It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to our 2023 season.
I hope I find everyone in good spirit and ready to enjoy a summer of good cricket and friendship. There is quite a bit of news I would like to share with you so here goes.
Let’s start with news that we have re-laid our square.
The Committee decided to address the repeated challenges the grounds team were reporting and having taken professional advice took the bold decision to dig up and relay the square. This involved addressing the deficiencies of the sub soil; levelling the square and introducing specialist grass seed. Following an intense work period utilising the skills of a specialist contractor we now have a square that should rival any in the County and more significantly provide a legacy for future generations to benefit from. A recent ECB Pitch Inspection has endorsed the progress which has been made.
Thank you to all involved.
We are very fortunate to have such a committed and hard-working grounds team that take great pride in their work. This is evident to see from the exceptional presentation of the ground which is so much enjoyed not only by our members but from our many visitors. Please join me and make sure you say THANK YOU to the team of PJ; Hilly; Charlie; Keith and others who work so hard for you.
Laying a new square has re-ignited an energy to revisit the feasibility of replacing the clubhouse. A working group has been formed and chaired by Jops. Together the group have already reached some new feasibility milestones and have set the first benchmark of securing a planning consent. Planning has yet to be submitted however it is hoped having secured a planning consent we will be well placed to secure the significant funding required to build the clubhouse. Your views and support will be sought in due course so please engage in the process. The working group and readers of this should be under no illusions of the task ahead in securing funding but are to be congratulated on the progress to date. Keep at Jops and team.
A key part of the funding success will be demonstrating community benefit and inclusivity. Our recently formed Ladies section and our renewed Clubmark status are excellent examples of this work in action. Central to embedding these values and culture within the Club has been Jimmy May.
Jimmy has been instrumental in reshaping the club and its values ensuring we are truly inclusive, and that cricket is accessible to all. He remains a tireless champion of these values not only at TCC but across a much wider audience. It therefore gave me great pleasure to confer Honorary Life Membership upon Jimmy at the clubs annual Dinner Dance. This is the clubs highest honour and our recognition of the time Jimmy has dedicated to TCC and everyone who wants safe access to cricket. Please do congratulate and thank Jimmy when you see him – he deserves it.
I feel the Club is very fortunate to have such motivated members and active supporters however it is always prudent to keep looking ahead and planning for the future. As I have set out above there are some significant projects and decision making to be taken over the coming years and succession and continuity will be key parts of that process. I am therefore pleased to report that three new directors were appointed at the clubs AGM in November. Congratulations and thank you to Mrs Nic Fice; James Hope; and Jack Stirling who between them bring an exciting breadth and depth of knowledge and contacts. As directors of the company they are the custodians of the Club and sit outside the committee providing counsel on strategic direction. Their role is also as ambassadors for the club promoting our vision values and ambitions. The Club now has six directors myself; Jimmy May and Mike Denford being the other three.
Our two senior Saturday sides will this year be competing in the A Division and D Division East and our Ladies team enjoying their second season of competitive league cricket. The 1st XI enjoyed a very competitive 2022 season finishing a credible 6th in the A Division and our 2nd XI securing promotion as champions. There was also success in the 20:20 format winning their league. The ladies section continues to go from strength to strength attracting more participants and we are hoping for continued success again this season.
For our 2023 season we extend a warm welcome to Jack Geraghty as our overseas cricketer. Hailing from Queensland Australia Jack is a 23 year old all rounder. Comfortable as a top order batsman he can also bowl a brisk medium pace. Jack is also a qualified coach and studying to become a teacher.
Welcome to Thorverton, the UK and Devon Jack. Enjoy your time with us and look forward to you making many memories to take home you. Good luck.
I must at this juncture extend a very genuine thank you to Becky Rice who very selflessly not only hosted Jason last year but has very kindly extended the same invitation to Jack this year. Becky we are very grateful. Thank you.
As I have already mentioned the Club is very fortunate to have such hard working members which may I remind everyone is a voluntary role. It was therefore with great joy that we learnt that Bob Rice; Imogen Daldorph and Isaac May were all recognised by Devon Cricket at their annual awards for their contribution to the game. Congratulations and thank you.
Much of the clubs recent successes have been founded upon the strength and depth of our youth section with many of the clubs senior posts and offices being held by those coming through the ranks. It is incumbent upon me to remind you of the importance this section and to encourage everyone to invest in our future. The range of opportunities that require support include helping organise matches, learning to score, assisting with admin on a Friday evening, catering or even coaching. We are always in need of more volunteers and leaders so please step forward as your club needs you.
Sadly each season we learn of friends and former members who’s innings have permanently closed. For those who passed in the last year we remember you and thank you for your contribution to our club. One of those members was Denise Lesniak who adopted Thorverton CC alongside Exeter City and Exeter Chiefs as her team. Denise or Denny as she was known embodied how sport should be celebrated and was a shining example of the fellowship and friendship you can foster. RIP Denny.
As I conclude my 2023 welcome message it is always difficult to capture every aspect so apologies for any oversight it was certainly not intentional.
My best wishes to everyone for a fun filled and enjoyable 2023 season.
CK
Chair
Thorverton Cricket Club 