Sidmouth
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Images courtesy of Paul Clayden
Sidmouth
CRICKET CLUB
Sidmouth CC is a fine example of the important role that a club can play in
their local community. Cricket Club Magazine recently caught up with their
Secretary Anthony Griffiths to find out more about the good work they’ve
been doing lately.
Involvement
He told us, “I was playing cricket at Ottery St Mary
in the East Devon League and the Sidmouth Captain
David Carnal asked if I would be interested in playing
at a higher level with Sidmouth in the Devon League;
I played midweek games with him at Honiton before
moving.”
The Role
“In the modern world the availability of players is a
huge problem. Whereas twenty years ago you wouldn’t
miss a game the whole season missing weddings,
birthdays etc. along the way getting three sides is a
challenge as players will miss a Saturday for some of the
oddest reasons.
Seeing players develop from a young age and coming
through from junior to senior level is very rewarding as
a club. When you see ten out of the eleven who won the
premier last year all came through from the colts section
and are local lads it makes the committees work all
worthwhile.”
Atmosphere
“The atmosphere at the club is good; we have a new
1st XI captain Nick Gingell who has taken over the reins
from Luke Bess. We have signed a couple of players from
Bradninch and we have a new coach in Alex Barrow
who will be taking training with seniors and juniors
throughout the summer. We may even see Dom Bess
playing the occasional fixture for the club.
The second Xl have the challenge of competing in the
C division and seeing if they can go one step further and
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gain promotion to B division. Where the 3rd XI will be
looking to consolidate a place after promotion last year.”
Present
“We play in the local indoor cricket league which
keeps a few of the guys in a bit of nick. And some of the
juniors have one to one sessions throughout the winter to
improve their skills and get them ready to push on to try
and get into the 1st XI.
The 1st XI have entered the national knockout for the
first time in a few years; this will give them some hard
fixtures early season. We would like to do well in the t20
competition this year but as a club we are hampered by
supplying a number of players to Devon and thus losing
them when the cup competitions are played. The 2nd XI
have been entered into their t20 cup and it will be good
to see how they do in this.”
Youth
“Youth development is extremely important to the
club as without it we would not survive. Being a small
town with predominantly an elderly population and
limited jobs when they get to being teenagers they leave
to go to university and sometimes don’t come back until
there late 30’s. This year all age groups will be assigned a
coach who not only work with them during colts nights,
(Friday’s) they will go with them when they have games
which will take a bit of pressure from parents and they
can see what things the team needs to work on at the next
practise session.
All stars which is led by Matt Cooke has been a huge
success in the past couple of years with over 110 children
signed up to participate; we are hoping for at least sixty