The Redhill Probationary Service has again provided a team to clear leaves at the club. They have cleared the build up around the square and a portion of the outfield towards the woods. They will be returning again in the New Year.

News from Bill is that he is getting around without a stick and at times he forgets that he has even had the operation. Mike Cooper has had an ablation at St. George’s Hospital and is feeling a bit groggy owing to the anaesthetic but the operation went well. Even former cricketers grow old

On the 2nd December our intrepid wicket-keeper, Bill Turner, had his hip replaced at Epsom Hospital. So far everything is going well.

November

On Sunday, 27th November there was a massive party at the cricket club when we said goodbye to Mike and Pru Young. Mike and Pru came to England from Australia over 30 years ago and they soon became involved in village activities, especially the church and the mid-week cricket team. They have elderly parents in Australia and their daughters live there as well so they made the decision to return to their homeland. We will miss them but hope to see them back in the not too distant future.

Disaster for Claygate Cricket Club. At 3.00 am on the morning of Monday, 7th November a devastating fire ripped through their brand new pavilion. Our hearts go out to all our friends at the club. Here is footage of the tragedy.

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/claygate-cricket-pavilion-fire-destroys-12137568

A day to remember. Junior cricketers Ben Ball and the twins Harry and Toby interviewed England rugby stars Owen Farrell, Mako Vunapola and Elliot Daley for Sky Sports and Sky Academy. They visited the England team base at Pennyhill Park. It was a light hearted quick question and answer session. Ben asked the questions whilst Harry and Toby were the comedy element, coming into shot and pretending to put make up on the players and doing the clapperboard etc. The clips will go out on Sky Sports News, You Tube, Facebook and Twitter feeds to help promote the Autumn Internationals which start with England v South Africa next weekend.

A message from Simon Cryer…………..

As many of you know, we have been in dispute with HMRC over the status of the new pavilion build from a vat perspective. I am delighted to report that after lengthy arguments, a settlement has been reached.

We are required to pay vat and costs amounting to £17000. Whilst this remains a substantial sum, and an amount which we can ill-afford, it is pragmatic to accept the proposal, rather than expose ourselves to the risk – and significant irrecoverable cost – of a Tribunal hearing, and a possible appeal. It is a huge saving on what could have been payable.
We had our first frost and the leaves are rapidly falling. The weather has been perfect during October and the square is looking really good with excellent coverage of new grass. The outfield has been de-wormed and de-weeded and the Redhill Probationary Service brought along their team to do the first leaf clearing stint – and a fine job they did too. On the 2nd November the outfield received its final cut and the mower has been put to bed.

……………new growth on the batting ends of the square…………the first batch of leaves have been cleared and the grass has had its final cut

October

At the end of the season there’s much cutting, strimming, hedging, painting, planting, mowing, storing, dumping etc. to do. The date was fixed for the 22nd October and over 35 people turned up. The sun shone and Tricia Kehl provided bacon butties, teas and coffees.

Our thoughts go out to Vice President Andrew Wates and his wife Sarah following the death of their famous racehorse ‘Rough Quest’ at the grand age of 30. Rough Quest won the Grand National in 1996 and Andrew brought him along to the Surrey match on the Brocus in 1997.

…Rough Quest winning the Grand National in 1996 ……. The late Betty Leadbeater admiring Rough Quest on the Brocus

Derek Heselwood and his partner Julian have put the square to bed over two days in early October. With gentle, autumnal rain falling and still fairly warm we should get some prolific grass growth which bodes well for 2017.

September

With leaves beginning to fall and heavy early morning dew, all the signs signal towards the end of the cricket season. Our last game was played on Sunday, 25th September when the under 15s took on their coaches . The coaches were able to hold their heads up high as they recorded a comfortable victory. A barbecue followed the match, provided by Tricia Kehl and the clubroom and balcony filled up to overflowing as all the juniors and their parents, aunts and uncles, etc. etc. arrived for the junior presentation. We had a number of distinguished guests. 96 years old Marion Hales, the wife of our late President Colin Hales, continues to take an enthusiastic interest in the club. She was very keen to talk about her granddaughter Vicky Holland who has just returned from the Rio Olympics having won a bronze medal in the triathalon. Tony Parrett, the President of the East Surrey Colts League, presented the Under 10s Cup Winners trophy and commiserated with the team about how they narrowly missed winning the league as well. Chris Haigh left us all speechless when he handed us a cheque which will allow us to extend the Russell Haigh Bursary for a further five years. He presented the trophy to this year’s recipients who will receive one to one coaching at the Surrey Cricket Centre in the spring time. It was also nice to see Don and Annette Jones, Bob Bettesworth and John Humphries who presented their trophies and all the coaches who took part in the ceremony. Chairman Roger Bailey MC’d the evening and many thanks to Paul Griffiths who created a slideshow of pictures covering the entire season of junior cricket. Andy Matthews took photographs and these can be seen in the Junior Section of the website under ‘awards since 1993’.

