Told yesterday that Houghton have now also applied, and will also be recommended to the AGM later in the year. Applications are still open for another couple of months I think, so it's two from three at the moment but could be two from four or five
Its always been our aim to get back playing the best possible level of cricket we can. Before we applied we wanted to be certain that our facilities were ready for that. I think anyone who has been to Houghton recently can testify that they are more than adequate. The square and outfield is excellent, plenty of runs scored but plenty of wickets taken, the clubhouse has been refurbished, decked outside and is a great facility to watch cricket from, we've repaired and restored the screens (though the high winds last week has put one temporarily out of action), the tea room and kitchen has been cleared out and tidied with light now coming into the tea rooms which again provides an indoor area to watch the game from. The next on the list is a permanent brick scorebox with
electric display and restoration of covers (fairly routine job from what Ive been told) and funds are being raised to do so
Our squad has been improved immensely (without payment contrary to a few cheeky comments here and there!) in the last six months. Both sides are competing at the top end of the NEDCL and hope to challenge for the leagues.
Aside from that, and most
importantly IMO (I would say that though as its my pet project) we are 99% likely to be fielding a junior side in the central league next season.
What most of us at the club are well aware of is our past reputation both on and off the field. In my opinion thats one of the biggest obstacles to us being accepted. The club, both seniors and juniors, has been poorly run in the not too distant past and its up to us to show that things are different now and we are better and more organised outft (though of course we still make the odd admin error given our inexperience as cricket administrators).
That said, as it stands there are two other clubs who have also done a hell of a lot of work and made excellent progress who have also applied so we know we have tough competition and, should we lose out, we will continue to try and improve ourselves in the NEDC (should they have us), a league where Id like to think we've built good relationships over the past couple of years and where there are some very good clubs.
Apologies for long winded post but thought Id give a bit info for those who are reading
