WALKERS from Alvanley
Cricket Club have negoti-
ated a gruelling 26-mile trek
from Moel Famau in North
Wales back to their Vale
Royal home to raise funds
for a new picket fence.
No fewer than 31 dedicated
club members and friends
came together on March 17
for the marathon march from
the highest point of the Clwy-
dian Range to the Alvanley
club house, a journey which
took between six and 10 hours
in the spring sunshine.
The walk was organised to
raise money to extend the
club’s picket fence, however
early indications suggest the
total sponsorship fund could
top £5,000, a figure which
would allow the club to pur-
sue other planned projects.
First X1 captain Andy Ben-
nion was one of those to com-
plete the walk and he was full
of praise for his Alvanley club
mates, adding: “This was a
fine example of the commu-
nity spirit at our club and
shows what you can achieve
when you all pull together.
“The sponsorship money
is still coming in now but by
mid-season we hope to have
extended the picket fence
and be well under way with
the other projects.
“Huge congratulations
should be offered to all the
volunteers who made this
possible, in particular to
Graham Aveyard, who’s
preparatory work made the
event go so smoothly.”
CHESHIRE have become
the first non-First Class
county in England and
Wales to achieve more than
100 clubs registering for
NatWest Cricket Force.
The news was announced
earlier this month on the
Board’s website, a timely
boost ahead of the annual
volunteering initiative
which took place on the
weekend of April 5/6/7.
Club Development
Manager Mike Woollard
applauded clubs for their
“brilliant response” to the
project and wished them
well for the 2013 season.
* More club news: Page 9
MARATHON EFFORT IN BID
TO BUY NEW PICKET FENCE
Cheshire clubs 100 not out for Cricket Force
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Miles of Fun: Alvanley players and officials com-plete a marathon walk to
raise vital club funds
Top of the class: Our community coaches make a big impact in all weathers on the Chance to Shine
Programme in Cheshire
Chris Edwards: A review of Chris’s first year in post as a Development and Coaching Officer with the
Cheshire Cricket Board
Disability cricket: We examine the new ECB vision and the opportuni-
ties that exist in Cheshire
Remembering Sandy Cheshire mourns the loss
of Sandy Scrimgeour
Kiwi encounter: Board Chairman Peter Davies blogs from his recent trip
to New Zealand
REGULAR FEATURES:
Coach’s corner: Coach Education Manager Graeme Rickman takes a closer look at the new
ECB Coaching Pathway
Gifted and Talented: Get the latest news from Cheshire’s Emerging Player Programme and Junior Academy, plus our Player
Pathway sessions
Fit for Cricket: CCB Strength and Conditioning consultant Angela Jackson gives her top tips for stay-
ing injury free this summer
Club Cheshire: Club Development Manager Mike Woollard rounds up
the latest club news
Beyond the Boundary: Gareth’s popular Blog is re-launched in this month’s
bumper newsletter
Merry Christmas from everyone at the Cheshire Cricket Board!
Volume 4, April 2013
Full story : Page 2
THE PICKET LINE: Alvanley CC members congregate atop the
historic Moel Famau ahead of their 26-mile hike back home
The new e-newsletter from Cheshire Cricket Board Limited ...
www.cheshirecricketboard.co.uk
walk with somebody they wouldn't
normally speak to - in that respect it
did wonders for club morale and to-
getherness.
“Every walker had to endure the last
mile up the side of Helsby Hill but this
was tempered by rousing applause as
the last 100 yards across the hallowed
turf was in view of the expectant audi-
ence in the Fred Noden Pavilion.
Andy added: “Looking back across the pitch towards Moel Famau in the distance, the walkers could graphically see their achievement stretched out along the 26 miles.” When the Marathon Walk was first
conceived, the initial idea was collect
sponsorship money and buy the materi-
als to start work on the fence during
Cricket Force weekend on April 5,6,7.
However, such has been the gener-
osity of sponsors that a month after the
event, money is still coming in with the
final figure expected to top £5,000.
“In addition to the members building
the picket fence, we hope to install a
new boiler and purchase a cellar
cooler,” revealed Andy.
“The walk wasn't just about raising money for these projects but each and every walker will be able to look at the fence, sup a cool pint and enjoy the warmth of the boiler in winter months, knowing that it was their exceptional efforts that funded them.” He added: “Finally, I would like to give special thanks to the team of vol-unteers who supported the walk and the hundreds of sponsors.” More photos of the event are avail-able at www.alvanleycricketclub.org.uk/walk-2013 while anyone wishing to add to the sponsorship fund should contact [email protected].
WHEN the new picket fence glis-
tens brightly in the sunshine at Al-
vanley this summer, spare a thought
for the hardy soles who endured 10
hours of aching joints and burning
blisters to help put it there.
Club members and friends of the
small village club took the word
“picketing” to a whole new level last
month, but it was their feet and not
their mouths doing the protesting after
a challenging 26-mile trek from the
picturesque Moel Famau in North
Wales back to their Vale Royal home.
The walk was organised after the club
were unable to find the necessary funds
to extend the existing picket fence, a
project which has long been an ambi-
tion of the Alvanley committee.
First team captain Andy Bennion was
among the army of foot soldiers who
completed the cross-border challenge
from the Clwydian Range back to Al-
vanley’s Frodsham Road headquarters.
He explained: “The Alvanley Mara-
thon Walk was conceived through be-
ing unable to find funding to extend
the club's picket fence.
“The walk itself took six hours for
the speed merchants and 10 hours for
the slugs, but however long it took the
outcomes were numerous.
“For some there was beating self
doubt, for others it was about speed.
There were many instances of one
walker sharing a long stretch of the
Page 2 Wheatsheaf World
Community spirit burns bright at Alvanley
"Every walker will be able to
look at the fence, sup a cool
pint and enjoy the warmth of
the boiler in winter months,
knowing it was their
exceptional efforts that
funded them.”
