OVER the past few weeks I’ve covered the performances of each of Sandford Cricket Club’s senior playing teams, as well as touching on the Youth set-up and the people that help run that section of the Club.

Every local sports club, no matter what sport, requires the help of volunteers to ensure that that Club hopefully runs successfully and in an organised manner. Sandford Cricket Club is no exception to that rule, and luckily we have plenty of volunteers.

Initially I’ll start by mentioning the committee, ably led by long-term Chairman Mike Discombe. He controls the day-to-day business of the Club, under the watchful guidance of our relatively new President, and former player, Andy Glass.

Both are role models with their attention to detail and integrity to ensure that the ethos of the Club does not exceed the aims it currently has in place, and what it potentially hopes to have in place in the future.

I’m Vice Chairman with many responsibilities, including sponsorship, running the Community League Cricket, and generally being around the place on match days in case anything goes awry, to name but a few!

Up until recently our Treasurer was Andy Gibson, who had held the post for 31 years. But having given 12 months’ notice last year of his desire to step down, he has now been replaced with a much younger version, in Tracy Matthews.

The Club is very grateful to Tracy for agreeing to step into the breach. May her appointment be a happy one!

The Club’s Secretary is Paul Smith. He has been in this role for nearly 30 years and does an excellent job in ensuring all the Club’s administration is up-to-date, as well as being the Club’s main liaison with the Devon League. He’s also the Club’s statistician.

Our head groundsman for the past 50 years, is Chris “Grumpy” Theedom.

Chris has overseen the development of the playing facilities at Creedy Park since 1974.

He has turned a pretty basic “village” pitch into one of, if not the best, grounds in Devon, fit enough for the County to play on, which says a lot.

Chris also undertook the responsibility of ensuring our “new” second ground was transformed from a field into a superb playing facility within 2-3 years.

However, responsibility for ensuring this pitch is maintained in good order has passed to Simon Saunders, who has continued to do the great work needed to offer the best possible surface for everyone to play on.

Chris is ably supported in his role by a number of Dad’s Army helpers, including Fran Warren, Graham Darke, Tony May, Bob Eames, Andre Pike, Andy Ackerman, Terry Chamberlain, Johnnie Crook, Kelvin Heath, Colin Lever and Matt Theedom.

Many thanks to all of them for the time they give to the Club to ensure our ground is one of the most spectacular in not only Devon, but anywhere!

The Club’s Facility Manager is Andy Priddle, who does a great job in ensuring that everything “non-pitch” related is hopefully up to scratch and in working order. He also deals with booking the Club for any functions.

Another relative newcomer on the committee has been the Club’s Bar Manager, Louise James.

She has recently transformed the bar with a number of changes, and along with the numerous bar staff including Ashleigh Steer, Trina Newstead, Jan Arthur, Izzie Haslam, Abi Pinn and Lisa Champ they all do a great job.

Another important Club committee member who has taken the role to different heights over the past year is Brain Leach.

He is the Members’ Representative, as well as being responsible for most of the Club’s Social Media postings.

This is an area which has taken off dramatically over the time he has been in office, with one recent posting alone on the SCC Instagram site having had nearly 30,000 “hits” – incredible.

One person who is no longer on the committee, but certainly needs a big mention, is Nicky Radnor.

Nicky is our main catering person.

For the past two seasons she has provided teas for each home game when there have been two teams playing at Creedy Park on the same day, as well as lunches on our “sponsored” days, along with Debbie Sparham, when the likes of the Rugby Club, Dolphin Stairlifts and our Sponsors/Volunteers days are held.

She also provides cooked meals after each of our Community League games, for which we thank her immensely.

Phil Matten