Canfield Battle Out Memorable Draw Shocker

We couldn't have wished for a more fitting season's curtain raiser. Build it and people will come, Kevin Costner was told in the movie Field of Dreams; get the bar stocked in the new pavilion and the same will happen at GCCC, and, with the sun shining on a full house, we entertained Dunmow 2nds on Saturday in our first game of the season.

Dunmow tipped up 40 minutes before the start of play, said a few cursory hello's, got changed, went out and practised on the outfield doing regimented throwing, catching and fielding drills that they had so obviously done many times before. Canfield were in the bar arguing about where the dartboard should go; this is all you need to know about the differences between league and village cricket.

Bretty turned up. I have had two phone conversations with Neil in the past week. Conversation #1: "Jon, it's Bretty. Can't play on Saturday - working. See you in a couple of weeks". This was on Tuesday. Conversation #2: "Jon, it's Bretty. Cant play on Saturday - working" (Neil - you told me this earlier mate) " Did I? Got a message to call you" (So you still cant play?) "No". This was on Thursday. So why is he now in the changing room getting into his whites? He is clearly working too hard.

The toss. Matt, the Dunmow Captain called heads. It came down tails. CMON CANFIELD!!! ONE NIL ALREADY. They say it takes 5 years to read the mysteries of a cricket pitch. Now I had talked on Friday to Jaimie about our options. Might be a tad unpredictable, what with using it for net practise and being on the edge of the square. So, put them in. See if we cant spook 'em early doors. If they get a score, we'll chase AND as I've agreed this to be a win/lose/draw game, if we can't get close to their tally we'll play out a heroic draw. Of course the pitch was fine and with a rock hard outfield they scored 255 in 40 overs just as the pitch was beginning (in cricket parlance) "to do something" nicely in time for them to bowl at us in fact. As I say, it takes 5 years.

Our bowling was a bit wobbly early on and they got off to a flyer. The captaining bit felt strange at first but I got lots of help from Ali, Angus and especially Bomber for which I was very grateful. Things like, forgetting to have a point fielder, and do we need 5 people on the leg side, Jon? But I got the hang of it and everyone was very patient with me as they were repeatedly asked to move to and fro (sorry Greg/Sam/Paul/etc). And its a fine balance to tell someone to do something in a positively assertive yet polite way, without sounding like some overbearing attention seeking Captain Mainwairing from Dads Army. But I enjoyed my first outing as skipper - we got the fun/compete balance right and that's what I was after. The whole experience didn't put me off; my team were gentle with me.

We kept at it with sonofapreecherman bowling a good line/length and the wickets began to fall. Yours truly snared a couple and their were wickets for Ali, Paul, Bomber and a class-y run out via Angus. Given the inexperience of our side, good batting conditions and the strength of Dunmow, 250 odd was only a bit north of par. We had a chance.

We made a steady reply scoring a 4+ an over till Trevor was run out via a direct hit (he's not as quick as you, Bomber, between the wickets). Bomber made 43 before coping one that kept low. Ali got 28 and was unlucky to be undone by their leggie. And that was the batting highlights. Everyone else chipped in but, in the end, with three overs to go and in fading light, the last two were at the crease. I was one, my sonofapreecherman was the other. And...we held firm! Despite putting their strike bowler back on (in fading light) and crowding the wicket the other end for their spinner, Canfield got home to cheers and beers and the booming sound of Doctor Who on the pavilion TV. CMON CANFIELD!

Dunmow were real sports and said it had been a great game and well done us. Such nice chaps. We wish them well for their league season.

Champagne Moment. Paul's catch in front of the pavilion. His nerve held and so did the ball. Well done mate.

Babycham Moment. Trevor's run out.

Lager & Black with Optional Pork Scratchings Moment. Angus's truly god awful dropped skier off sonofapreecjherman's bowling. And it was his mate Spider batting as well. Happy days.

There were other events of note, such as Stuart's motor getting dented by the ball when hit for six into his driveway (a small bump, but once you know its there, you can't stop looking at it, eh Mr Chairman?). And our "Mr Neighbour" who got the arse when another six smacked into his roof. He actually came out to confront me when I got the ball to tell me to tell the batsman "not to do that again". We've been asking him that all day, I said. He wasn't best pleased, but hey, buy a house next to a cricket ground and guess what's gonna happen?

An eventful day. A well earned draw against a fancied league side with fun and incidents along the way. After cleaning and locking the pavilion I was back home (via the local kebab shop) at 10pm. Absolutely knackered.

