Cricket Club Issue 48 | Page 24

West of Scotland FOLLOW US ONLINE TWITTER.COM/CRICKETCLUBMAG West of Scotland CRICKET CLUB W est of Scotland CC has enjoyed a fantastic season this time around, winning three trophies and also making fantastic progress as a club. Cricket Club Magazine recently caught up with Club Representative David Hinchcliffe to gain an insight into their success. Involvement The Role He told us, “I have been involved with West for four years as Club Coach. West was the obvious choice for me on several levels. It is a club with an exceptionally strong history, being involved in the development of cricket in Glasgow over 150 years ago, and still counted as one of the most influential teams in Scottish cricket. The club is ambitious and open to innovation, striking a healthy balance between the best of tradition and the introduction of modern aspects of the game. There is a diverse membership across nations, ages, ability and genders that has led to a cosmopolitan feeling, reflective of the club’s West End location. This leads to an open and accepting environment for new people at a level I have not experienced before.” “Developing players is a challenging task but incredibly satisfying when you see the fruits of your labours. At West there is a range of abilities from beginners (at any age) through to players with Scotland honours. There is also a range of motivations to play from pure leisure to ambitions into the professional game. Balancing all these factors requires focus and effort!” Atmosphere “The club has changed for the better over the years I have been coach. We have more players, more teams (four senior elevens and four junior sides), more success and better facilities than ever. However, what really makes the mood positive is the unwritten culture: Things like players training in the indoor nets when games are rained off, the number of people who stay after matches and come to club socials, the integration of a wide range of personalities and cultures, and the commitment of players to off-season training. When I see these little things happening, it makes me smile as much as winning a trophy. Although the silverware is nice too!” Present “The club have had a superb season. Three trophies - Premier Reserve Division, Greenwood Trophy and Midweek League Division Two - plus a mid-table finish in the WDCU 24 Issue 48