Wolverhampton
Midlands League with Derbyshire,
Worcestershire and Herefordshire –
we are looking forward to playing
at new venues against new teams. I
am very grateful for the support of
Mike and the entire club committee
in supporting disability cricket in
Staffordshire.”
Mike Smith, our club captain has
been involved with WCC for twelve
years.
“The most challenging aspect
of my role is keeping our younger
players and new player recruitment
and this will be a key aspect in 2019.
Our younger players are regularly
approached with the promise of
money or guaranteed 1st XI cricket
at other clubs. 1st class academies
are also pushing for their young
players to be playing in the 1st XI,
sometimes before they are ready.
Due to the re-structure of local
league cricket, this off season has
been the toughest during my time
as club captain because so many
clubs now are potentially only one
promotion away from getting in to
the Birmingham League and so are
throwing a lot of money at players.
A strong youth section at WCC
has always been at the centre of
our club ethos and something that
is very important to me in my role
as club captain. It is imperative
that WCC juniors have a pathway
in to senior cricket and that high
performing juniors do not have their
progress blocked. This season the
1st and 2nd XI will be based mainly
around players who have progressed
through our junior section.”
Oliver Margetts, our Junior
Chairman commented, “As a
member for thirty years and Junior
Chairman for the past two years being
involved at junior level inspired
me to take on a more prominent
role. Cricket remains a passion of
mine ... and with a newfound love
of coaching, and vision to match, it
seemed a good opportunity to help
shape the junior section of a club that
is close to my heart.
I see a lot of quality young
players at the club - and my vision is
quite simple, I want these players to
be the backbone of Wolverhampton
CC in the future and steer this club,
to continue to have one of the best
junior set-ups in the area, perhaps in
the country.
Junior membership stands at
approximately 120-130 including
girls, also within this group 25
boys and 5 girls achieved county
status. Membership levels are high
and county recognition is likely
as we take on more at the bottom
age group. Youth cricket remains
important and the key to a successful
club.
I have seen huge development
in young players at all levels.
Progressing through higher levels to
the first team is difficult as there has
not always been a clear pathway.
What I now want to see is the
progression of these players through
the 4th and 3rd team and then on
to Birmingham League cricket. This
is how it used to be, and still can
be. Natural progression ... at the
right pace ... through the sides. No
barriers ... an inclusive structure
... and most importantly, for them
to enjoy playing. In my role as
Junior Chairman, I want to help
those players progress into adult
cricket. To achieve this I am aware
that communication between the
Junior section and the management
committee should be improved, and
this is what I intend to do.”
Mike continued, “Being part of
the community is vital to the success
of our club. Both in relation to cricket
but also commercially in raising
money for the club. We have strong
links with local schools such as
Wolverhampton Girls High School,
Tettenhall College and Birchfield
School where we work hard to
encourage their pupils to come and
play cricket at the club.
We also are a centre of excellence
for visually impaired cricket,
having invested in the club to build
wheelchair access, ramps around the
terrace and a purpose-built decking
area for wheelchair users that
overlook the first team pitch.
On the social side we are the
venue for local groups such as pilates,
a bridge club and local rotary groups
and have Tettenhall Tennis club on
our site and two local football teams
using our pitches. Local businesses
are seeing the benefit of supporting
us and using our wonderful location
to bring along their staff for events
and to watch cricket.
Tariq ali, who is a club captain
and team captain also works outside
the club to develop cricket, is a
Wolverhampton coach. He is also
heavily involved in the community,
working with Staffordshire cricket
running two sessions a week for
a range of age groups at the local
youth centre in a project called
“Chance To Shine”. These are very
successful and provide a pathway
for many new players to get into
cricket, where for many it is their
first experience. Numbers have
grown to about 25 kids per session.
The year ahead will be exciting for
Tariq personally. He has represented
England at Masters level for indoor
cricket and has just been named as
the over 50 captain for the World
Cup to be held in South Africa. Tariq
feels it a great honour to be named
England’s over 50 captain and the
club is very proud of him.”
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