Whitburn
FOLLOW US ONLINE TWITTER.COM/SPORTNEMAG
Whitburn
CRICKET CLUB
Whitburn CC has plenty of reason for optimism ahead of
their 2019 campaign. Sport NE Magazine recently caught up
with Club Representative Paul Shields to find out more about
how their preparations for the new season are coming along.
He told us, “My father played cricket at Whitburn so I first
got involved when I was very young, watching him and then
I started to go along to junior training when I was around 7
or 8. I have two very different roles in the club as First Team
Captain and Junior Coach.”
“As first team captain the most challenging bits are often off
the field, in selecting the teams, organising the teas, ensuring
the club house is open etc. As captain I am also involved in the
general running of the club and on various committees; all of
this work is vital in ensuring the club continues to grow and
improve but it doesn’t go without its challenges.
“The rewards are definitely when we win a match or go
on a good run. I am lucky to have played alongside some
really talented cricketers but throughout my time at the club
I have been in some brilliant dressing rooms and all the lads
contribute both on and off the field, which makes all the hard
work off the field worthwhile.
“As junior coach, the challenges and rewards are working
with the juniors coming through. Sunday mornings in the
winter indoors can be a bit of a struggle and it means curtailing
a few nights out but watching the kids develop and play senior
cricket is very rewarding.
“I think the general mood is good, it’s a good time as all
teams/players are involved in pre-season and working hard.
Juniors are training twice a week and seniors are once a
week and there is a good feeling about these sessions. I think
everyone is keen to get outside as soon as possible and get
started with the season.
“On reflection, I would say 2018 was a good year. We
were probably disappointed about the lack of success in
terms of trophies won (our under 11’s are the only team to
pick something up) but we continued to field two under 11
teams, under 13, under 15, under 18, mid-week 3rds, and two
Saturday teams (1sts and 2nds).
“We fulfilled all of our fixtures and continued to provide
a place for members and non-members to play and watch
cricket. Our first and second teams play in the North East
Premier League in the respective highest leagues they can play
in and both finished respectively half way.
“The first team had an excellent start to the season and
at half way were in 2nd but a series of injuries and other
commitments meant selection was less consistent in the
second half and results fell away. The standard of cricket in the
NEPL continues to be very strong and as a club we compete
at this level and for a relatively small club this is a fantastic
achievement.
“Our plans for 2019 are to continue the good work from
previous years. We are hoping to add a couple more trophies
into the cabinet especially in the junior section. We have
strengthened the first team and brought back a couple of players
who played for the club previously in James Thompson and
Jack Burnham (who is our Durham CCC registered player).
“These additions, along with the strength in the bowlers
and the other senior members of the squad puts us in a good
position. Off the field we have a series of events throughout
the summer planned to raise funds and hopefully attract a few
more members along to the club.
36 Issue 01
“Youth development is vitally important for us as a club
to survive. We are fortunate to have a strong junior section
and had a very successful All Stars campaign last year which
is bringing even younger members along. Its then the coaches’
job to ensure that the juniors enjoy cricket and then to aide their
development through the junior ranks to play senior cricket.
“We have a 3rd XI which plays on Sundays in a 40 over
format and we try and play a mix of experienced senior
cricketers alongside the junior cricketers who have shown they
have what it takes to play a longer/senior cricket game. This is
aided with coaching support from our team of coaches.
“We have a fixed evening at the club dedicated to junior
practice with each junior team having an allocated junior
manager and there are additional coaching team who also
help. The coaching along with the age group cricket and
introduction to senior cricket in the 3rd XI hopefully provides
a transition into Saturday cricket.
“We are very much a community club. The majority of the
members of the club live locally and we actively encourage
the community to use our facilities, whether that be sitting
watching at our very picturesque ground or coming into the
club house to enjoy a ‘cold’ beverage.
“Playing numbers seems to be a challenge and retaining
juniors when they get to 15/16 years old. There is a lot more
to do outside of cricket now and sport in general. There aren’t
as many kids playing sport in the streets and the advent of
electronic devices mean in general children are less active
compared to 10-15 years ago.
“Cricket isn’t alone as most sports are struggling with
numbers. We are fortunate to have good numbers at junior
level, especially under 9/11 so we need to encourage this age
group to enjoy their cricket and develop to play senior cricket.
“Our ambitions are to continue our progress both on and
off the field. Our aim is always to provide a structure for all
players to play at the highest level of North East cricket and
hopefully some of the junior members go on further and
gain representative level cricket for Durham and who knows
beyond this.”