We said goodbye to Dylan Mares and wished him ‘bon voyage’. Lucky chap as he leaves our autumn and hooks straight up to another Australian summer and cricket season.

A group of us had lunch with Surrey Chairman, Richard Thompson, at the Alcock Room at the Oval during the Surrey vs. Hampshire match. Richard has always been a big supporter of grass roots cricket (including Newdigate CC) and testament to that is seeing the number of players in the county first team squad who have come through the county system. In this months ‘Cricketer’ magazine they published the fifty most influential people in world cricket and Richard was posted at number eighteen.

A sight for sore eyes. Martin Earp, just six weeks since his terrible head injury, came striding up to the pavilion to take his place behind the bar. Resplendent in a Newdigate Cricket Club tie he served jugs of beer as Hampton Hill celebrated their win against Newdigate to secure promotion to the premier league. There was a lot to play for because if Newdigate won they would have been in third place and it was so, so close. Bowled out for just 127 the Newdigate bowlers were up for the challenge and as wickets kept falling at the right time a win for the home side looked on the cards. With Hampon Hill teetering on 118-9 the heavens opened. The umpires had no alternative but to pull the sides off and although the covers were put on the heavy rain persisted and Hampton won on run rate. This was Dylan Mares last match so despite the disappointment of losing in such trying conditions everyone enjoyed a good night in the bar.

August

On the 30th August our girls took on their Mums in a much anticipated match. The Mums batted first and scored a respectable 77 with Sue de la Hoyde top scoring. In reply the girls looked as though they were going to pass the total but in the final over Megan McLoughlin struck the ball for a certain four but Kim Harper came rushing in to take an excellent catch which effectively secured victory for the Mums. Mention must also be made of Sam Brien who took two good catches fielding at short cover point.

Our venerable wicket keeper, Bill Turner, now has a date for his hip replacement. He goes to hospital on the 11th November and he is hoping to be fully fit in time for the 2017 season.

Many of you will have fond memories of our August Bank Holiday tours to Rawdon CC near Leeds from 1981 to 1999. After cricket in Surrey on the Saturday we drove to the Pease Hill Hotel in Rawdon arriving quite late. We were then entertained royally by Ted and Betty Leadbeater and played cricket on the Sunday and Monday before driving back home on the Tuesday. Sadly Ted died in 2012 and Betty in 2015. Their daughter Janet Marsden, husband Keith and son Christopher and girlfiend Katie came to see us at the end of August. On Wednesday evening they visited the club and met up with old friends. Ted and Betty presented the club with the bell that is mounted near the bar and Janet has ordered a brick in commemoration of our long association.

A visit to Portsmouth

Katie and Christopher at the Bat and Ball in Hambledon

Our genial steward, Martin Earp, came out of hospital on the 18th August after a lengthy stay at St. George’s Hospital in Tooting following his fall from a ladder. Martin fractured his skull and for many weeks was in a very serious condition. Full recovery will take time but he is looking good and his memory is fine. He received fantastic treatment at the hospital and we look forward to seeing him back at the cricket club. Here is a picture of him in characteristic pose taken before his injury.

Our friend Mahesh Hatkar from the Centurion Cricket Academy in Mumbai has contacted us to inform us that their 2016 UK tour to the UK has been cancelled as their visa application has been refused. We were scheduled to play a 20/20 match against them on the 26th August.

28 juniors attended our summer coaching camp from the 15th – 19th August. Apart from the last day the weather was fine and the youngsters enjoyed a wide variety of cricket influenced activities. They also learned some table tennis skills and table football.

Bear a thought for our groundsman, Derek Heselwood. He was pulling out of the recreation ground in Rusper when a car, out of control, skidded across the road and smashed into the side of his truck. Both drivers were OK but Derek’s trusty truck was part and parcel of his livelihood so at the moment he has had to borrow a van. Fortunately his trailer and equipment was undamaged but it looks as though his truck is a write-off.

