NLCC

Crouch End supermarket, Thornton's Budgens, is sponsoring the club's Academy team in this year's Shepherds Cot Development League.

All players who are selected for the team will be presented with a special club shirt with the store's logo printed across the front.

Manager, Andrew Thornton, said he was delighted to support youth cricket in this Crouch End competition and he wished the North London team well in defending its position as league champions.

Our 13A and 15A Junior sides are in action at Home on Friday night. Matches start at 6pm and the BBQ will be lit at 7pm.
Why not also try the new selection of fine wines at the Club Bar - Ask Andy B to show you the choices.

Annual Subscription Fees are now due. Please make payment via cash or cheque (payable to North London Cricket Club) to Anne Duffield or Andy Bennett at the club at your earliest convenience. After payment you will be issued with a membership card within 7 days.

Players who have not paid by 30 June 08 will not be considered for selection.

Fees for 2008 season are as follows:

Adult Playing Member: £160.00
Student Playing Member: £60.00
Junior Associate Member: £60.00

If you are unsure which level of subscription you should pay then please contact me for clarification, and likewise if you are experiencing difficulties in making payment the committee can consider special cases on an individual basis.

As I'm sure you are all aware, the club's continued existence relies on payment of subs by all members and I would therefore appreciate your prompt attention to this request.

Kind regards,

Alistair Hart
Club Captain, NLCC
~
Bernie Chapman
Chairman, NLCC

It cost about £11,000 to replace the bowling ends at the Club last summer.
Some selfish individual(s) have been using studs in the nets recently. It is not known whether this was a member or not, but suffice to say this is a major irratation.
Action will be taken against anyone caught using studs in the nets.

kelvyn smith — our acting co-groundsman — is co-ordinating the upkeep and improvements of north london cricket club's facilities //

phase two is now very much underway /
in consideration for the clubmark inspection on 6 july 20 08

a secure gate is due to be fitted very shortly /
the containers at ferme park are due to be moved – if this great weather holds /
late planting is underway /
signage is being considered /

help has come from all directions and theclub would like to thank all of you for your ongoing efforts // a big thank you to bob and matthew rosen who have – and continue to – overhaul our site-screens /

our current grounds team / russell ashford / tom noutch / chirs ridley / matthew rosen / ralph pedersen / tom amedee have transformed our modest facility into the foremost ground in london /

well done everyone /
(except derek copsey who just breaks everything he touches!)

July 2007: Jessica Black - Contribution to running costs and rental of girls winter nets.

August 2007: James Battcock - Mobile scoreboard, 2 catcher’s mitts, balls.

September 2007: Shaun Norman - Contribution To 5th XI running costs in 2008.

October 2007: Dan Rosson - 50 Boundary Flags, 20 Bowling markers, 2 large kit bags, 8 Scorebooks.

November 2007: Tom Noutch- new wicket marker (grounds keeping equipment)

December 2007: Joe Higgins - replacement numbers for both small scoreboards, 3 sets multi-coloured flexi stumps, balls.

January 2008: Sean Beckett - 5 sets multi coloured flexi-stumps, 3 sets plain flexi-stumps, 3 x fielding 1 stump flexis, t ball stand, balls.

Thank you very much to all concerned – keep those nominations coming in for awards in the new season.

*All 2007 awards were for £200, all 2008 awards are for £300.

2008 senior season starts in 7 days

Chris Ridley is our overseas player for the 2008 season. He's 20 years old and plays his cricket at Bankstown alongside Chris Gane in their first grade side. He's a right hand opening bat who by all accounts is also a useful keeper. He's played representative age group cricket for NSW U-19s and is by his own account more of a blocker and less of a dasher than Ganey. As long as he gets his 1200 league runs this year I'm sure we won't mind how he goes about accumulating them!

Chris arrives around the 25th April and is going to be living with Andrew Olney's family in Muswell Hill (many thanks to the Olneys). Rids (as he is inventively referred to down under) is a highly qualified batting coach and i'm sure he's going to be very useful in improving the game of not only some of our junior members but also members of our senior elevens. Judith will soon be opening the diary on his master class bookings...so don't forget to get in there early to avoid disappointment!

For further information on booking a masterclass coaching session please contact Judith Pedersen pedersen@clara.co.uk

North London CC Junior Section – 2007 Overview

• Membership
The Junior section membership is now over 220 and is running at full capacity in terms of coaching ratios and playing facilities available.
A Junior Membership Officer, John Beckett, has been appointed to control this complex area of the Junior Section. Welcome aboard John!!
Many of the Junior members took advantage of the Summer Cricket School and the ‘masterclass’ coaching sessions that were made available by Chris Gane & Tom Noutch. Chris & Tom proved to be very popular characters with all concerned and along with Judith’s organisational skills made these schemes a great success for those boys and girls who took part. The Club also benefited greatly on a fiscal perspective. We will repeat this format next season.

• Fixtures
The new pavilion at Ferme Park provided some welcome shelter against the rain in June and there were still well over 100 fixtures played across the age groups.
The Club hosted Islington CC U13 and U10 Juniors for the Gerry Lillie and John Blount cups respectively winning the former and losing the latter.
In addition, the club again hosted the Gubby Allen Middlesex U10 area Cup finals on a fine July day and a BBQ was enjoyed by the 6 visiting teams.
Many of the U13 and U15 squad players enjoyed a well orgainsed tour of Norfolk in late August, winning all the games played and enjoying some decent weather.
A successful new addition to the Club fixture list was the U19 Academy side, captained by Tom Noutch and managed by Stephen Gardiner.

• Team achievements/ feedback 2007 season
U11A
A strong all round side that finished 2nd in Division 1 and then beat Islington (Div 2 winners) in the first round of the knockout stages of the County League Championship, before going out in the next round to Ealing, who eventually won the Middlesex County League title. The U11s also got to the final of the Middlesex East Area Cup, memorably beating North Middx in the semi, before narrowly losing to Potters Bar.

U11B
Finished 3rd in Division 2 and were unlucky not to have finished higher. Solid team performances were put in against the first teams of most clubs they played and they also developed a great team spirit, with many players playing and achieving more than they first thought possible.

U13A
Champions of Division 1 - an outstanding achievement. They went on to meet Bessborough in the knockout stages of the County League Championship, but progressed no further. This side contains many talented players, the majority of which are still under 12s, so will be able to play again in the 13As next year. An early exit in the Cup was the only disappointment for them and a target for improvement.

U13B
Champions of Division 2 and unbeaten in the East League, giving NL a clean sweep in the Middlesex East area U13 League. This side managed to edge out the first teams of the other clubs in this division before bowing out to North Middx A in the knockout stages of the County League Championship.

U15A
Finished last in Division 1. A season of underachievement, blighted by the unavailability of many key players. The side was only badly beaten once and many times just fell short of the winning post. On the bright side, the team was made up mainly of U14s and on many occasions, U13s, who will have gained useful experience at this standard. Also went out in the first round of the Cup and again an area to target next season.

U15B
Runners up in Division 2. A great performance from a side of players all a year younger than most of their opposition. Very close to winning the Division, this team will be strong favourites to finish in the top places of next years’ first division. Great team spirit and a provider of a number of good young players for the Senior sides.

U17
Champions of Division 1 and unbeaten in the East League. A good score was unfortunately not defended in the knockout stages of the County League Championship though. With only a few U17s proper, this side should continue to do well next season with a large number of U16s moving up a year. Disappointment in the Cup, losing in the semi final, was the only downside to an otherwise great season.

U19 Shepherd’s Cot Development League
The ‘Academy’ team was unbeaten in all matches. However, the way the team played, the lessons the participants took from the experience, the format of these games and mixing with high quality players, are more important than the results. The Development League proved a great success and will continue next year.


• Junior Organiser’s Highlights
All the league ‘A’ sides (except U15) qualified for the County League play offs by finishing 1st or second in their leagues and all the league ‘B’ sides finished in the top 3
Friday night barbeques during June & July during Junior matches were a good laugh and well attended (with thanks to Jane Beckett, Bernie, Ganey, Tom, Joe & all the other bbq chefs and helpers). All visiting League & Friendly Junior opposition were extremely pleased to be treated to the North’s hospitality and over £300 was also raised for the Club. Other Clubs in the area also started to follow suit last year, which can only be a positive move in Junior Cricket.
Watching the U19 Academy side and Chris Gane’s pre, during and post match input to the players cricketing knowledge and development. Tom Noutch’s development as a captain was also interesting. Thanks are very much due to Bernie Chapman for umpiring at every game and to Stephen Gardiner for managing the side.
The installation and use of the new bowling ends in the nets and the new boundary rope, which added a professional look to the Club. Again, thanks to Bernie C.
The U13 side in the ‘summer league’ was successful – with thanks to Judith Pedersen for running this team at a difficult time of the year (summer hols!!). The team also provided teas for the opposition during these longer matches, which was very well appreciated by the other clubs and really contributed to the spirit of the games.

The look of delight on the faces of the younger players presented with the Jack Petchey awards last season. This scheme has proved to be very successful and thanks go to Jim Green for organising the Club’s participation.

Receiving feedback from the Junior section that Juniors were being treated well and receiving a fair chance at Senior Team level. This is vitally important to the long term well being of the Club as a whole. Thanks are passed on to the Senior members.

14 new NLCC Junior coaches were recruited and put through the UKCC Level 1 training course in March as part of a joint venture with Aquaterra and run by the ECB.


• Plans for 2008
The plans for 2008 are already underway. The main objectives are as follows, based on feedback from the Junior section and the needs of the Club as a whole:
Retain, recruit and train Junior Coaches & Managers to maintain the level of Juniors joining and remaining as playing members at the Club. UKCC Level 2 and beyond must be the next objective on the coaching front.
A Girls team has entered the U11 Middx Girls League for the first time.
Continue the development of the U19 Academy side, to support the Junior to Senior transition and the longer term aims of producing quality 1st XI players for the Club to progress into the County Premier League and to enable all the other Senior XIs to progress and succeed.
Ensure Junior Team Managers select players according to ability, regardless of age, for County League fixtures.
Develop a Family Membership category and pricing structure.
Develop the Junior Section of the NLCC Website.
Work with the incoming Steward & Groundsman to ensure a smooth transition for those new members of staff.
Run the NL Cricket ‘school’ again, perhaps extending into the Easter hols if the weather permits.
Support the major Club projects/ initiatives planned to commence during 2008.

And finally………..

My sincere thanks goes to all of those Junior Coaches, Team Managers and many other helpers, who give their time and support so generously. Without these volunteers Junior cricket simply wouldn’t happen at our Club.

Bob Pedersen
Junior Organiser NLCC
12th January 2008

Tom Wakeford is the first NLCC winnner of a Jack Petchey Leader Award.

This is an award open to club members of any age and Tom now has £1000 to spend on the club.

Please follow the 'Jack Petchey winners' link for a copy of Tom's nomination.

Congratulations to Tom!

The Ferme Park Pavilion has recently been finished out with changing facilities including showers and a kitchenette allowing it to be a self contained facility for the junior members, 3rd & 4th XIs and hireouts.

This was achieved through the generous grant of £5,000 from the Biffaward scheme which is part of the Landfill Tax Credit scheme.

If anyone wishes to use the facility either for the playing of cricket during the season or for the use of the outfield as a winter training/sports facility please contact the club committee.

Please respect this new facility by avoiding litter and using the bins provided, and reporting any abuse or breakage immediately.

I'm delighted to announce the winner of NLCC's first Jack Petchey Foundation award:

There were 3 nominations and from those nominations Jack Grylls was unanimously selected as the winner. Jack has taken on the administration of the NLCC website and done sterling work, both in developing the site and in ensuring updated player availability information has been available to selectors.

It's no accident that we fielded 5 strong teams yesterday and that membership numbers and player availability are both high. It augers well for the club's future that one of our younger cricketers has stepped up to take on an important administrative role.

Jack will now be encouraged to spend his £200 award on something benefitting NLCC in the very near future.

I'll let you all know what Jack has chosen to spend the money on in my next update, in the meantime let's try and get a few nominations coming in for May - the season is well underway, there will be lots of cricket played in the month and lots of opportunities to nominate 11-25 year olds.

Congratulations once more to Jack Grylls.

Jim Green - Award Co-ordinator.

To find out more about the Jack Petchey Foundation please use the relevant link on the left of this page.

Any problems with the new site then please e mail me and i will try and answer your questions
j_grylls@hotmail.com

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