Cricket Club Issue 48 | Page 8

Lindum FOLLOW US ONLINE TWITTER.COM/CRICKETCLUBMAG Lindum CRICKET CLUB L indum Cricket Club was established in 1856. Based in the picturesque setting in the shadow of Lincoln Cathedral, we boast five senior sides, three on a Saturday and two on a Sunday, and seven junior sides, as well as being part of the ECB’s All-Stars scheme for the past two years. Our junior set-up rose to national prominence in 2011 when our U15 side won the ECB National Club Championship at Kibworth. I have been involved with Lindum for around thirteen years. When I joined the club as a nine year old, enthused by the 2005 Ashes series win over Australia, Lincolnshire cricket pioneer Harry Pougher was in charge of our youth system. He took every junior under his wing, and within one training session I was hooked on the game. I went on to play for the club through every age group and was fortunate enough to be part of the National Club Championship winning side seven years ago, and now here I am as captain of our 2nd XI. The final of that U15 tournament, however, remains the highlight of my cricketing career. My role as 2nd XI captain is both challenging and rewarding – usually depending on whether we win or lose! 8 Issue 48 The youthful nature of our side means that, especially during the beginning of the season, simply getting a competitive side out is a challenge in itself due to a huge chunk of the team being either away at University or sitting exams. However, the reward of winning games of cricket makes all the challenges worthwhile. There’s no better feeling than sitting in the changing room with your mates after a win on a Saturday. The club, as always, is in fantastic spirits. Early season struggles seem to have become a recurring theme in recent years, but results typically pick up as the larger pool of players become available. All five senior sides are now enjoying competitive seasons, with silverware up for grabs as we approach the closing stages of the campaign. August also saw our third annual floodlit cricket tournament – the Small Beer Blast – which is the only event of its kind in the county and remains a fantastic spectacle on the Lincolnshire cricket scene. We invite three or four local teams to the club during the week to take part in floodlit T20 action, or T10 in this year’s instance, as we aim to put Lincolnshire cricket on the map and fight the seemingly declining interest and participation in the game. Once again it was run in conjunction with a local charity, St Barnabas Hospice, emphasising the club’s community ethos which we pride ourselves in. The event drew in hundreds of spectators throughout the week and was a brilliant exhibition to be involved in.