News and Events

Welcome to the 2009 Season

After winning the Home Counties Premier League in 2007 and being within an hour of winning it in 2008 plus winning the Oxfordshire knock out, 2009 it is a season I am really looking forward to.

Our squad this year is stronger than it has ever been with the addition of Chris Sandbach from Oxford Downs and Nick Ferraby from Kibworth and as such we have a realistic chance of competing in and winning all competitions that we enter.

Two players have left us from 2008, Adam Cook has left to join as coach at Cumnor and Patrick Jobson has retired. I would like to thank both of them for their commitment over the years and I am sure we will see them at Romanway during the season.

I would specially like to thank Pat Jobson who has played for the club for many years captaining the side for the first XI for two years.

Further congratulations go to Jack Brookes who has won a contract with Northamptonshire CCC, fortunately when Jack is not required by Northants he will be available for us.

We have entered in the national club 20/20 competition, the new ECB 45 over knock out competition as well as the replacement for the Evening Standard cub which is now run by the Club Cricket Conference. These are all competitions along with the Home Counties Premier League and Oxfordshire knock out which we have a realistic chance of winning and we need to ensure that availability is good throughout the club to allow us to do so.

Further down the club I expect to see our 2nd XI challenging for the 1st division title of the Cherwell League as well as competing well in the newly formed Cherwell League knock out cup.

Our other XIs, 3rd's, 4ths and 5ths all should be competing in their various divisions as well as competing in a 2nd XI knock out cup within the Cherwell league. All in all on the men's cricket front this is an exciting year.

On the women's front we have now been allocated 'Hub club' status for girls' and women's cricket in Oxfordshire which means we have now become a focus for developing womens and girls cricket. The aim is that we can get promoted out of the Midland League within three years and I see no reason why we should not be in a position to do this.

On the youth front following the success of our U11s we have every opportunity of winning honours at county level and I wish all the teams luck in 2009.

A further exciting development for this year is that we have been the first club in the country to be granted two 'Chance to Shine' schemes.

Special mention should go to Philip Evans here who has acted as the co-ordinator for our 'Chance to Shine' programme in Oxford schools and Philip's success along with the coaches taking part has seen the 'Chance to Shine' programme grow into a second programme this year.

This is a great honour for the club and a real demonstration that we are providing support in the local community.

I would like to wish you all well for the 2009 season and I hope to see as many of you as possible at the ground over the coming year.

Regards

Yours

Ian Pickford

Chairman

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