties with the fiasco at Yorkshire, we would be broke.
It is about time that the ECB realised that we are run by volunteers, no free Test Match tckets and free hotel passes here, no company cars or petrol allowances for National County Officials, just working for the love of the game.
Jack Davey
Devon CCC
President