Andy Bennion,
First X1 captain, Alvanley CC
ROADMAP TO SUCCESS: The 26-mile route from North Wales to the club
WALK ON WATER: Andy Bennion
is not afraid to get his feet wet
FAMILY AFFAIR: The Fletcher
family do their bit for the club
‘Woolly hats and plastic bats’ in freezing March
Page 3 Volume 2
SIXES, stumpings and a scatter of snowstorms - it’s all in a day’s work for the coaches of the Cheshire Cricket Board. Woolly hats and plastic bats were the order of the day for many enthusiastic pupils as they battled the cold snap with typical enthusiasm and a passion for the game they have come to love. Forecasters revealed it was officially the coldest March since 1962, but not even the arctic temperatures and fro-zen playing fields could prevent cricket being played in primary schools throughout Cheshire. Funded by major partners Chance to Shine, the Development and Coaching Officers of the Cheshire Cricket Board
donned their thermals and all-weather tracksuits for a month of snow-filled suc-cess stories. Warrington-based DCO Toby Mullins (pictured right) battled a blizzard at Cherry Tree Primary in Lymm, where the children were determined to play outside whatever the weather. “The kids at Cherry tree absolutely love their cricket and nothing could stop them playing outside - not even a snow storm,” revealed Toby. “The weather was that bad one day that we eventually had to go inside as we could no longer see the ball, and even then the children were desperate to stay out. “I have been working with a group of year six pupils for the past five weeks, and I have to say it is a fantastic school who have really embraced the concept of Chance to Shine.” Further south in Congleton, the year six pupils at Black Firs Primary dis-played equal determination under the watchful eye of DCO Ben Tomlinson. “You can see from the pictures that the snow had fallen quite heavily here, but the playground was clear and the kids were adamant they wanted to go out,” said Ben. “In these circumstances, you just
CRICKET-hungry students at Harrytown School in Romiley have been getting their weekly fill at a popular lunch time club hosted by Stockport Development and Coach-ing Officer Rick Halkon. Up to 40 boys and girls from years seven and eight attended the regular Tuesday lunch time sessions, which featured a range of small sided games and activities. The sessions took place either side of the Easter holiday, with the school booking additional slots on Monday
lunch times to meet the demands of its pupils. “The introduction of cricket ses-sions has proved to be a very success-ful addition to physical education and sport at Harrytown,” revealed Rick. “The sessions have attracted up to 40 children, with a hard core of 30 children attending regular sessions on Tuesday lunchtimes. “Harrytown has fully supported the development of Chance to Shine in the school and it is great to see so
many students taking up the game at the school”. Rick is now planning to run a Cricket Young Leaders Course at Harrytown for students in Years 9 and 10. Once qualified, the Young Leaders will be able to assist with the running of the lunch time sessions, which will enable them to continue throughout the calendar year. Rick added: “Chance to Shine are committed to improving the provi-sion of cricket in secondary schools and this is a real success story.”
need to make sure you play some small-sided games so nobody is stood around for too long and everyone is active as much as possible. “The attitude was great and as a coach I would prefer to be outside than stuck in small school hall. Every-one really enjoyed it.” Cheshire Cricket Board Marketing Manager Gareth Moorhouse, who delivers the Chance to Shine project in Tameside, was full of praise for his weather-beaten colleagues and their star pupils. He said: “Chance to Shine provide some fantastic classroom resources such as DVDs and interactive web links, so the kids should never miss a lesson because of the weather. “But we much prefer them to have a bat and ball in their hands, and as long as it’s safe to be outside playing matches, that’s the best option of all.”
SNOW MAN: Toby braves the elements at Cherry Tree
TAKE THAT! A Black Firs pupil
strikes against a snowy backdrop
Page 4 Wheatsheaf World
Cheshire starlets are ready for season opener been enormously impressed with the
standard of play, making it extremely
tough to finalise their squads.
The emphasis has been on fitness
throughout, and the players were
tested with some additional strength
and conditioning routines, and the
dreaded Yo-Yo test, which doubled up
as a charity fundraiser.
We were fortunate to have expert
assistance in this department from
County Physio Angela Jackson and her
colleague Glen Davies, and during
Easter we had a visit from England’s
Strength and Conditioning Intern
Christian Vassallo.
At the top of the talent tree, our
Emerging Players and Junior Academy
members will shortly begin their out-
door training programme, with regular
group and individual sessions tailored
to meet their needs.
The players also have a specific sum-
mer fitness programme to follow
thanks to advice from Christian, who
knows just what it takes for these tal-
ented youngsters to reach the top.
We have also staged a number of
specialist sessions for Excellence and
District level performers, focussing on
the main disciplines of batting, bowl-
ing, fielding and wicket-keeping.
We hope the additional hard work
from coaches and players will pay divi-
dends in an enjoyable and successful
2013. Good luck everyone.
WE have almost reached the end of
our winter training programme,
with the Excellence and District
Level Courses coming to a conclu-
sion this weekend.
There will be plenty of nervous
youngsters awaiting a letter from
Cheshire Youth Cricket, revealing
whether or not they have been selected
to represent the County or their re-
spective District side in 2013.
No matter what the personal out-
come, I would like to express my ad-
miration and for every youngster who
has taken part in the Player Pathway
this winter and I hope they now feel
well equipped to start the season.
The Cheshire coaching staff have
FOR the first time ever in 2013, the
Cheshire Youth Cricket District
Festival will include an Under 18
competition.
This new competition will com-
plement the current District Cricket
structure, which features players
from clubs in the North, East,
South and West in the Under 13
and Under 15 age groups.
All the participants on the current
Under 18 District Course have been
offered places at the Festival, while
the remaining slots will go to those
players on the U16 and U17 Excel-
lence Courses who do not make the
final county squad.
The format of the competition
has yet to finalised, but it is antici-
pated that four fixtures will take
place - two during the traditional
slot in the Whit holidays, and a fur-
ther two following the end of the
academic year in July.
For some of the players involved, it
will be their first taste of represen-
tative cricket, while others will
boast a wealth of experience at
both County and District level.
Performance Manager Gavin
Colebourn expects the standard of
play to be extremely high and
hopes the players will give their full
backing to the event.
He said: “This year we extended
our winter training programme to
include 18-year-olds, where previ-
ously the Player Pathway had fin-
ished at Under 17 level.
“This is part of our ongoing com-
mitment to driving up participation
within the game, and keeping our
junior performers on the Pathway
for longer made perfect sense.
“We wanted to give the players
something to build towards this
summer, and I hope those invited
take full advantage of the offer.”
CHESHIRE PLAYER PATHWAY
New Under 18 District Comp FIRST CLASS ACADEMIES
EMERGING PLAYER
PROGRAMME AND JUNIOR
ACADEMY (10-18 YEARS)
CHESHIRE YOUTH COUNTY TEAMS
ONE-TO-ONE COACHING
EXCELLENCE COURSES U17, U16,
U15, U14, U13, U12, U11 BOYS AND
GIRLS
DISTRICT CRICKET U13, U15, U18
ADVANCED COACHING
SUMMER
COURSES
AUTUMN
COURSES
CCB Performance
Manager Gavin
Colebourn brings
you the latest news
from our unique
Player Pathway
ON THE UP: Andy Jackson and
the EPs will head outdoors
Page 5 Volume 2
Beyond the Boundary: England will have to ‘Urn’ it
NO matter which side of the
boundary rope you will be standing
this summer, the phrase “Ashes to
Ashes” will strike a chord with eve-
ryone in English cricket, from the
grass roots game to the Test arena.
Those in the upper echelons of the
ECB will be hoping to “cash in” on
one of sport’s great rivalries as Eng-
land go head-to-head with the old foe
Australia twice in the calendar year.
Following a historic Test series win
in India this winter, and Australia’s
humiliating whitewash at the hand’s of
the same opposition, Alistair Cook’s
side will surely start as favourites to
retain the prize they cherish more than
any other - the Ashes Urn.
