Cricket Club Issue 48 | Page 10

Banstead FOLLOW US ONLINE TWITTER.COM/CRICKETCLUBMAG Banstead CRICKET CLUB B anstead CC enjoyed a fine season in 2018 and is already making plans to continue their success. Cricket Club Magazine recently caught up Membership Secretary Ray Watson to find out more. Involvement Ray told us, “I’ve been involved at Banstead CC for twenty years now, joining as a parent when my son was an U9. I took up team management, then moved on to overall Colts Manager, a role I still fulfill today even though my son is 29 and living in Dubai! I am also the Membership Secretary and look after newsletter publication and event promotion.” The Role “The most challenging aspects are juggling cricket commitments with work and family commitments but somehow I seem to manage it. The most rewarding aspect is when a Junior makes it into the senior ranks and better still when they make it as a professional, preferably Images courtesy of Jag Mann with Surrey CCC. Rory Burns the Surrey captain and latest recruit to the England line is a Banstead player.” Atmosphere “The mood is excellent! We have come off the back of a successful senior season on the field with the First, Second and fourth XIs retaining Premiership status in their respective Travelbag Surrey Championship Leagues and next season they will be joined by our 3rd XI who gain promotion as runners up in the First Division. Off the field, we had an amazing fund raising weekend in July where we played The PCA England Masters on the Friday and then held a two day beer and music festival on the Saturday and Sunday. Not only did we raise money for a new pavilion project but also showed another side of the club to the local community.” 2018 “As well as what I’ve mentioned for the seniors, 2018 also saw almost 300 juniors playing across 15 teams from U7 to U16. We have also started a girls section which we have high hopes for next season. Our campaign is now over for 2018 but we are busy now with off the field maintenance plus recruitment for the senior section including finding a fast bowler/middle order batsman for the First XI.” Youth “Youth cricket is extremely important to the club. We have a development