The last match in the NatWest T20 under 19 competition was held at Newdigate on the 4th August. It was a splendid evening with cakes, music and a barbecue. Shame about the result. Although Newdigate lost all their matches in the group we were easily the youngest side and the team can look back on some good performances. Standouts were George Lees’s 5 fer and our brilliant catching both against Epsom Racers, George Warne’s 50 against Leatherhead Lightning and Joe Haynes’s 46 against Reigate Rapids. There was much enthusiasm for this format and we will definitely be entering again next year. Thanks to Pierre and Andrew for umpiring, Rachel for scoring and Charlie and James for their support and for providing the music and witty commentaries.

The annual OSCAs awards were held at the Oval on the 1st August. This is a splendid occasion and Newdigate was represented by John Callcut, Paul Griffiths, Ross and Morgan Hamilton. Ross had been nominated for an award in recognition of his five years of coaching at the club. Monty Panesar was the guest and he took part in an interesting question and answer session.

July

On Sunday, 24th July the under 10s won a nail biting cup final against Oxted & Limpsfield. The match was played at the Grub Street ground and Newdigate bowled and fielded with great discipline to restrict the home side to 259. This sort of target is never easy and with one over to go it was anyone’s game and the supporters realised that if the sides tied Oxted would win as they had lost less wickets. Meggie McLoughlin and Thomas Clark kept their nerves and once the total was passed they defended in the final over to secure a great win. This was a real team performance with everyone chipping in. There was a large crowd who all enjoyed the excitement and Oxted laid on a magnificent spread of delicious cakes and fruit. As the sides shook each others hands one could reflect that the match was played in a tremendous spirit and smiles on the faces of both sides was a joy to see.

On Sunday, 17th July our u10s played Reigate Priory in their final match of the season. They were three points clear of Priory at the top of the league. A win would ensure them the championship but a loss would mean that Priory would become champions. Priory were a well drilled side and bowled accurately and their fielding was brilliant – direct hits, no overthrows etc. Our batting never really got going and our score was clearly never going to be enough, and so it proved as Priory coasted to a well deserved victory.

‘Chance to Shine’ finished in bright sunshine with the fifth session on Wednesday for Year 1 and on Thursday for Year 2 on the Brocus for Newdigate Infants School. For over five years now every child passing through the infants’ school experiences cricket. Here they are enjoying themselves.

On the 14th July, David Jay of Susy Radio ran a two hour pilot programme entitled ‘Back of a Length’. It featured chat about all cricketing subjects ranging from local to international cricket. David Jay interviewed John Callcut, Ian Lamont from Merstham CC and Tim Bowling from Leatherhead CC. Click here to listen.

Will the rain ever stop! Monday night junior training – washed out, Tuesday night girl’s training – washed out, NatWest T20 U19 match at Ashtead – washed out, Wednesday Chance to Shine for Newdigate Y1 – shortened session due to rain, mid-week match against Black & Veatch cancelled due to rain ……… but some good news! We entered a competition run by the ECB and we have won a set of ‘wet weather gear’ to enable us to ‘get the game on!’. Just 39 clubs nationwide out of 1400 entries won the gear so we were very fortunate.

On the 4th July, Newdigate hosted the Surrey u10 squad. They played a 35 over match which was watched by a goodly number of supporters and it didn’t rain!. The session was run by Tom Benge one of the Surrey Performance Managers.

Great coverage in the Dorking Advertiser – a full size picture on the back page and a match report inside.

On the 1st July we played our first T20 match against Horsley & Send Hurricanes. They scored 129-8 and as the game was developing nicely the heavens opened and we were left on 40-2. We lost owing to a slower run rate. Charlie Major and James Penfold helped to create a carnival atmosphere and Ros and Roger Bailey manned the barbecue. The day finished with an amazing rainbow.

June

The fabulous Brocus Pavilion is now finished and up and running. To mark the occasion it was decided to stage a weekend of celebrations and next door neighbour, Ibstock Brick Co. agreed to sponsor the event. On Saturday a midsummer party was held and the pavilion and marquee were packed as visitors from throughout the village gathered to enjoy the music of the brilliant Nick Crawford band. People partied late into the night but some of the Newdigate cricketers, who were present, were aware that a big game against Surrey Masters was beckoning the following day. Sunday dawned and the sun was shining. Covers were removed and the pitch looked brilliant . First of all the unbeaten u10s played Lingfield and in a desperately close match they lost by two runs.

Newdigate u10s bowling to Lingfield

Australians, Tom O’Malley and Dylan Mayers then conducted a training session for the youngsters as people settled down for lunch provided by Sarah Bloomfield of the Plough at Leigh. Crowds gathered as families came with gazebos to claim their pre-booked spaces around the ground and others (about an estimated 300 people) just found a suitable spot to watch the cricket. For the children there was a bouncy castle, a soft toy play area, table tennis and football and for the adults there was a continuous barbecue and Pimms bar.