The staggering success of the Lon-
don Olympics rendered cricket almost
invisible last summer, and so for the
fervent England fan club the year 2013
represents a unique opportunity to
make their voices heard.
Yet as satisfying as it would be to
give the Aussies another Ashes hiding
on home soil, I fear the latest chapter
in this romantic rivalry needs to be a
keenly contested affair if the sporting
public are to retain any real interest in
the traditional Test format.
The recent bore draw in New Zea-
land (save for Matt Prior’s heroic ef-
forts in the final Test), coupled with
the low attendances around the globe,
highlight a significant shift in prefer-
ence towards the shorter forms of the
game, with the current IPL season
proving as popular as ever.
Indeed, ask one of the players on
our Cheshire Cricket Board courses to
name a full Test match X1 (other than
England) and you are usually met with
blank faces.
What we need is a rip-roaring con-
test akin to the 2005 series, when
gladiators like Warne, Pietersen, Flin-
toff and McGrath thrilled the paying
public with their feats of brilliance.
Of course that series was broadcast
live on terrestrial television (Channel
4), but surely it was the excitement of
the cricket, and not the platform for
the viewers, that really captured the
imagination?
Every great side needs a great oppo-
nent to truly realise their potential, and
England battled past an Australia team
with some of the greatest players of
the modern era, even if they were no
longer at the peak of their powers.
Fast forward to 2013 and it’s a very
different proposition facing England
as they look to defend the Urn. The
Aussies may be languishing in fourth
place in the ICC Test rankings, but
surely England won’t have things all
their own way this summer?
For all the bickering and back-
stabbing in the Australia camp, there is
still plenty of raw talent there and I for
one hope they bring their ‘A game’
with them from Down Under, or it
really could be “Ashes to Ashes” for
the greatest Test rivalry of them all.
Thanks for reading! Gareth
CCB Summer Schools return … book now! CRICKETERS! Prepare for another fun-filled summer
of sixes, stumpings and sunshine with the return of the
hugely popular CCB Holiday Courses.
Staffed by professional Level Three coaches, we have
been delivering a comprehensive county-wide summer
programme since the early 1990s, and 2013 promises to
be another big year for us.
Our holiday programme also forms part of the pres-
tigious Cheshire Youth Cricket Player Pathway, with all
talented youngsters recommended to future Advanced
Level coaching courses.
So if your child is aged 6-15 years and has a passion
for cricket, we would love to welcome them onto one of
our courses this summer. Full course details on Page 6
CCB Marketing
Manager Gareth
Moorhouse re-
launches his blog
‘Beyond the Bound-
ary’ in this month’s
Wheatsheaf World
SPIN KING: Shane Warne
BOWLED OVER: Have fun on our courses this summer
Page 6 Volume 2
Summer Course venues confirmed for 2013
COURSE VENUE DATES TIME AGE GROUP PRICE
Warrington Cricket Club August 5-9 2.30pm-5pm 6-8 year olds £36
Warrington Cricket Club August 5-9 9.30am-5pm 9-15 year olds £99
Nantwich Cricket Club July 29 - Aug 2 2.30pm-5pm 6-8 year olds £36
Nantwich Cricket Club July 29 - Aug 2 9.30am-5pm 9-15 year olds £99
Elworth Cricket Club August 19-23 9.30am-5pm 9-15 year olds £99
Haslington Cricket Club August 26-30 2.30pm-5pm 6-8 year olds £36
Haslington Cricket Club August 26-30 9.30am-5pm 9-15 year olds £99
Macclesfield Cricket Club August 5-9 9.30am-5pm 9-15 year olds £99
Chester Boughton Hall Cricket Club July 29 - Aug 2 2.30pm-5pm 6-8 year olds £36
Chester Boughton Hall Cricket Club July 29 - Aug 2 9.30am-5pm 9-15 year olds £99
Chester Boughton Hall Cricket Club August 19-23 2.30pm-5pm 6-8 year olds £36
Chester Boughton Hall Cricket Club August 19-23 9.30am-5pm 9-15 year olds £99
Tattenhall Cricket Club August 26-30 2.30pm-5pm 6-8 year olds £36
Tattenhall Cricket Club August 26-30 9.30am-5pm 9-15 year olds £99
Toft Cricket Club August 19-23 9.30am-5pm 9-15 year olds £99
Oulton Park Cricket Club August 12-16 2.30pm-5pm 6-8 year olds £36
Oulton Park Cricket Club August 12-16 9.30am-5pm 9-15 year olds £99
Northwich Cricket Club August 26-30 2.30pm-5pm 6-8 year olds £36
Northwich Cricket Club August 26-30 9.30am-5pm 9-15 year olds £99
Woodford Cricket Club July 29-Aug 2 9.30am-5pm 9-15 year olds £99
Bredbury St Marks Cricket Club August 5-9 9.30am-5pm 9-15 year olds £99
Stockport Cricket Club August 19-23 2.30pm-5pm 6-8 year olds £36
Stockport Cricket Club August 19-23 9.30am-5pm 9-15 year olds £99
Neston Cricket Club August 12-16 2.30pm-5pm 6-8 year olds £36
Neston Cricket Club August 12-16 9.30am-5pm 9-15 year olds £99
Oxton Cricket Club July 22-26 9.30am-5pm 9-15 year olds £99
Bowdon Cricket Club August 12-16 2.30pm-5pm 6-8 year olds £36
Bowdon Cricket Club August 12-16 9.30am-5pm 9-15 year olds £99
Bowdon Cricket Club August 26-30 2.30pm-5pm 6-8 year olds £36
Bowdon Cricket Club August 26-30 9.30am-5pm 9-15 year olds £99
TO BOOK A COACHING COURSE, VISIT THE CCB WEBSITE
www.cheshirecricketboard.co.uk/SummerCourses2013.html
Coach’s Corner: New ECB Coaching Pathway in 2013
WE are now just days away from
the start of the new cricket season,
and the excitement is building at
clubs right across the county.
For the hundreds of qualified
coaches and team managers this is an
extremely busy period, as session plans
are rapidly drawn up and fixture cards
put in place for the start of the sum-
mer.
And following another successful
assessment programme on our Coach
Education Courses, we now have an
extended Cheshire “coaching family”
with many new recruits desperate to
share their passion and expertise with
junior and senior players alike.
The Cheshire Cricket Board are
committed to helping all new (and
existing) coaches continue their devel-
opment in club settings, and we will be
hosting regular training methods work-
shops free of charge to give some ex-
amples of best practice.
This will be complimented by regu-
lar visits from our team of Coaching
and Development Officers, who will
be on hand to answer any questions
and point people in the right direction.
This is a particularly exciting time for
coaches, as 2013 will herald the dawn
of a new Coaching Pathway within the
ECB, with several “new” courses avail-
able from September onwards.
The changes are designed to directly
address the needs of players and
coaches in the recreational game. The
new structure will incorporate the
ECB’s Player Development Model
(PDM) with Early, Basic and En-
hanced development stages, with
which coaches using the Howzat re-
source will already be familiar.