Special thanks to Tracy and Angus for the tea and to Alison Hepburn for cleaning the pavilion top to bottom (bogs included) on Saturday morning and to her son Patrick, for joyfully telling me Chelsea were now out of the premiership race good and proper just as I was walking off the field of play. Beware the power of the blog, Hepburn minor.

I'll let all the players know about the next game as soon as I know; I'm waiting for Bretty to call me on that....

Thanks team,

Preecherman

The Eve of Our First Game

Weather permitting (latest forecast for Chelmsford area is sunny with intermittent showers) the Canfield Sat XI makes its season's debut at home this Saturday against Dunmow 2nds. Following two consecutive Sunday afternoon net practises (which were very well attended - thanks fellas) the team for Saturday is now confirmed as:

Bomber
Ali
Trevor Beeston
Greg Conboy
JW
Sam Rayner
Harry Rayner
Sonofapreecherman
Preecherman
Paul
Angus

It was a bit of a scrap getting an XI together with so many people away. In a new feature, which I'm originally titling "Name and Shame" here are the absentees and their reasons for not playing:

Andy - on mini w/e break in Rome with wife. Excuse rating ***** (fair enough)
PoB - last night of his amateur dramatic showcase. Excuse rating ** (such a lovey dahhhhling)
Bretty - working shifts (see earlier blog). Excuse rating ***** (see him later in the season)
Panther - moving house AND babysitting whilst wife away on tennis w/e (1). Excuse rating ***** for the move, * for babysitting
Will - babysitting whilst wife away on tennis w/e (2). Excuse rating *
Clint - babysitting whilst wife away on tennis w/c (3). Excuse rating *
(thought - why can't they bring the kids down to the ground and share the babysitting? What about when we are all fielding though? Ah yes, fair point)
Mitch - can't change his shift at Stanstead Airport to an earlier one. Excuse rating ** (why work?)
Jamie - coaching his brother Robert (aged 9) playing football for Dunmow. Excuse rating ***** (fair play)

Plus a few others are either on holiday, ill, missing in action or in prison. But we have a team and will give it our very best shot, sir!

Form. The nets, just like the camera, never lies... Of the team playing on Saturday all the kids did very well as did JW and Bomber. Bowling wise we were all a bit rusty but well done to Ed for breaking the wooden practise stump (!) and JW and Paul for their dead eye accuracy. As for me, well spin - you've either got it or you aint... (don't answer that).

We STILL don't know any of our other confirmed fixtures but should know next week in time for our next game.

As Captain, I've thought about the batting line-up and field placings, who will bowl how much and when (all subject to change). And the wicket will definitely turn when bowling from the Cornfield end. With such a young team word is Dunmow will be real sports and reverse their batting/bowling order to even it up. If so, everything is going to plan...

Tune in on Monday for the result and post mortem /post match report.

Keep the faith.

Preecherman

Meet the Sat XI Players

The following represents the core of the Sat XI team pool, although inevitably occasional players, friends, relatives and even members of the Sunday team get roped in as the season plods on to its inevitable conclusion:

Ali is our GCCC stalwart who, quite literally, bats for both sides (the Sat and Sun XI that is) as well as opening the bowling, so a bit of an all rounder cricketing nut. Early 40s, lives near Harlow with Margaret, he earns his keep in IT but lives for fine food and cricket. Insists on only wearing clothes from charity shops and has a fervent disdain of modern consumer capitalism. Anyway, he's a good mate and will be an able lieutenant in the months ahead. Has played for Canfield for years and is a damn fine player. Batting **** Bowling **** Fielding ***** Fashion *

Bomber is the Sat XI outgoing Captain, having held the post for 3 years, Like Ali, he could play at a much higher level if he so chose, but remains loyal to the cause. Fabulous RH bat and a quite superb fielder at mid off. 30s, married to Jo, a family of 4 small children, and currently going through a career change into the financial services. No wonder he wanted a break from captaincy. Called Bomber because 'he bombs about' a lot... Exhibits what the Services might call "Officer Potential", having the relaxed, confident easy manner of the well educated. Surprisingly quiet off the pitch but a natural sportsman on it. Batting ***** Bowling ** Fielding ***** Wine *****

Preecherman. The new Captain; and at 44 and in only his 2nd full season as a player, something of a rookie (the oldest rookie in the world?). A stalwart who practises a lot, but still a bit of a rabbit with the bat. Secretly thinks the cricket ball is far harder than is sensible. Lives with Ruth in Canfield and runs own business (a natural leader then? Err, no). Big on team spirit and encouraging banter in the field (which this season will be at mid on - where the ball rarely goes). A leg spinner of some small repute. Batting * Bowling **** Fielding (ouch) Fancy Motor *****

Sonofapreecherman. The Captain's 13 year old son Ed and already miles better than his Dad. RH bat, LH bowler. Also plays for Dunmow (boo), Thaxted and School and trains at the Essex Academy. Tends to give Dad jip in the field. Appearances this year are injury permitting as he suffers badly with a foot ailment. The boy can play. Batting *** Bowling *** Fielding *** Red Bull (when Dad's detracted at the pavilion bar) *****

Bretty. RH bat and very handy as an occasional opener. Where he bats in the order usually depends on if he has been working nights or if he has been on the sauce. Doesn't bowl and fields MILES AWAY sweeping the boundary smoking tabs. Does loads for the club behind the scenes as well as cuts the outfield twice a week and never moans (much). Lives in nearby Takeley, 50s, handy with agricultural machinery. Top man. Batting ***** Lawn Mowers ****

Clint. As in Clint Eastwood (he looks nothing like!) Possibly the nicest man in the world. Local Canfield Farmer, early 40s and married to Bomber's sister, Sarah (life in the sticks, huh?) with three small children. A GCCC player man and boy, like Rob his dad before him. Handy with bat, ball and fielding. I wish he could play more for us, but the harvest won't do itself, boy. Batting *** Bowling *** Fielding *** Tractors *****

Andy Davis. Quality RH bat and quite honestly the best fielder I have ever seen. An Aussie who also lived in S Africa, so a bit of a cricketing pedigree. Married, lives near Ali with a young son. Only player to score a century last year. You could not meet a nicer bloke, which for an Aussie is praise indeed. Oh, and any bowlers reading this, anything short and he'll hit you to the mid wicket boundary in a second. Brought up on fast wickets you see. Batting ***** Fielding ***** Nice Ausie Score *****

Angus. Our 'keeper. Local builder/handyman residing with Tracy and sons Harry and Sam in Little Canfield. Another who does loads for the club and someone who always thinks ahead (like buying a widescreen TV for the pavilion on Cup Final day last year). He got it cheap, supposedly. I have never seen him without a smile on his face. As strong as an Ox and a great team player, our Mr Fixit and a Level 1 coach as well I believe. Batting ** Keeping **** General Maintenance *****

Paul Lucas. Manc living in Stebbing (not Stabbing), 40s, aviation graduate who has progressed from rockets to, er, procurement. Supports Man City and has a passion for classic sports cars. Bit nervous with the bat but a very good (and accurate) wicket-to-wicket 2nd change bowler. Very much a regular and one of the first names on the teamsheet. A bright boy - so he gets lumbered as our scorer most of the time. Batting ** Bowling *** Fielding *** Rocket Science *****

JW. Lives an hour away in SE London but a regular Canfield player for many years now, and his game has come on enormously and now pretty capable with bat, although like Paul his main strength is being our other regular 2nd change nagging length bowler. Late 40s, an accountant and also GCCC's Financial Officer. Supports Charlton and possesses an arid wit and quite excellent comedy timing (and that's not just his forward defensive - ho ho). Batting *** Bowling **** Fielding *** P&L/Balance Sheets *****

POB. Patrick O'Brien, early 60s and could be nicknaed The Judge because, he is, A Judge. Lives in nearby Thaxted. I like POB for many reasons, not least for the the fact that he scored his first century only a few years ago. I'm still only 44. You can see where I'm going with this. An acerbic wit and an extremely popular team member. Especially when he wears his 'Mack' in the field when its chilly. Batting *** Fielding *** ASBOs *****

Jamie is the latest in a long line of Hall family Canfield cricketers. He is also our grondsman and works all through the year getting the square and pitches up to scratch. What the tabloids might call a Gentle Giant. He's a big fella, early 20s, a big hitter and fast bowler. Always accompanied by his girlfriend Claire (who always smiles but rarely speaks- I wonder if she actually likes cricket!). Ruth my partner really likes Jamie, as do we all. Batting ***** Bowling ***** Fielding **** Heavy Rollers (with Jamie siting on it as well?) *****

Mitch. Mitch Cooper is our neighbours 17 year old son and, like Jamie, leads our strike attack. A very nice chap who has been known to occasionaly date my daughter, Verity. Very Dangerous Ground. He studies, he sails, he badmintons, he works at Stanstead on Saturdays and still finds time to play for us. He also possess an 8-pack whatever one of those is. Batting *** Bowling ***** Fielding *** Babe Magnate *****

Stuart. He's the club's Chairman and patriarch who, like Ali and Jamie also plays for the Sunday side from time to time. He has almost single-handedly got our new pavilion spit and span for the start of the season. A hedge fund manager who enjoys his cricket as much as he hates political correctness (bah), Blair (double bah) etc. A very good Chairman who is encouraged wonderfully by his teenage son Patrick when at the crease ("go on Dad, get out!! ha-ha). Kids eh? Batting ***** Bowling *** Fielding ***** Market Capitalisations, Yields & Growth *****

Panther. Panther is a new player (welcome fellah) joining GCCC after his old club, the wonderfully named Stapleford Tawney, folded last year. Real name Andy Goodwin, he's a bit of an all rounder and I see in him the keenness and joy I once had when I first played for the club. That's before I realised what I had gotten into. Theory: Panther is best mates with (the equally wonderfully named Will Beagles) who is a good player, so Panther's the bate to get Will involved as well: 2 for 1. Brearly didn't say this in his Art of Captaincy book - I'm getting the hang of this captaincy lark. Batting *** Bowling ** Fielding (Panther - geddit?) ***

Brucie. Brucie is our other slow bowler. Angus claims to have seen him turn the ball once. But this does not stop him snaring wickets. Oh how their eyes light up when they see him come on; oh how their eyes light up as the ball loops down the pitch at the slowest pace possible whilst just about obeying the laws of physics. You can guess the rest. I like Bruce because a) he bats even worse than me and b) he's my slow bowling partner. Run his own haulage business and big mates with Bretty. Batting * Bowling *** Fielding (what's that?) Lorries *****

That's about it. There are plenty of others to add but I'll profile them along the way. But I thought I should test the water first - I might be murdered at net practise.

Next blog will be on the eve of our first game. The excitement, the suspense, worries about team selection, form, the wicket not to mention the weather. And Dunmow 2nds are a good league side who want a pre-season friendly. This is a bit like you bigger older Brother who'll playfully hold your forehead at arms length whilst you try and kick them in the shins, and who then lets go making you collapse in a heap! We must therefore, have a plan...

Pre Season

This is the first blog entry for Great Canfield Cricket Club (Sat XI). GCCC are a village club in the middle of the Essex countryside. Our season starts on Saturday 28th April, at home vs Great Dunmow 2nds, 2.30pm start (feel free to drop in). Our Sunday side play on, well the Sunday.

Okay, important things you need to know about our team:

1. We play friendlies, not league cricket. League cricket is full of furrow-browed, ultra competitive sorts who take the game VERY seriously indeed. Now we could play in the Ford Essex Showrooms (West) division 5 league (or similar) but don't. So there. Our gaff, our rules.

2. We play in the true Corinthian spirit, meaning: we lose a lot, struggle to field a team most Saturdays, have a player age range from 13-53 (and older), but have A Right Laff taking part. And that's all that's important, right? (Right Jon))

3. We play at a beautiful leafy ground which is the envy of all the local league teams (another good reason not to play them) and have had a new pavilion built, courtesy of a local benefactor.

4. We have a new captain (me) and this is my blog. I was volunteered for the job. With an appalling batting average, winner of the 2006 Duck cup (most 0s) and an inept fielder I was, in many ways, the natural choice. What I hope I bring is enthusiasm, organisation, enthusiasm, unbridled loyalty, and enthusiasm. To say I'm apprehensive about politely enquiring if Bretty wouldn't mind awfully moving 10 yards back at deep extra cover (Neil is a truly great opening bat who is 10 years my senior, having played for Canfield for about 30 years) or if Ali wouldn't mind pitching the ball up a bit, is an understatement. Leading from the back will I have the support of the team? I'll keep you posted.

5. The Eastons, Sampfords and Lindsel are our rivals. Beating any of these teams this season will make it all worthwhile.


My next posting will introduce you to some the players, their profile and their personal idiosyncrasies. And for any GCCC players reading this, it's net practise at the ground this Sunday, 4pm sharp. Don't forget your box.

Go Canfield.

The Preecherman