SO another Cricket season has passed us by. What a season it has been for Sandford Cricket Club. The weather has been unbelievable.

On the field of play our First XI finished runners-up in the Devon Premier League under the leadership of Richard Foan; our Second XI finished top of the C Division East with Shaun Hawkins in command, so will get promoted into the B Division, and finally our Third XI finished third in the H Division East with Matt Theedom in control, just missing out on promotion.

A tremendous effort by all our players to give the Club its most successful season in its 73 year history.

Unfortunately for the Club, Richard has now departed for a life in Australia, and we wish him and Jess and Olivia all the very best for the future. Richard has made a terrific contribution to our Club since he first joined us as a wild 16 year-old some 24 years ago. He will be missed.

A number of individuals have also had good seasons by collecting County honours. Adam Small established himself in the Devon’s Men’s team in the National Counties competition. This is the highest standard of cricket available to Club cricketers outside of the professional game in the UK.

Another of our First XI players, Lawrence Walker, played regularly for the Devon U18’s team, and in doing so scored 150 Not Out when his Devon team played at Creedy Park against Buckinghamshire.

James Theedom who played regularly in our Seconds, was a regular in the Devon U15’s team. He also represented the West region at the Bunbury Festival in Loughborough back in August.

This festival sees young lads from all over the country representing their regions in a week-long festival designed to pick out the best young players in the country. He has also played a couple of games for Somerset Seconds, which for a lad of his age is a real honour, and certainly the Club has every hope and wish him well as he continues to progress with his cricketing career.

Also representing the Devon U15s this year, was our own Second XI wicketkeeper Elliott Butterfield, who has shown us what a talent he is likely to be for both Club and County in the future.

Elliott is the son of our main Club sponsor Barny Butterfield (Sandford Orchards), and what makes it even more amazing is that he obviously didn’t pick up his natural ability from his Father.

Further down the age brackets young Ollie Knight was a regular in the Devon U13’s team, as well as becoming a regular fixture in our Third XI, with both bat and ball. A very good all-round prospect. The big question everyone is asking is “how could a lad heading towards six feet tall, have a Dad who is only just over five feet tall?”

As well as Elliott Butterfield representing Devon, even more amazing is that his younger brother Alfie, not only played for Devon’s U12’s, but he was also captain.

To be a captain at such a young age shows how much he must understand the game, let alone have the talent to be picked in the first place. Again not a trait you would necessarily associate with his aforementioned father.

Remarkably we had a couple of our girls who regularly play in the Thirds representing Devon U18s Women’s team. Both Ellie Bishop and Jemima Vereker played starring roles in the Devon team which won the National Counties competition by beating Essex in the Final. Congratulations to them, but also a great honour for the Club.

Our youth section have run nine different boys and girls teams this year, so Friday night training has been “interesting” trying to get so many boys and girls, as well as parents parked in an orderly fashion.

The Club had 88 “All Stars” for age groups five to eight year-olds booked in for 10 weeks training and introduction to cricket. This was by far the largest number anywhere in the County.

Add similar attendances for the nine to 13 year-olds, as well as the 14 and 15 year-olds training on Monday nights, and the total youngsters involved in our Club this year, exceeded 220 combined boys and girls. An amazing effort. Thanks to all our coaches for looking after them.

Off the pitch the Club has had a fantastic year socially. The Community League Finals Day was a rip-roaring success, blessed by good weather, and a fantastic turnout on the day, with well in excess of 250 people in attendance.

The support from our regular supporters has again been phenomenal, and I know the players appreciate seeing so many people watching the games at Creedy Park.

We were also able to re-instate one of our Sponsored days when Crediton Rugby Club spent the day with us. We gave them a lunch, at a nominal cost, together with a tea, and they gave our lads a lot of encouragement in return, as well as keeping our bar ladies busy.

As far as additional sponsored days are concerned, if anyone fancies bringing along a number of their friends, relations, business associates, or clients/customers to the ground for a day out, and would like to give them a lunch and entertain them, please let me know (Phil Matten 07970 157557). Cost is £10 per person to include tea.

The Club is becoming a regular choice venue for the likes of Birthday parties, Wedding Anniversary celebrations, and unfortunately Wakes.

This included that of our Club President Bill Matten, back in June, which was very well attended. Bill was the last surviving founder member of the Club, and so his passing saw the end of an era which had lasted over 73 years.

He was the Club President, and had been for more than 25 years. He is sorely missed by everyone who knew him at the Club, as well as his widow Sheila and all his family.

Another very unfortunate loss to the Club during the season, was when one of our sponsors, Dave Matthews from Crediton Auto Services passed away following a short illness. Our condolences go out to his widow Jill, Tracy their daughter, and Mark their son.