The new structure is about making
coaching fun and will hopefully ignit-
ing a passion for learning and on-going
development within coaches every-
where in the recreational game.
Coaches need support in many var-
ied and individual ways, and the ECB
hope this structure, coupled with the
new PDM, will meet the requirements
of those delivering cricket from grass
roots right through to the top of the
professional game.
Existing ECB coaches and many
aspiring ones will already be familiar
with the current UKCC structure, with
assessment programmes in place at
Level 1, 2, 3 and 4. Under the new
structure, Level 1 will superseded by a
one day course called the Coach Sup-
port Worker, while Level 2 will be
divided into two courses—Coaching
Children (up to 13 years) and Coach-
ing Young People at Adults (14 plus).
For coaches working at Performance
Levels 3 and 4, the courses will remain
largely the same in their structure.
I know that coaches (current or as-
piring) will have many more questions
about the new structure and how best
to continue their development. In the
coming weeks and months the Chesh-
ire Cricket Board will be releasing
regular updates and FAQ’s sheets to
help coaches fully understand the
changes. Further details will also be
added to the Board’s website.
Headline Messages
September 2013 - New Coach Educa-
tion Structure launched
Player Needs - Different players have
different needs, coaches need to un-
derstand this and the new structure
will lead and support this process.
Skill acquisition - The new structure
will help to develop highly skilled and
qualified coaches in the UK.
Feel Good - Following the changes,
there will be a positive impact on
coaches, players and teams.
Knowledge - Players will have an in-
creased understanding of the game and
their own performance.
Priority - Players will be the central
focus of what coaches learn about.
Page 7 Wheatsheaf World
In September 2013,
some exciting
changes are being
made to the ECB’s
coaching pathway.
In his new column,
Cheshire’s Coach
Education Manager Graeme Rick-
man brings you up to speed with
all the latest developments.
PATHWAY: The new ECB coaching structure
Page 8 Volume 2
Chris Edwards: Living the Dream
Can you sum up your first year as a
DCO for Cheshire Cricket Board?
It’s been a roller coaster year for me
and it has gone by so quickly. It’s been
difficult at times, but I enjoy a chal-
lenge and that has kept me motivated
to keep improving.
This job is all about building positive
relationships with people and trying to
inspire them to take up cricket. Hope-
fully I have done that.
I would like to thank CCB and the
Trust for supporting my role and al-
lowing me to pursue my passion of
coaching and playing cricket.
What impact (if any) has your dis-
ability had on your working life?
In this job, your timetables are con-
stantly changing and I like to have a
solid routine, so this has been the big-
gest challenge for me in terms of
adapting. But I have also learned from
the experience and it has made me a
more confident person.
Communicating seems simple on the
sports hall floor because that’s where I
feel most comfortable, but I still find it
difficult phoning up new contacts,
which is something that comes natu-
rally to the other guys. I think that is
part of my learning disability – I have
to think much harder about how a
plan might come together.
The other CCB staff have been really
supportive though, especially Owen
(Williamson) who covered the Wirral
schools and clubs prior to me.
You are currently working towards
your ECB Level 3 coaching badge -
how is that going?
Learning new skills and techniques
from the best tutors around can only
help me to improve my own coaching.
The biggest thing I have learned is
how to adapt my coaching style to
meet the needs of different players.
Some need to be told information,
some need to be shown, but even bet-
ter is to ask questions and get the play-
ers to think for themselves. That has
been the biggest satisfaction to date,
watching the players develop over sev-
eral weeks of working with them.
What has it been like working with
guys who coached you only a few
years ago on the Player Pathway?
The Player Pathway has improved
dramatically ever since I finished play-
ing in 2010 and it’s been great to be a
part of the coaching team.
You really have to be on the ball all
the time. In some venues we have
viewing areas for the parents and this
is good because they can see how we
are developing the players. It can also
be quite daunting and you feel like a
referee in a premiership football
match, with all the cameras following
your every decision!
Overall it has been a really enjoyable
12 months on course, in schools and
working with clubs. Roll on year two!
NO BOUNDARIES Former ECB Disability
Cricketer of the Year
Chris Edwards pens an
exclusive new column
for Wheatsheaf World.
“As I write my first blog, disability
cricket in England is redeveloping at
grass roots level in an effort to in-
crease participation in the sport.
“The old County Championship will
be suspended while a new structure is
developed, with regional inter county
‘friendly matches’ encouraged.
“Cheshire’s international level play-
ers, of which I am one, will be pre-
cluded from playing these county
matches and will instead be invited to
an enhanced National Development
Programme.
“With no league structure this leaves
us free to arrange as many games as
we feel will benefit our team over the
coming season as we look to give
some new youngsters some match
time experience to develop their game.
“With a big squad to choose from,
we will be able to rotate the squad
regularly so they get equal opportuni-
ties. With two new players in Craig
Kearney and Martin Meehan, this will
help us start to build a new look to our
team for the future and we hope to
bring in more new players over the
next few years and beyond.
“By the time you read this, we will
have swapped indoor training sessions
at Birkenhead School for outdoor
practice, and as assistant coach to
Keith Beggs I am looking forward to
watching our current and new players
in action.
“I will keep you posted on all the
matches being played over the course
of the season and the progress the
players are making in my next blog at
the end of May.”
Thanks for reading! Chris
* To read Chris’s blog in full, includ-
ing a history of the Cheshire Disabled
team, visit the disabilities page of the
Cheshire Cricket Board website at:
www.cheshirecricketboard.co.uk/
TWELVE months ago, thanks to
funding from the Cheshire Cricket
Trust, Chris Edwards became the
first member of the England Learn-
ing Disabilities squad to earn a job
as a professional coach when he
joined the staff of the Cheshire
Cricket Board. One year on, Chris
talks to Wheatsheaf World about
his experiences in the role to date.
Page 9 Wheatsheaf World
Sefton crowned disability champs Officer Chris Ed-
wards was on
hand to oversee
the coaching.
The standard of
play was high
throughout the
competition, and
it was Sefton
(pictured bottom
left) who ran out
eventual winners,
beating rivals St
Helens by 40 runs in a keenly con-
tested final.
All the players made a telling contri-
bution to their teams and the coaches
noted the quality of the play, in par-
ticular the batting skills on display.
Wirral’s Special Educational Needs
(SEN) School Sports Partnership
Leader Jon White was thoroughly im-
pressed with the skill level and sports-
manship of the pupils.
He said: “Sefton looked magnificent
in their yellow School Games t-shirts,
and used their wonderful togetherness
and team spirit to beat a St. Helen’s
team that was equally high on talent.
All players competed with determi-
nation, honesty, passion, respect, self-
belief and teamwork and continued to
display these School Games values
throughout the day’s play.
“The competition was well umpired
by the irrepressible Keith Beggs, a
member of the support staff for the
England Special Educational Needs
and Disabilities (SEND) Team.