At 2.30 pm the umpires, Pierre Tartari and John Hurst ( umpire to the stars!) took to the field and Surrey Masters batted first in the shape of Jon Batty and Gary Butcher.

The Newdigate Squad and umpires Pierre Tartari & John Hurst

Gary Butcher and Jon Batty open the innings

Ben Crook bowling to Jon Batty

They put on 27 before Butcher was bowled by Ben Crook. Batty was joined by Chris Jones who after a quiet start accelerated and hit a fine 103 which included nine sixes which really excited the crowd. Andy Kehl then snared Batty (38) but Chris Thompson came in and hit 47 in a partnership with Jones that put on 97. The Masters innings finished on 219-4. A mention must be made of 67 year old Bill Turner who only conceded one bye behind the stumps. Ben Crook took 2-44 and Kehl and Allan Cooper took a wicket apiece.

Between the innings the formal opening of the facility took place. The chairman, Roger Bailey, welcomed the hundreds of visitors and the Rev. Andrew Coe gave a short speech in which he remembered the ‘ far-off’ dreams at the appeal launch at Greens Farm in November 2013 and how he took park in the ‘Walking the Monopoly Board’ which raised over £3000. Vice President, Andrew Wates then gave an eloquent speech in which he acknowledged the enormous amount of work from the entire community that enabled the funds to be raised to produce this amazing facility. He then thanked the main funding bodies,Biffawards, the ECB and Sport England and gave a special thank you to the people from the London Marathon Charitable Trust who came specially for the occasion. They explained how the funding application met all their requirements relating to a wide community use. See ………

http://www.lmct.org.uk/info-hub/latest-news/surrey-community-celebrates-new-pavilion-1/

A group of youngsters then launched a 1000 balloons – the balloon that travels the furthest by the 10th July will earn the purchaser a prize.

The crowds gather for the opening ceremony

Andrew Wates formally opens the building

The balloons are ready for take off

Newdigate then batted and after a spirited start against former England bowler, Joey Benjamin and Gary Butcher, Dan Jones edged a ball to the keeper. The Newdigate overseas player Dylan Mayers was castled first ball to a beauty from Benjamin. Richard Callcut, who recently passed 20,000 runs for Newdigate then joined Cameron Osborne and after Callcut hit a sweetly timed straight six and a four off Butcher the innings gained momentum. Spinner, Simon King obtained a great amount of turn and made in-roads, claiming the wickets of Callcut (26), Osborne (20), Mike Ashkuri (1) and Lee Brien (14) which left the innings in tatters on 58-5. With Chris Bullen bowling tightly at the other end runs were hard to come by. Ruky Wickremasinge (17) and Andy Kehl (29) then played some exciting shots and pushed the score along and some late hitting by Allan Cooper (30no) who took a shine to the left arm spin of Keith Medlycott restored some respectability as Newdigate were bowled out for 157. Simon King took 4-23 and Joey Benjamin 2-15.
The rain finally came down for the last two overs but everyone was thankful for a fine day. In the evening, popular local duo Penny Drops played until darkness fell.

HERE ARE SOME GENERAL PICTURES OF THE DAY

Keith Medlycott, Jon Batty and Simon King

James Penfold auctions a shirt signed by Jason Roy

David Golton from the London Marathon Trust presents the programme lucky number prize

On the same day as the Surrey Masters and SYGs, Capel ran their annual 6-a-Side competition. Due to all our commitments this was the first time that we have not entered sides. Unfortunately the rains came in so the u11 semi-finals and finals could not be played.

Our girls, representing Mole Valley, took part in the Surrey Youth Games at the Surrey Sports Park on the 19th June. The squad was led by Will Letts but unfortunately they were one short which put them at quite a disadvantage, neverthless they played well and would have made the 1st to 6th play-off games if they hadn’t lost one of their matches by just six runs. They are a young side which bodes well for 2017.

Congratulations to Bob Bettesworth, father to James and Paul and one of our main sponsors. In the Queen’s Honours List he was awarded the BEM (British Empire Medal) for services to the local community.

There were great celebrations on the Brocus to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday. Well done the cricket team, led by Chairman Roger Bailey, who came second in the tug of war. Not so successful with the skittles – cricketers are better overarm!

May

Your webmaster is going away for a month so no more news until June.

Spare a thought for Ollie Turner – he has broken his leg playing football so will miss the entire cricket season.

