Ashington
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Ashington
CRICKET CLUB
2019 sees Ashington Cricket Club beginning life in a new league, having been
promoted from the Northumberland and Tyneside League into Division 1 of the
North East Premier League. Everyone at the club is looking forward to the new
challenge and we are all keen to bring our mix of competitiveness, fair play and
hospitality to a new environment.
I am currently Chairman of the club,
having been involved since the age of
10 (56 years ago) and played for various
teams from the age of 11 until I retired
from action in 2000. My role as Chairman
is to oversee, plan, encourage all aspects
of the club’s activities, including
playing, social and infrastructure. I am
supported by an able and enthusiastic
Management Committee who are
responsible for specific areas of club
activity.
In common with many amateur
sporting clubs, the most difficult part
of the job is to balance our ambitions
with the resources at our disposal. A
lot of time and effort is expended on
raising funds internally through our
social and fund raising activities, and
seeking external funding to support our
plans for improvements to facilities and
infrastructure.
Following promotion last year, the
mood at the club prior to the 2019 season,
is one of optimism and excitement. From
being an established front runner in our
old league, we are moving to a position
where we are starting from scratch, both
as a club and as individual players,
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needing to establish our reputations all
over again, although it has to be said
that some of our players are already well
known in all areas of north east cricket.
Paradoxically, despite winning
promotion, 2018 was not one of our best
years. Some bad luck with the weather,
player availability issues and, it has to be
said, one or two below par performances
in the First XI, meant that we did not
challenge for the league title. The
Second XI, however, powered their way
to a convincing league championship, as
did our midweek Third XI.
Junior cricket thrived at all age
groups thanks to a team of dedicated
coaches, and the support of parents, and
we regularly had 60 or 70 youngsters
attending our Friday sessions. For
the first time, the club participated in
the AllStars initiative, and again, our
dedicated coaches ensured an enjoyable
introduction to cricket for the under 9s.
For the coming season we are hoping
that our first and second teams establish
themselves in their new leagues and
that our more recreational third team
continues to thrive. We are hoping
to engage a professional and already
an influx of new blood has increased
competition for places and given
everyone a boost.
Once again, we will dedicate a great
deal of time and resources to junior
development and there is no doubt
that the social side of the club will
continue to provide a good time for
all. Some infrastructure improvements
are planned (the kitchen has already
been refurbished) and funding is being
actively sought to supplement the funds
the club has generated internally.
Youth development has already
been highlighted several times and is
intrinsic to the future of the club. We are
active in the local schools, encouraging
young people to develop their skills at
the club, or try cricket for the first time.
One major development has been the
inception and development of a thriving
ladies’ cricket section. From a standing
start, we now have a large cohort of
lady cricketers who attend coaching
sessions, play both hardball and softball
competitive cricket, and greatly enhance
the social side of the club. Undoubtedly,
2019 will see ladies’ cricket in Ashington
go from strength to strength.
We have a tradition of successfully
bringing players through the ranks
of junior cricket into senior teams,