“The players also received high-
quality coaching during breaks in their
matches from the outstanding young
Cheshire Cricket Board coach Christo-
pher Edwards, who used the exciting
ECB Cricket Factory activities.
Jon added: “Finally, a big thank you
must go to the Youth Sport Trust’s
Project Ability for setting up such
great opportunities for people with a
disability to take part in sport.”
For more disability cricket news, visit
www.cheshirecricketboard.co.uk
DISABILITY CRICKET NEWS
by Chris Edwards THREE schools from across Mer-
seyside came out to compete in the
annual cricket competition for play-
ers with physical disabilities at Lea-
sowe Leisure Centre on Wirral.
Schools from Wirral, St Helens and
Sefton combined to represent their
boroughs in a tournament which al-
ways provides fun and maximum par-
ticipation for all involved.
This year the sports hall was divided
into two sections, with two boroughs
competing in one half while the re-
maining competitors practised their
skills with coaching aids from the ECB
Cricket Factory.
Cheshire Disability Cricket Head
Coach Keith Beggs umpired the
matches, while CCB Development
ON FRIDAY, August 23, Slater Heelis LLP Solicitors are hosting a special day of cricket at Sale Sports Club. The event at Dane Road will show-case the game of Visually Impaired cricket to local people and businesses in Sale, whilst also celebrating Slater Heelis’ 240th Anniversary. With the support of Henshaws, the Trafford-based charity for the blind, and the Cheshire and Lancashire Cricket Boards, Slater Heelis will host a taster session for the VI community followed by a cricket match (under VI rules) between the Lancashire Lions
and a Henshaws Invitational team. Programme of activities (TBC). Slater Heelis’ marketing manager Claire Palmer said: “We are hosting this event to demonstrate to staff and clients how some of the hard work they do fundraising all year round can come to life with a day filled with celebra-tions and special invitational matches. “We would like to encourage anyone with an interest in cricket, particular those members of the community with a visual impairment, to come along and try their hand at cricket. “It promises to be a memorable day.”
Cricket for all: Lancashire Lions
players training at Old Trafford
CCB Club
Development
Manager Mike
Woollard brings
you the latest
from the Cheshire
club scene ...
Page 10 Volume 2
THE 2013 edition of the Sources of Grant Aid for Cricket Clubs, funded by the Cheshire Clubs’ Cricket Committee, has now been circu-lated to all affiliated clubs, and is available online at; www.cheshirecricketboard.co.uk/Grant Aid - 8th edition.pdf This will be updated online when any changes become known, and should be a useful guide for any club seeking investment. To support this resource, two semi-nars were held recently at Chester County Offices CC and Heaton Mer-sey CC at which Stephen Wright, the author of this booklet, gave invaluable advice to those attending, detailing how to make a successful application, using his experience in accessing exter-nal funding on behalf of Cheshire County Council. Since his post at Cheshire, Stephen has run a successful business supporting organisations throughout the North to access fund-ing for substantial and smaller pro-jects. If you are intending to apply to any potential funder, can I suggest contact-
ing me to discuss how best to maxi-mise the chances of success. Sport England have established a new online re-source, completely FREE to all affili-ated clubs, giving advice in all areas of club manage-ment from Price Waterhouse Coo-pers. Having regis-tered on the site and investigated thoroughly, I believe it to be the most comprehensive sup-port for clubs, and would encourage all clubs to register and take advantage of this excellent advice. http://www.sportenglandclubleaders.com/ In addition to this, ECB have launched the ‘Club Support’ section of their website. This gives excellent free advice in many areas of club develop-ment, and clubs are encouraged to use this resource when formulating plans for the future, such as cost and energy saving and project development. http://www.ecb.co.uk/development/club-cricket/club-support/ 21 Cheshire clubs will have bene-fited to date from the ECB Small Grants Scheme, with six having new covers, nine getting Bowdry machines and the balance a mixture of flat sheets
and energy efficient lighting. To allow all this to happen, the Cheshire Cricket Board has added £6k to the ECB ‘pot’. A further five Cheshire clubs have benefited from the Sport England In-spired Facilities Fund to the tune of approximately £50k each for the de-velopment of their changing facilities, and Warrington Sports Club have had £50k from the Protecting Playing Fields fund to vastly improve the drainage at the club, to the benefit of both Cricket and Rugby sections. It is hoped that two clubs will bene-fit significantly in 2013 from the ECB Grant Aid Programme, and we are awaiting further news. All that remains is for me to wish you all a successful start to the season, and please do get in touch with any questions about funding or facilities.
Pulling the ‘Wool’ over your eyes
I have today received confirmation that we have been successful in gaining an award of £2000 under the Board's 2013 Small Grants Scheme. I would like to thank you for the support you have given us with this award which will be very im-portant in enabling our continued pro-gress. Many thanks indeed.'
Stewart Coates - Stockport Trinity CC
As I'm sure you are already aware, Ap-pleton have been successful with our ECB small grant application for covers and Bowdry. Thanks very much to Mike Woollard and the rest of your team for help and support.' Antony Hurst, Chair-
man Appleton CC
Thank you from all at Hollingworth Cricket Club for your support and help in achieving our Sport England grant.' Mo -
Hollingworth Cricket Club
I would like to thank you on behalf of Wistaston Cricket Club for all the help you have given over the past few years since getting Club Mark. Through having Club Mark we have received grants from the ECB & The Lottery in the past year for a bowling machine, which has been put to good use and we are now waiting for our new covers to come. Once again your help and advice made it possible. Kevin & Pauline Jobbins, Wistaston CC
Recent feedback from your clubs ...
WAVE OF SUCCESS: Caldy CC on Cricket Force Day
NEW COAT: Caldy’s sightscreens
get a pre-season makeover
JOURNEY & SETTLING IN
We arrived in Christchurch approxi-
mately a day and a half after leaving
Manchester on Saturday morning. We
were on time and the journey was
trouble free, but very tiring (I was
nearly asleep standing up in LA air-
port). The rest of the day is a bit of a
haze due to the jetlag.
On Day Two we took a bus tour of
the city; a sad experience in many ways
as the guide’s commentary was domi-
nated by references to the damage
done by the recent earthquakes. The
centre of Christchurch is an exclusion
zone, with many plots still empty fol-
lowing the demolition work. It will
take years to complete the repairs but
nevertheless this is a pleasant, well-laid
out place in a great setting. We fin-
ished the tour at the splendid botanical
gardens set in Hagley Park, the fifth
largest city park in the world so they
say. Had an early night.
We had an early start to Day Three,
watching Spurs beat Arsenal before
leaving Christchurch via coach. The
trip took us across the very flat farm-
ing area en route to the Southern Alps
and Mount Cook. The country is very
dry after what they all say was the best
summer for years - indeed, everywhere
is brown except the pasture fields
which are irrigated. The mountains are
Page 11 Volume 2
‘Davies Down Under’ - Board Chairman tours NZ spectacular, the Mount Cook range,
the highest in New Zealand, is covered
in glaciers all year.
