SHBCC News Update – December 2023
Let’s hope that the horrific wet weather that we’re getting now will be enough not to carry into next year and come spring disrupt the start of the cricket season. I think that the Foss running alongside the Bridge ground is probably as high as it’s ever been.
There are exciting times developing at the club with a project to replace the artificial nets together with plans to eventually improve the clubhouses and general facilities. We want to improve facilities for the juniors and give them as much chance to develop as they need. Our juniors are the envy of many local clubs and every year at least one of the teams secures silverware and provides players to the representative scene. All this of course costs money, and although there are various grants that we can apply for fund raising is very much at the front of our mind. To this end we had a great response to the Jumble Sale and to our new initiative “The Twelve Days of Christmas” which has netted over £2000. We are lucky to have secured the sponsorship of RAP for another year which again is highly valuable. If any of you farmers in our locality need a farm track improving, they are the people to speak to! We are increasingly aware that our sponsors in various guises mean so much to us and we thank them all.
All this development will be overseen by a new management team voted in at the AGM with only the secretary continuing in post. The team is young, professional, and keen to go. The new Chairman is no stranger to the club as Mike Willink steps up from Director of Cricket to take the reins. The Constitution has changed and the club will now run on a leaner corporate basis with smallish executive and various cells for various roles.
Main roles will be held by Mike Willink (Chair), Vince Coan (Secretary), Mark Fisher (Finance), Andrew and Caroline Bell (Junior Cricket), Imogen Bowles and Rob Stevens (Safeguarding), Alex Liley and Sam Beales (Events & Marketing) and Richard Armitage (Facilities/Grounds).
The club owes a great debt of gratitude to those who have run the club for so long, they have been a source of inspiration for many, many years.
Mark Fisher takes over from his brother to become club captain with Jack Hugill continuing with the 2nd XI and Tom Magee as 3rd XI skipper.
In the coming year we will be looking for new ground staff as (by their own admission) age is catching up! So, anyone with experience or willing to learn please give the secretary a shout.