April

Junior training sessions started on the 18th April and it was good to see the ground full with young cricketers. The Chairman took the opportunity to outline our plans to all the parents. The next day, girls coaching started and there were 22 young players which was very promising.

Dylan Mares from Mosman Cricket Club in Sydney arrived at Heathrow Airport at 6.00 am on the 19th April and Roger Bailey and Allan Cooper were there to meet him. He will be playing and coaching at Newdigate throughout the summer.

You can tell that the cricket season has started…….What a difference a day makes.

From this
To this

First games of the season ……. cancelled

Chance to Shine is up and running again this year. Since its inception over three million children in 11,000 schools have been introduced to cricket. Over the years here at Newdigate we have played our part and 2016 is no exception. We are doing taster sessions at four Dorking primary schools with the aim of encouraging youngsters to play cricket and for the girls to take part in the Surrey Youth Games. Starting in June we will be doing courses for Y1 and 2 at Newdigate Infants School.

On the 9th April Andy McBride and Andy Iga came to the club to run a day long Coach Support Worker course. There were over twenty attendees including nine from Newdigate.

The NatWest Cricket Force weekend was on the 2nd and 3rd April and members and supporters turned out in large numbers to get the ground spruced up for the forthcoming season. Number one priority was to get the nets sorted out after the recent storm plus there were numerous other jobs to be done. Tricia Kehl kept everyone replenished with bacon rolls, teas and coffees … and the sun shone!

March

On the 29th March Paul Griffiths organised for a group of parents and juniors to see cricket bats being manufactured at the Gray Nicholls’s factory in Robertsbridge.

The storm during the night of the 27th and the morning of the 28th March wreaked havoc with our nets.

On the 12th March a group of our girl cricketers took part in the Swimarathon which is organised by our sponsors, the Rotary Club of Dorking Deepdene. Starting at 9.00 am they swam 62 laps (124 lengths) in 55 minutes. They are raising money for the new building. Well done girls.

The Russell Haigh Bursary is well under way at the Surrey Cricket Centre in Burpham. Here are some pictures of the boys with Surrey coach, Richard Hall.

February

The Times has been running a diary describing events that took place one hundred years ago during the First World War. Recently they wrote about prominent sportsmen who had lost their lives. One of those mentioned was our former chairman, Lt. Wilfred S. Bird. He was the son of the Newdigate rector and played cricket for Middlesex and represented the Gentlemen against the Players at Lords. He was a schoolmaster at Ludgrove School and was deemed at the time to be one of the best wicket-keepers in the country. He was killed by machine gun fire leading his men across 300 yards of exposed land. His body was never recovered.

On the 8th February fourteen people attended a Safeguarding and Child Protection course at the pavilion. This demonstrates the club’s committment to the safety and welfare of our young cricketers.

We have now taken delivery of two table tennis tables. It is hoped that an independent club will be set up open to everyone at the club and village. Watch out for more details.

On the 3rd February John Callcut and Paul Griffiths attended a seminar at the Surrey Cricket Centre concerning Clubmark. The whole system is undergoing a radical revamp and as such the whole system is on hold. We were due to be reassessed in 2016 and this will be put back to 2017 to allow the new system to settle it. For 2016 we will have to conduct a self assessment which is just the same as we have to do each year.

January

On the 26th January a meeting was held at the pavilion to discuss the feasibility of forming a short mat bowls club. Over twenty people turned up and amid much enthusiasm the Newdigate Short Mat Bowls Club was duly formed and a committee appointed. They will meet every Tuesday evening at 7.30 pm. Contact Martin Morris on 01403 218597 for further details.

We have heard officially that HMRC still considers that the new building is primarily a cricket club and therefore must be subject to VAT. Our contractor’s VAT advisor considered that the fact that the building was designed as a community building meant that it should be zero rated and we have been backed up with support from our MP, Sir Paul Beresford who has taken the case high into Government circles. The case looks to be very strong when one considers the funding streams that enabled the building to be completed. Our main grant providers, London Charitable Marathon Trust and Biffawards ONLY give to community projects. Similarly, the Gatwick Community Trust and Councillor Helyn Clack’s fund only support community projects. Even one page of the application to Sport England was devoted to community use. When one considers the general fund-raising that took place 10% was raised by club members and the rest from within the village. At a time when HMRC appear to be content to let multi-nationals pay a fraction of tax compared to other European countries, or indeed nothing at all, it beggars belief that they put so much effort into recovering what to them is a small amount but to the Trustees is a crippling sum!

Andy Meads is out in Cape Town and he witnessed Ben Stokes’s marvellous innings. He sent these pictures of Jonny Bairstow leaving the field.: