IN my last report I touched upon how important volunteers are to any amateur Sports Club, no matter what the sport.

In doing so I covered how Sandford Cricket Club’s committee plays such an important role in this, together with a number of named volunteers who help run various aspects of the Club.

This week I’ll try and remember all those volunteers who have other roles not previously mentioned.

On matchdays, it would be impossible to run games of cricket without officials i.e. umpires and scorers.

As the First XI play in the Devon League Premier Division, they are allocated two independent umpires each game, so we don’t have to worry about that.

However, with our Seconds having dropped down to the C Division, they now have to have their own umpire. We’re lucky at Sandford as we have a number of “panel” umpires who are willing to give their time back to Sandford to help in this role for most of the Seconds games.

Paul Smith, our Secretary, is one of them. He is not only one of the best umpires in Devon, but he’s also on the National panel looking after County Championship Second XI games, and the such like, whilst in doing so officiating professional cricketers and standing with professional umpires.

Mike Canning also helps the Club’s Second XI out, in between standing in Devon Premier games, and is another excellent addition to Devon’s umpiring panel.

Jerome Davis and Steve Walker are also Premier umpires, associated with the Club, and occasionally help the Club when asked to, particular out of League season.

So as you can see the Club is graced with four excellent umpires – quite incredible considering most Club’s don’t have any Premier umpires.

The Thirds tend to “bobble along” with players filling in umpiring roles during games, but even the Chairman of Selectors’, Richard Coupe, was spotted a couple of times helping out, and allegedly quite enjoyed it!

Scorers is where we are lucky. Alan “Bert” Carbert has been covering this role for the Firsts for over 25 years, and whilst he still prefers to use the book, he has adapted to using “on-line” scoring, much to his dismay.

The Seconds have Keith Hopkins who took on the role in 2023, and the Thirds are lucky to have Louise James, who combines this with looking after the Club’s bar.

I mentioned in my previous report that Nicky Radnor has tended to look after all the “double-header” games at the Creedy Park, usually when the Seconds and Thirds are at home on the same day, but along with her we have Muriel Power, Katie Theedom, Pam Matten, Bridget Ashplant and Marj Hawkins who between them covered the remaining games when Nicky wasn’t on duty. Many thanks to all of their efforts in 2024.

A volunteer that needs a special mention is Steve Kinch. Steve clears up the empty bottle and refuse bins after weekend games with such aplomb that he has even given himself a title – Environmental Officer. Anyway he does a superb job and takes pride in what he does.

Car parking on Friday nights sees Darren Finning usually helping me out, but if he can’t, I can usually rely on Don Teague to be there, as well as being available when we have special events at the Club.

On First XI matchdays Bill Palmer tends to keep any eye on things, as the limited space we do have, can get very congested, and needs a bit of organising.

Phil Gibbs is usually around on matchdays to help with mid-innings drinks, especially those on the second pitch. A small role, but an important one.

Jay Harris, can very often be seen at the ground on matchdays with camera in hand. The results of which can usually be seen on the Club’s Facebook page later that evening. He also ensures the publicity for the weekends’ games, together with who’s playing in each team, are published no later than on a Friday night on Facebook and Instagram.

The last volunteer I wish to mention is Nigel Ashplant. He looks after the contracts for our Overseas player, and co-ordinates everything along with the the First XI skipper Jackson Thompson and Chairman Mike Discombe. A very important role indeed.

A final mention to all of the Club’s Youth team coaches once again. Many thanks to them and all our volunteers, and apologies to anyone I may have inadvertently missed off.

Happy Christmas everyone.

Phil Matten