Day Four brought a leisurely trip
down from the hills to the Pacific
Coast past some hydro dams set in
beautiful countryside. We stopped for
lunch at Moeraki Boulders - some very
large boulders on the beach, interest-
ing enough but I will spare you the
geology lesson. We checked in at the
Victoria Hotel in Dunedin, our home
for the next six nights - it looks good.
Drinks party tonight and tomorrow
the CRICKET. Guess what, the
weather forecast is for showers! It is
the same the world over it seems.
DUNEDIN: First Test
The first test ended in a draw which
England would have bitten your hand
off for after their inept, complacent
and even arrogant performance in the
first innings.
I am not going to give you a full
match report (you will have read that
yourself) but congratulations to
Hamish Rutherford, Nick Compton
and night-watchman Steve Finn on
their important contributions.
The University Oval (pictured left) is
a lovely ground, the playing area bigger
than it first looks, tree lined, one per-
manent stand, two temporary stands
and two grassy banks but a lovely re-
laxed atmosphere.
I met several people I know: the
three County League umpires, Geoff
Wellsteed, Ged
Kinsey and Barry
Burns; Cheshire
League umpires,
John Bone and
Christine Robin-
son; Liverpool
Competition chair-
man, John Wil-
liams and an old
friend and col-
league from the
League Confer-
ence, Richard
Martin from the Bassetlaw League
who was in the next seat at the theatre
when we went to see a “Last Night of
the Proms” concert - an excuse for
some singing and flag waving after
England’s woeful first day.
We also attended a question and
answer session with John Etheridge,
cricket correspondent for The Sun, an
interesting and experienced man who
has only missed two England matches
in 25 years.
WELLINGTON: Second Test
We left Dunedin early on Monday for
the long drive to Milford Sound.
Brown is definitely the colour in the
New Zealand countryside at the end of
this hot, dry summer with only wa-
tered fields showing any green and
much less irrigation in the south than
the middle of the South Island.
Milford Sound, not strictly a sound
but a fjord, is truly spectacular as we
cruised out to sea and back. We drove
back to Te Anau on the lake of the
same name for the night.
Cheshire Cricket
Board Chairman Pe-
ter Davies recently
returned from New
Zealand where he
watched all three
drawn test matches.
Here, Peter shares his experiences
with the Wheatsheaf World readers.
SOUNDSCAPE: The spectacular Milford Sound
We flew to Wellington on Wednesday
in readiness for the second test. The
bustling capital city is also a port and
host to many cruise ships - Queen
Mary 2 was in town.
It was a much better response by
England after being inserted than in
Dunedin although the NZ attack
lacked penetration. The Basin Reserve
is an old and traditional ground in
need of a facelift. One stand is out of
use because it is an earthquake risk and
the iconic Vance Stand with its gabled
facade is rusting in places. The large,
nearly circular playing area is immacu-
late, the greenest plot in the country at
present, no doubt.
Another cricket fanatic from Chesh-
ire has arrived for the final two tests. I
was stretching my legs on a lap of the
ground at lunch when I heard my
name being called. On turning round I
was pleasantly surprised to see an old
friend in the shape of David Briggs
Page 12 Volume 2
‘Davies Down Under’ - Board Chairman tours NZ from Alsager
who is on his
third trip out
here.
THE
DROUGHT
BREAKS
After months without rain and a drought order throughout the North Island it started to rain at lunch on the
fourth day and the final five sessions were lost. It looked like another pitch with little in it for the bowlers and may have been a draw anyway. So how do you kill a wet day in Wel-lington? Well, I visited the excellent national museum, Te Papa, and spent about five hours wandering around, had lunch with Briggsy and then went on the Wellington Cable Car to the top where I took a picture of a very murky city. The rain followed us as we departed for the long drive to Rotorua, passing Lake Taupo where the weather finally improved. We also visited Huka Falls before arriving at the sulphurous spa town at about five thirty.
AUCKLAND: Third Test
We visited the hot springs at Rotorua, which was a bit smelly but fascinating. From there we went on to the Agra-dome where we saw a show involving performing sheep! We spent an evening at a Maori vil-lage where we saw various aspects of their culture and ate a traditionally cooked meal. It was all very interesting and entertaining but they are still per-forming for the tourists. The next day we drove to Auckland via some lime-stone caves full of glow worms - spec-tacular but, unfortunately, no photog-raphy allowed. We arrived in the high rise centre of the city at rush hour and checked in to another excellent hotel. We visited Parnell CC, one of Auckland’s leading clubs coached by Ian Trott, father of Jonathan. As well as plenty of memo-rabilia, several fields and a huge junior section they have their own three bay
indoor nets. How’s that for club devel-opment! Eden Park is a large, impressive sta-dium - for rugby! The short, straight boundaries allowed one top edge to go for six. So what happened to winning the toss and batting? No deviations for the bowlers and sound test match batting from NZ made Cook’s decision to insert one of the most expensive ever. The final test reached a tremen-dously exciting climax with England achieving a draw after losing only five wickets on the last day. Major contri-butions from, Cook, Bell, Root Prior and not least Broad who redeemed himself after some of the brainless shots he had played earlier in the se-
ries. And then there was Monty! Never looked in trouble!! Some people want to do away with the draw in cricket - Bah Humbug is my answer after wit-nessing that. We spent the last day on a trip to Waiheke Island which included visits to vineyards and a brewery, with tast-ings! I didn’t enjoy it at all!! The tem-perature was in the mid twenties, as it was every day in Auckland, imagine the shock when the pilot announced that it was four degrees as we ap-proached Heathrow, it doesn’t seem to have got much warmer since either. Looking back it was a trip well worth taking to a beautiful, friendly, well inte-grated country. The cricket was inter-esting but it has to be said that the England team underperformed and credit to NZ who seemed more fo-cused albeit on very batsman friendly pitches - we will see how they go at Headingley in May. Thanks for reading, and best wishes ahead of what promises to be an exciting summer of cricket.
CALM BEFORE THE STORM: The Basin Reserve
Page 13 Wheatsheaf World
DURING the winter programme we have encouraged you all to im-prove your physical fitness. The winter often provides better opportunity for you to get fit with lots of sports which require cardiovascular fitness such as football, hockey, rugby and netball. This means by the start of the cricket season most of you will be at peak fitness. During the summer months as you start to play more cricket there is less time to devote to fitness and over a period of months fitness levels tend to drop both in the amateur game and indeed in the professional arena. With this drop in fitness levels comes a greater risk of injury and cer-tainly a drop in performance.
