FOR Sandford Cricket Club, 2024 was always going to be a difficult season to try and emulate what had occurred during 2023.

As a reminder the Firsts had won the Premier Division for the first time since 2004, the Thirds won H Division East, and with it promotion to G Division East for 2024, whilst the Seconds unfortunately had been relegated out of the B Division, to which they had unexpectedly gained promotion a year earlier, to then find themselves dumped in C Division West, which was the wrong area for them really as Sandford are normally an East Division side.

However, the aim for 2024 was for all teams to do well, with the Firsts hopefully challenging again for the Premier Division title, and for the Seconds and Thirds to consolidate their positions in their respective new divisions.

In the end the Firsts finished Runners-Up to Bradninch, the Seconds eventually finished fifth, after flouting with relegation for much of the season, and the Thirds finished fourth. So, all-in-all, a very satisfying season on the pitch.

To help towards these goals the usual raft of players leaving and arriving would have some say in whether these aims would be successful.

Replacing our 2023 overseas player was always going to be a tough task.

Indian Dikshu Negi was not only a good ambassador for the Club, but he was a magnificent cricketer.

He had ended up topping the Devon League batting and bowling averages – a quite remarkable feat when usually just to finish topping one of those averages would be an achievement, but to top both was incredible.

So Aryan Lakra was the man chosen to follow that, as they say. Another Indian but who had spent a lot of his time playing in and for the UAE in Dubai.

The first thing that could be said about Aryan is what a lovely man he was. He fitted into the Club like a glove.

He had been recommended to Club Captain Jackson Thompson by Dikshu, and we couldn’t have chosen a nicer bloke. He was also a very good cricketer.

Another recruit with First XI potential was Byron Knowles, who had previously played in the Devon League at Sidmouth a few years ago, but had moved away to Derbyshire for a couple of years. He too proved to be a very popular member of the squad, and a more than useful all-round cricketer.

A couple of other cricketers who we realised may not play many games were Raphael Weatherall and Tom Maidment.

Raphy was an Exeter University student, but was on the books at First Class County Northamptonshire, and as expected, he only played a couple of games unfortunately. Whether we see him again in 2025 for a short while remains to be seen.

Tom Maidment is a teacher at Exeter School, but a more than useful cricketer who had played County age group cricket as a youngster, but being at Exeter School would mean limited availability.

When he did play he started off in the Seconds, but quickly progressed into the Firsts when he was able to play. Another very good all-round cricketer, who we hope will be around again in 2025.

A number of players left the Club this year for various reasons, but one which was unexpected was Jack Ford.

“Fordy” was a regular popular member of the Firsts, and had been for a couple of years. My understanding was that he felt his bowling opportunities had been limited, and being an all-rounder, this was important to him.

However, before he left he had one remarkable knock which helped Sandford to a win, when the odds looked against them. The Club was sorry to see him go, but we wished him well on his return to his former Club Bideford, Littleham and Westward Ho!

He will always be a good friend of the Club, as will his family, and they will all be welcomed back to Creedy Park when the situation allows it.

Other players who did not appear in 2024 were Sandy Allen, Harry Collinge, Shaun Fryett, Chris Jelley, Neil Maud, Rob Stoyle and Finn Warren.

Two players who were missed, were the Morgan-Huggett twins – Tudor and Tyler. Tudor unfortunately broke his leg at the end of the football season, and Tyler injured his back. Hopefully they will be both back playing next year, as they are both very popular members of the Club.

Phil Matten