CLUB NEWS AND SOCIAL EVENTS

Congratulations to Sully White who has been presented with the Southern Electric Premier League Performance of the Week award for his 4-37 return which helped Burridge win at Ventnor on June 21. The award is backed by Cricket-Hockey.com, the Premier League's website hosts.

Welcome to the 2008 season and “hello” to all our new members. This is a special year for the club as we celebrate our 40th anniversary. There are several events planned for the year culminating in what we hope will be a grand celebration at the end of the season. More details as plans are formed.

This season we hope to field teams at four men’s levels, one ladies and our usual mix of u-9, u-11, u-13 and u-15 colts playing in the SE Hants League, plus something new for this year – a Sunday side. As always, the year will not be without its challenges but more about those later.

Nets are happening every week and will continue to do so until early April. For men, they are taking place at Southampton’s King Edward VI school on Wednesday nights (6.30pm) and all colts are training at Wildern School on Sundays, under-13s (2-3), under-9s/under-11s (3-4) and under-15s (4-5). The ladies train at Wildern on alternate Sundays (11-12). For those seniors and ladies who wish to get in extra practice there are slots available at Wildern from 4-5 on Sundays because the under-15s do not take all the space.

There have been many changes at the club since you may have last visited. The social club on Botley Road has now been closed, meaning that the hub of the cricket club has now moved to the clubhouse at the main pitch. This provides some space constraints but we are looking to purchase a marquee that will give us extra scope.

Thanks to the effort of volunteers, we have also revamped the clubhouse so that it now contains a bar and the kitchen has been partitioned off. Ultimately, the intention of the social club is to extend the clubhouse but no date has been agreed and it will certainly not be this season.

The new practice nets and new artificial wicket have now been fitted and this will provide us with a major boost to facilities. We intend to have three all-weather nets and mobile practice cages on a grass wicket and the new artificial wicket so there should be up to five nets available on practice nights this summer.

Let’s hope we are favoured with better weather than last year, which brings us on to the next discussion point. Because of the poor summer, income at the club was much lower than anticipated. The result is that the club is short of funds and an EGM will be held on Tuesday, March 25 (1930) at the clubhouse, to discuss an increase in senior membership fees. A straw poll among other clubs in the area indicates that cricketers at Burridge get an exceptionally good deal and there is a feeling that members should be paying more realistic fees. If you want your say, turn up on March 25.

As always, we continue to seek sponsorship/advertising support. This could be in the form of sponsorship of shirts; perimeter advertising or handbook advertising. If anyone has contacts who feel that they would like to discuss commercial opportunities (we have a package of benefits for sponsors/advertisers) at Burridge, contact chairman Richard Bundy on 07801 669697.

Colts fees for 2008 will be £85 with reductions for brothers/sisters. This again is a very good deal because it will effectively be a 15-month membership to include winter nets this year, summer nets, matches and winter nets in 2009 e.g. the subsequent fees will not be due until end March next year. For 2008, the fees are due by April 11. Sorry to be so strict but this year no colts will be picked for games until their fees for the season are paid. Cheques should be made payable to Burridge CC and sent to Chairman Richard Bundy.

Now two more Appeals – firstly we are short of people (managers and coaches) to help run the colts teams this season, particularly the under-9s and under-11s. We would hate to have to pull a team out of their league because there were no adults to run the side, hence the appeal for volunteers. By volunteers, we mean scorers, umpires, admin people and those with a bit of cricket knowledge to teach the youngsters. Talk to Richard again if you can help.

The seniors have a slightly different requirement. With two matches on Saturdays and often two every Sunday on the pitches this year, making teas and serving them is going to be quite a logistical challenge. We are advertising for someone (this will be a paid job) to make and serve the teas at the main clubhouse every Saturday (and Sundays if we can find an appropriate person). This will be a paid post, probably would suit a team of at least two and could be ideal for teenagers looking for some pin money or someone more mature who has an interest in cricket. Yet again Richard is the man for anyone with ideas.

With the financial position of the club in dire need of a boost, we are organising a pre-season Indian curry night at Kuti’s in Oxford Street, Southampton, on Thursday, April 17. It will be a fund-raiser as well as a social night and you should be receiving details under a separate e-mail.

CRICKET FORCE

This year, the ECB Cricket Force will be held on Friday-Sunday, April 4-6. As you can imagine with the move to the new clubhouse, there is plenty of work to do inside as well as out on the ground and we will again combine the weekend with a second hand kit sale. Last year we had great help from Hampshire CC but this year we are on our own. Because everyone will be using the main club facilities this year, it’s in everyone’s interests to help out. As a result, we expect all club members to pitch up for at least a couple of hours over the weekend. There is no excuse for benefitting from the facilities but refusing to help to improve them.

NETS OPENING

We hope to officially open the new nets with a guest appearance by one of the Hampshire players on the Whitsun Bank Holiday on May 26. It should be a good day with senior competitions, a social event and a chance for everyone to try out the new facilities if they have not already done so.

Nets will be organised in the summer as below.

Monday – Under-13s Tuesday – Senior men’s and ladies club night Wednesday – Under-11s Thursday – Under-15s Friday – Under-9s