Fit for Cricket: A blueprint for summer success
Cheshire Youth Cricket wants you to maintain your fitness all year round so that when teams go on tours in Au-gust, our fitness levels will be better than other county sides and we will not have frustrated children who can-not play through injury and who can perform better and longer on the field. Planning is essential if you are able to fit in playing in games and finding adequate time to not only train but plan rest days too. Use a calendar to schedule how best to use your time. Each week try to do a speed session, a core session and a strength session. Here are some drills you can use to help you hit the ground running this season:
SPEED
Run as fast as you can for short peri-ods (eg 10 m or 20 m). If you want to get faster you have to train running fast! You can use the T Drill (left) which is completed as follows:
Sprint forward 10m, lateral shuffle right 5m, lateral shuffle left 10m, lat-eral shuffle right 5m (back to centre) then backpedal 10m to start line. This is easy on a tennis court or netball court or set it up on your driveway. Repeat five times with 30 second rests between. Time yourself to get your fastest time. NB) Children who are growing should not do regular road running over dis-tances greater than 5 km.
FLEXIBILITY
During growth spurts it is good to make sure that you try and do some flexibility most days. Pick a few of the exercises from those on the website that you find most difficult and prac-tise them.
STRENGTH AND CORE
With core work, practise of good qual-ity technique is essential.
NO TIME FOR A LIE DOWN: Planks are crucial for core stability
CCB Strength and
Conditioning Con-
sultant Angela
Jackson, of Alderley
Edge based firm
PhysioFit, writes for
Wheatsheaf World.
ENGLAND Strength and Condition-ing Coach Christian Vassallo made a special visit to Cheshire earlier this month to put some of our most tal-ented youngsters through their paces. Christian ran a squad session for Cheshire’s Emerging Players and also paid a visit to one of the Board’s Specialist Easter Courses to pass on his passion and expertise. The sessions at Wilmslow High School were organised by Cheshire
Physio Angie Jackson and Perform-ance Manager Gavin Colebourn. Angela said: “One of the key mes-sages to players is that they can be talented and technically able, but you need to be physically fit to withstand the pressures of the modern game. “We have to challenge them to be the best they can be. And if the body is willing, success will naturally fol-low. I was thrilled for the boys to have an opportunity to see how their
England heroes train and know what they can do to reach the top. “Larger counties have their own fitness team to support the coaching staff but the smaller counties rely on volunteers to provide back up. She added: “I have worked with the Emerging Player Programme since its inception seven years ago and in-creasingly the message from England Cricket is if you want to reach the top you need to be fit.”
England Intern Vassallo gives fitness tips to youngsters
Continued on Page 14 ...
Page 14 Wheatsheaf World
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 Press ups - Aim for 25 reps for boys and 15 for girls Plank circuits - (front plank to side plank to upward facing plank to side plank holding each for 10 secs, repeat x 3-4 circuits Chin ups - Aim for 15 Lunging - Around clock and deep squats - 3 sets of 10 reps. Each of these can be done 3 x per week so it won’t take long. See the Cheshire Cricket Board website for pictures and handouts. No core work should be done prior to playing or practising as a tired, weakened core tends to lead to injury. Start slowly whatever age you are and gradually build up. Good technique is better than long holds with a poor posture. If you would like help with an individual programme, screening appointments are available through Angela Jackson at Physiofit www.physiofit.co.uk
THERE is a directive from the
England Cricket Board in place to
protect young bowlers from injury
to their backs when they are grow-
ing, writes Angela Jackson.
Every year there are several bowlers
aged between 11-15 who will sustain
stress fractures of their lower backs
which will put them out of all sport for
at least six months and out of bowling
for at least a year.
These are usually a result of poor
technique, over bowling, and poor
warm up procedures.
Injuries to the back and shoulders
are common in spin bowlers so it is
not just fast bowlers (like Stuart Broad,
pictured) that are at risk. Players,
coaches and parents should take note
of the ECB directives and ensure they
are strictly adhered to (see below).
You should count how many balls
you bowl in the nets, matches and
whilst out playing with friends at
school or in free time as these should
be included in your weekly allowance.
Keep a diary in your cricket bag re-
cording how many balls you bowl each
week. You must plan with your par-
ents and coaches what cricket commit-
ments you have each week to ensure
that you do not exceed your bowling
limits.
It is advised by the ECB that chil-
dren should not bowl more than two
consecutive days, no more than four
times in any seven day period (7/4/2).
This has yet to become enforceable
but is backed up by strong evidence to
suggest that it is the repetition of
bowling/throwing on consecutive days
that causes stress on bony growth
plates and that a rest day every third
day will allow the bone to heal. These
guidelines apply to practise sessions as
well as match situations.
As a general rule the 7/4/2 guideline
is a good basis for all cricketers includ-
ing spinners, wicket keepers and even
batsmen who still have to stand for
long periods in the field. Plan your
week to include no more than 4 cricket
sessions and 3 fitness sessions.
BEST FOOT FORWARD: Practise your lunging
How much cricket should you play this summer?
FAST BOWLING IN MATCHES
AGE OVERS (SPELL) PER DAY
U13 5 per spell 10 per day
U14 6 per spell 12 per day
U15 6 per spell 12 per day
U16 7 per spell 18 per day
U17 7 per spell 18 per day
U18 7 per spell 18 per day
U19 7 per spell 18 per day
FAST BOWLING IN PRACTISE
AGE BALLS (SESSION) PER WEEK
U13 30 per session 2 sessions
U14 36 per session 2 sessions
U15 36 per session 2 sessions
U16 42 per session 3 sessions
U17 42 per session 3 sessions
U18 42 per session 3 sessions
U19 42 per session 3 sessions
INJURY PRONE: Stuart Broad
Page 15 Wheatsheaf World
9 January 1940 – 19
March 2013
Known universally as Sandy, our friend and fellow cricket lover, Sandy Scrimgeour, died on 19 March 2013, after an illness which began on 28 September 2009. Family and friends, together with players, ex-players, and officials throughout the Cheshire cricket family and beyond, filled St Thomas’s Church, Heaton Chapel on March 28 to share a Service of Thanksgiving. The service, led by Rev Diane Brownhill, included a tribute to Sandy’s dedication and commitment to Cheshire Cricket from the County Chairman, John Pickup, and some cherished family memories from Sandy’s daughter, Lynn. A proud Dundonian who never for-got his roots, Sandy moved from Dun-dee to Manchester in 1962 and played for the YMCA whilst he was living in
Remembering Sandy Scrimgeour: A Tribute the YMCA hostel on Princess Park-way, and where incidentally he first met David Bailey, current Cheshire CCC Cricket Chairman, who was also staying there at the time. Elise joined him from Scotland in 1965 when they married and went to live in Heaton Moor where he joined Heaton Mersey CC as a bowler and, latterly, a keeper. Together they be-came mainstays of Mersey, a Club en-joyed by all the family and where they made life long friends. After his playing days he became a popular and respected member of the Cheshire County League Umpires panel. As an umpire and as a player, whatever happened on the field of play, he would always socialize with players and officials after the match before journeying to join his club friends back at Mersey. Sandy played a leading role in the administration of the game for over 30 years. He was Fixture Secretary of the Cheshire County League from 1983 until 2010, when he retired because of illness, and in recognition of his con-tribution to this complex job was ap-pointed an Hon. Life Vice President of the League in 2011. During this same period, and to-gether with his wife Elise, he ran the Cheshire U13 Club Cup Competition as part of their roles with the Cheshire Association of Cricket Clubs. He was also a member of the Chesh-
ire County Cricket Club Committee where he served first as Team Manager of the Cheshire Association team play-ing in the then NCA Competition which evolved into the County ‘2nd XI’, and later the ‘A XI’. Latterly Sandy became the County 1st XI Team Manager and for a while did the job for both the ‘A XI’ and the 1st XI. During Sandy’s tenure as 1st XI Team Manager the team reached two Minor Counties Championship Finals and a Knock Out Final with his proudest moment being when the County won the Championship in 2007 by beating Northumberland at Jesmond. Sandy’s insistence on the team being immaculately turned out in their blaz-ers at the Trophy presentation earned him accolades from the Minor Coun-ties Officials. Both Sandy and Elise were appointed Hon. Life Members of the County Club in recognition of their services. Sandy performed all roles with typi-cal vigour, energy and efficiency. His standards as Team Manager and Ad-ministrator were high and non-negotiable. He loved the banter and always had an answer. He stood no nonsense, sometimes harsh, but always fair. He was very proud of all the teams he managed and players re-garded him as a ‘top bloke’ – often a smiley face with a twinkle in his eye.
