Countdown to the new season

With the Easter holidays just around the corner and the cricket season nearly upon us, here’s a quick run-down on what’s new at Blackheath this year and some key dates for the diary in the next few weeks.

NEW FACES

First, as already announced on social media, we’re delighted to welcome to the club this season no fewer than 3 overseas player/coaches from Australia, all of whom will be heavily involved in coaching our junior section as well as playing for the club:

Flynn Bongiorno (21) is a product of the prestigious Brighton Grammar School, one of Melbourne’s premier sporting schools, where he was captain of the 1st XI.  An explosive LH top order batter, Flynn now plays his club cricket at Cluden CC near Melbourne in the South Eastern Cricket Association (SECA), where he is captain of the T20 team.  Flynn is also an experienced coach, having worked extensively with juniors over the past few years, both at his former school and at his club.

Thomas Rohan (21) is a team mate of Flynn, both previously at Brighton Grammar School and currently at Cluden CC.  He is a RH top order batter, but in addition provides a useful option with the ball (both seam and off-spin) and is also widely regarded as one of the best fielders in the SECA.  Like Flynn, he also has coaching experience working in Cluden CC’s coaching structure, especially with younger children.

Lily-May Lyndon (22) is a highly talented batter and wicket-keeper currently playing at the Midland-Guildford CC in Perth, Western Australia, in WA’s Premier Cricket competition.  However, she also has a strong cricketing record both in Darwin and in Victoria, where she was a standout performer at Sale-Maffra.  She will playing for one of our men’s teams on Saturdays as well as for our women on Sundays.  Lily also has a wealth of coaching experience and will be a key figure in our girls’ section.

All three of Flynn, Thomas and Lily will be arriving in the UK on 16 April, and will be hitting the ground running, as our junior section program and first pre-season fixtures will be starting as soon as they get here: see below.

UPCOMING EVENTS

This is the timetable of events for the start of the season …

Pre-season working party (Saturday 4 April)

There will be a pre-season working party at Blackheath on Saturday 4 April at 10am.  Tasks will include getting the nets ready, putting out benches and picnic tables, mowing and general tidying up, both outside and inside the pavilion.  A reminder call for volunteers will go out nearer the time.

Easter holiday cricket camp (Tuesday 7 April to Friday 10 April)

As previously announced, there will be an Easter holiday cricket camp at the club run by the Matchfit coaches between Monday 7 and Friday 10 April (9am to 3pm each day).  This costs just £45 per day or £150 for all 4 days.  There are still some tickets available – for further details and tickets go to Easter Holiday Camp.

Sponsors tournament (Sunday 12 April)

We will be kicking off the season with an informal sponsors’ tournament on the afternoon of Sunday 12 April (2pm to 5.30pm).  This will involve mixed teams from each of our 3 shirt sponsors – Seymours, Land and Water and Builda – with each team including players from the sponsor and club members.  There will be three 10-over matches, with each team playing the other.  The bar will be open throughout the afternoon and the event will be followed by a BBQ.  Please come along, meet the sponsors and enjoy the fun!

Start of regular outdoor training sessions

The first regular outdoor training sessions start in the week after Easter for the Men, and the following week for everyone else.  All the times and venues are on the website (see the Men, Women, Boys, Girls and Minis pages), but in summary:

• Men (including older boys) train on Wednesday evenings from 6-8pm, with the first session on Wednesday 8 April.  This year these sessions will be be run by the hugely experienced Chris Poil, who after many years involvement with our junior section has taken on the role of Men’s head coach.

• Women and Girls (U8 upwards) train on Thursday evenings, with the first sessions on Thursday 16 April.  This year the younger girls’ session will be starting at the slightly later time of 5pm; the older girls’ and women’s sessions will still be from 6.30-8pm.  The bar will be open every Thursday evening.

• Minis (U5-U7) and U8-U15 Boys train on Friday evenings, with the first sessions on Friday 17 April.  See the website for timings of the different sessions.  All boys’ squad training sessions will be at Blackheath this year.  Further information about arrangements for Friday evenings will follow.

First matches of the season

The Men’s fixtures get underway a couple of weeks after Easter.  The first match of the season is a home friendly against South Nutfield on Saturday 18 April. 

There are then further Sunday matches and pre-season friendly games on 19, 26 and 27 April, before the first I’Anson League matches of the season on Saturday 2 May.

For the Women, Boys and Girls squads, matches do not generally begin until in May (although one or two squads have friendlies in late April).  Check out the website for your squad’s first game, though please note that some fixtures may still be subject to change.

In the weeks after Easter, all squads with league teams will start to get availability requests. However, those who want to are welcome to log on to Teamtamer via the website and update their availability for games sooner rather than later.  Please also respond promptly to availability requests from captains, squad managers and administrators when these come through.  As usual, selection for all matches will be done through Teamtamer.

Start of season dinner (Saturday 18 April)

There will be a start of season dinner on Saturday 18 April in the pavilion, following the 1st XI pre-season friendly against South Nutfield. 

Fundraising ball and nets project

As already announced, this summer we are once again having a major fundraising ball, on Saturday 13 June.  This is in aid of our campaign to raise the funds we need to replace our existing 3 concrete and matting nets with a new ECB approved 3-bay artificial nets system: see Nets Project 2026.  Tickets for the ball will go on sale on Sunday 19 April.

AND FINALLY …

There will be various further messages over the coming weeks as the season gets underway, many of them asking for volunteer help in one way or another.  Everyone is asked to volunteer for something (or make a modest donation in lieu) when they register, and for the club to function smoothly and keep costs down it is really important that as many members as possible stick their hands up to help, so the burden is spread around.  So please do help out when you can.  In the meantime, here’s to another great season!