Nostalgic Awards night for Thame cricketers

THE recent end-of-season Awards Night at Thame Town Cricket Club was the very last event to take place in the old clubhouse, now temporarily an open space behind the new building following its demolition!

Thame Town Cricket Club’s Women’s squad with coach John Patey

Spokesperson for the club, Andy Jinman, said: “It was a nostalgic event for some but a time of excitement for everyone in the club, as we look forward to the completion of our brand new Clubhouse and facilities, due to be ready for the end of next month (October).”

On Friday, September 7, members of the club gathered for the very last time in the clubhouse that was built back in the late Seventies, to celebrate the many achievements of the club’s teams and players in 2018.

The Chairman, Matt Swain, summed up the season: “The Cricket season has flashed by and on the whole we have enjoyed great success again this year. Unfortunately for the First XI, Division One of the Home Counties Premier League (HCPL) was a step too far and we suffered relegation to Division Two. But the team will still be competing in this premier club league during 2019.

“However, the Second and Third XI both secured promotion in the Cherwell League, to Division Three and Eight respectively. Our fourth XI, in its very first year of existence, finished an incredible fifth place in Division 10 which was a fantastic start for them and one we never imagined would be possible just 12 months ago.

“Our Women’s team competed for the first time in the Thames Valley League and also surpassed expectations, beating Cookham Dean twice and completing over a dozen fixtures throughout the season, not to mention staging Thame’s own softball tournament in mid-August.

“The club has grown from having just 121 playing members in 2014 to 250 in 2018; this growth has been driven by both junior and adult sections and we expect that trend to continue.”

The awards were as follows:

With special thanks to Tracy and Dave Hunt of Aspen Financial Advice Ltd for sponsoring the four new awards over the next three years – https://aspenfa.co.uk/

Women’s section:-
– Most improved player – Claire Morris
– Best batting – Beth John
– Best bowling – Sarah Sanderson

Fourth XI
– Best bowling – Ed Mather
– Best batting – Tim Dabbs

Third XI
– Best bowling – Ian McStay
– Best batting – Andy Jinman

Second XI
– Best bowling – Dan Patey
– Best batting – Matt Furness

First XI
– Best bowling – Hassam Mushtaq
– Best batting – Mike Beard

– The John Fulkes Award to a promising young player who has come through the ranks of the club – James McStay.
– Club Champion 2018 – Ali Thomas, for his tireless work in bringing the plans for the new clubhouse to fruition.
– A club tie was awarded to young players making the breakthrough into adult cricket this year – Martin Wiles, Luke Hayes, Drew Murray (plus Max Muncaster
James Carr who couldn’t attend).

– And a very special, one-off award of “The Musketeer 2018” to Robbie Jackson, for his selfless services to all four Saturday XIs !!

Finally, on the pitch, the season will come to an end this Sunday, September 23, at Lord Bills’s Upper School ground, when the Women’s team round off a breakthrough season for them
when they take on a strong Moreton side in a friendly match.

SOURCS: Contributed