On March 19, 2013
Cheshire Cricket lost
one of its most dedi-
cated servants and a
“real character” of
the county scene in
Sandy Scrimgeour.
Here, Board secretary and website
manager David Sharp pays tribute
to man known to all as “Sandy”.
SANDY: A proud Dundonian
TEAM PLAYER: Sandy pictured with the Cheshire County team at Chester
Page 16 Wheatsheaf World
Continued from Page 13 Throughout, Sandy had the steadfast support of Elise, and together they made a formidable team dedicated to their family and Cheshire Cricket. In 2008 they attended the OSCAs at Lord’s in recognition of their contribu-tion to Cheshire cricket. Sandy instilled a love for sport, and in particular cricket and its etiquette, first in his children Steven and Lynn, and later with his four grandchildren (Brogan, Callum, Joshua and Alicia) – all proud to wear the Scrimgeour name. Sandy worked as a Textile Salesman and travelled extensively around the UK. Away from Cricket he played Indoor Bowls, enjoyed Sports Quizzes and followed Rugby, Ice Hockey, Horse Racing, Speedway (Belle Vue Aces) and Football (Scotland, of course; ‘The Darkers’ – Dundee; Man-chester United; and local matches at
Sandy Scrimgeour: A Tribute Stockport County, Hyde and Droyls-den). Sandy - A true character of our time, he will be well remembered.
Compiled by David Sharp with thanks to Lynn and John Pickup
REMEMERING “SANDY”
“Top bloke, always brought a smile
to everyone's face!!He will be
sorely missed by myself, everyone
at Nantwich CC and the whole of
the Cheshire set up” - James War-
rington
“RIP Sandy. A top man with a great sense of humour, The only umpire I know to have openly laughed at some of my more hope-
ful appeals!” - Simon Wilkinson
“Condolences to Elise and the family. Great fun as an umpire and Cheshire team manager. Proudest man to wear the Wheatsheaf on his blazer. Has been sorely missed on the boundary edge and out in the middle since his illness took hold.
Rest in Peace.” - Adam Syddall
“Very sad news, loved Sandy, a top bloke who always saw the funny side of everything. Thoughts
with the family.” - Mark Maddocks
“Only positive memories of Sandy, whether wearing the um-pire's coat or leading the banter on an evening out in Leeds. An irre-placeable character.” Tom Twin-
ney
“A great bloke who was a huge help to me and someone I owe a great amount to. Love to Elise and
family.” - Daniel Woods
“What a legend. I'll always be in his debt for the things he did. Gave me confidence more than anyone else. Always the last one in the bar, them eyes getting bigger, voice getting louder and that cheeky laugh getting longer. Honour to
know the man.” - Daniel Berry
“Condolences to all concerned. Both my wife and myself are gut-ted, had many an interesting chat/debate with Sandy, most of the debating at his reluctance to raise the finger whilst I was bowl-ing. Lovely man.” - Kev Water-
house
“Very sad to hear this news. A lot of great memories of a great man. Thanks for everything Sandy, you'll be sorely missed by all.” - Rick
Moore
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
* Comments in this section were taken from the Facebook Group Cheshire Cricket News and Banter.
HAPPY TIMES: With wife Elise
Gareth
Peter Davies
CCB Chairman
01477 532185
Stan Davies
CCB Management Group Chairman
0161 962 3298
Mike Tyerman
CCB Vice Chairman
01925 266144
Mike Roff
CCB Treasurer
01625 583949
David Batty
Rep of Cheshire Youth Cricket
0151-495 3307
Richard Newton
Director of Cricket
01606 871200
Mike Woollard
Club Development Manager
01606 871200
Graeme Rickman
Coach Education Manager
07745 903381
Gavin Colebourn
Performance & Participation Manager
07971 940440
Michele Alder
Administrator
01606 871200
Bob Milne
Development & Coaching Officer
07525 751603
Page 17 Volume 2
Colin Grindey
DCO, Macclesfield
07955 859136
Mark Greaves
DCO, Mid-Cheshire
07970 687993
Owen Williamson
DCO, Warrington & Chester
07984 196148
Stewart Macleod, DCO
Crewe, Nantwich & Congleton
07789 767449
CHESHIRE Cricket Board would
like to wish all players, coaches,
officials, volunteers (and Wheat-
sheaf World readers) a very enjoy-
able and sun-soaked start to the
summer.
In the next edition of this news-
letter, we will follow the progress of
Cheshire’s representative teams -
junior and senior - and take a closer
look at some of the success stories
behind your clubs, including a
comprehensive round-up of the
Natwest Cricket Force weekend.
Please forward this newsletter to
any friends and colleagues, and
email any articles for inclusion to
Look out for Wheatsheaf 5!
David Sharp
Honorary Secretary/Website Manager
07754 615956
Jim Law
Retired Chairman (CCB)
07900 975826
John Pickup
Rep of Cheshire CCC
01606 74970
Angela Jackson
Strength & Conditioning Consultant
01625 590444
David Humpage
Rep of Cheshire Clubs Committee
0161 432 4670
Chris Edwards
DCO, Wirral
07799 503377
Gareth Moorhouse
Communications & Marketing Manager
07875315193
Andy Margeson
County Welfare Officer
07958 244794
Write to us with your thoughts:
Cheshire Cricket Board Limited 2 Moss Farm Cottages, Moss
Farm Leisure Complex, Northwich, Cheshire CW8 4BG
Chris Ashling
Coaching Officer
07791 170750
Ben Tomlinson
Coaching Officer
07774 568807
Toby Mullins
Coaching Officer
07525 191540
Rick Halkon
DCO, Stockport
07545 447359