Howard Turner

  "1999 has been a landmark year for West End Cricket Club in various different ways. on the playing side it has been a challenging year. Before the season started the committee had made the decision to upgrade our fixture list. We had just enjoyed one of the best seasons losing only five from nineteen and it was felt that we were gaining nothing from thrashing the likes of Barripper, Westcott, Oakley and Old Woking 2nds. To develop as a team we needed stronger opposition so teams such as Charing Cross, Chobham and Valley End were added as well as making the effort to play more first XI's. This is partly reflected in the final analysis of played 22, won 6, lost 12 and drawn 4. However it was not just the quality of the opposition that made 1999 more difficult for us: it was ourselves. The Captain was never able to play together what most would consider to be our strongest eleven. The closest we came to fielding it was on tour, where we won both games against good opposition. The same eleven players never took the field in consecutive games. In four games we could not field a full team - we lost all those four games. The club was forced to use twenty-six players last season, more than ever before. Social commitments, injury and work meant that only six players played over 12 games out of the 22. It is of great credit to Tim that no fixtures were lost because of our difficulty in raising eleven players, week in, week out.

   Although on the surface disappointing, This analysis deserves a closer look. Of the twelve games lost, in four we were without a full team, in the final two games we put out a guest eleven due to holidays and two of the four draws were very "winning" draws indeed. We scored over 3,000 runs at an average of 140, topping 200 three times. The first wicket partnership record was demolished by Matt and Tim. Tim scored the first century for over two years (and his first), we now have three centurions in the club. Two other scores were in the nineties with fourteen half centuries in all. Plenty of achievement there. The bowling, however, did not live up to the batting. Again absences didn't help as the Skipper only had his preferred four bowlers all together on six occasions. Bowlers had to buy jugs after only 3 matches for taking five wickets, although there were several instances of jug avoidance, Matt for one (!). Fielding tended to be brilliant one moment then Monty Python the next. A few catches were dropped, however, in all 22 games we only ran out the opposition once and got no stumpings, while we were run out 6 times and stumped 10. This is an area for development. Generally the feeling is that we are moving forward as a team.

   So despite not being as successful on the pitch as in 1998 there is encouragement in 1999. Not least is the arrival of four young players who have joined in the last eight months - Johnno, Ricky, Chris and Craig. As Craig put it at the Awards Dinner "We Are The Future!"

   Other aspects of last season give even more cause for optimism. This year the committee gave a firm commitment to develop a grass wicket at the Recreation Ground. Fund raising started in March and before the start of the season the Race Night and the Sponsored walk had raised over £1,000. This fundraising has continued throughout the year with the Quiz Night, the B-B-Q and raffles at other social events. The social side was a revelation this year with seven highly successful functions - usually organised by a member of the Lamb family. For this year we have appointed a Social Secretary, Diane Lamb, who although not directly part of the committee is responsible for co-ordinating this year's social events. The support we received from outside the club was magnificent again with over £800 being donated from Vice-Presidents. Thanks again must go to the President and his wife for an excellent President's Day and their continuing support. This level of commitment from outside the club is fantastic and is much appreciated. Other examples of this include the help with the teas, support at games and the creation of a superb new scoreboard. All this helped us exceed our fundraising target for this year (honorable mention of the Parish Council) but I'll let Kev reveal exactly what is in his - er, the club's account. Fund raising will continue this year - details to follow - with the pitch being laid in autumn of this year. A seasons' bedding in has been advised so all next season's fixtures will be away and we will be playing on a grass wicket in the summer of 2002.

   I believe 1999 was another vintage year for West End Cricket Club.

   Finally, a short list things we learnt this year:
- never believe myself or J'Walliker when we set off for a quick single.
- never bowl Hillsy on a dodgy wicket unless you have a good lawyer.
- never believe anything the President says on President's Day, especially about the strength of his team.
- never drink anything green that lurks at the bottom of a pint of cider.

Howard Turner

CHAIRMAN, WECC