Prior to the season starting we lost one of our long-time stalwarts, Bill Ellaway, who not only had been a player many years ago, but who also became one of the “Old Gits” entourage who do so much voluntary work at the Club.

Although Bill had been ill for sometime, it was still a great loss when he eventually passed on. Our thoughts are with his widow June and son Martyn.

The Club now has a second ground up-and-running. Many thanks must go to Richard and Rosie Cheriton for granting the Club permission to use this land at a very modest cost, together with the co-operation of almost everyone in the Creedy Park area for not objecting to our proposed project last year.

Chris Theedom and his band of merry men have worked extremely hard on turning what was a field just over 12 months ago, into a truly amazing looking cricket pitch.

This will be in full operation next season, together within an artificial wicket and will enable our Third XI to play their home games at Creedy Park on Saturdays, at the same time as either our First or Second teams. It will also allow many more home youth games to be played at Creedy Park.

The Club would very much like to thank Newton St Cyres Recreation committee for allowing the use of their artificial pitch at Newton for our Third XI to play on since their inception three years ago.

The next task is to thank all the volunteers at the Club. I’ll start with Mike Canning, who has been umpiring our Second XI for the past five years or so, since hanging up his boots on the playing front, and an excellent job he has made of it too.

He has also been the Club’s media correspondent with his regular contributions in the “Courier”, even though he is now relinquishing this responsibility.

As well as umpiring, another aspect of officiating at cricket matches is scoring. Sandford Cricket Club has been very lucky to have three excellent scorers this year.

Alan Carbert (Bert), Nicky Radnor, and the newby on the block at our club, Louise James. Louise came to us along with her husband Jon, but they rarely see each other on match days, as he has been playing in the Seconds, and she has been scoring for the Thirds, where their two lads, Jack (regularly) and Rhys (occasionally) played.

Thanks to all of them for the tremendous jobs they have done once again this year. Bert and Nicky have been with us, it seems, since the first black and white teles appeared, or so it seems.

Former player Richard Coupe has been acting as Chairman of Selectors, as well as helping the bar profits on match days. Richard has brought a lot of experience and sense to help the captains in picking their teams.

Being a former County player himself, whilst with Sandford I hasten to add, his knowledge of the game is immense, and he has been a great help to all the captains. Thanks Coupey.

Another bunch of volunteers have been the “Old Gits”. What would our Club do without them?

There are at least eight of them. How they put up with heeding to Head Groundman’s (Grumpy Chris Theedom) orders to “do this, do that, do the other, that’s not right, do it this way, don’t do it that way, that lines not straight etc, etc” we’ll never know. What we do know is that our Creedy Park ground always looks wonderful, even on a bad day.

A band of helpers who should not be underestimated, are our Bar staff. Led by Stacey “Stanley” Collins, our superb Bar Manager, she has not only organised the stock for the bar, but also the bar rota for all our games.

Thanks to Jan “see you Friday” Arthur; Louise “is there anything else you want me to do” James; Donna “Kebab” Thatcher; Miranda “Veranda” Pearcey; Lisa “ring me or I’ll forget” Champ and Charlotte “I’m Nugget’s sister, but don’t tell anyone” Smith. Thanks girls. See you all next year, hopefully.

Following Covid, many clubs have taken the opportunity to stop providing teas between innings at matches. Although Sandford considered an alternative option, in the end the committee agreed with still trying to provide teas for all home games. We would therefore like to thank all of the ladies who have produced excellent teas at our Club this year.

Finally on the helpers section, thanks go to husband and wife team Don and Karen Teague.

Don looks after all our car parking needs on Friday nights, and whenever we have occasions when we are expecting more cars than our car park can take. Karen does a brilliant job looking after the cleanliness of the clubhouse itself. Thanks to both of them.

To our sponsors we say a very big thank you for the support they have once again given the Club. As has been said to them all in the past, we do not sit on our laurels and automatically expect their support as a “given”.

As a Club, we feel we have to earn their loyalty, but each year they seem prepared to help us. They really are amazing.

As a way of celebrating what has been a fantastic year, the Club will be holding its annual Presentation Evening this year on Saturday, November 12 at the Mercure Rougemont Hotel in Exeter, for what will hopefully be a very enjoyable evening consisting of a three-course black tie meal, with Black Jack and Roulette tables, as well as music and dancing, and a James Bond theme. Cost £37.50 per person. Anyone is invited to attend, and overnight accommodation is available at the hotel at an additional cost. If anyone is interested let me know (07970 157557).

And so the winter months will soon be here, and we will all be dreaming again of the hot weather we’ve experienced this year. Winter well everyone, and all the best from all involved with Sandford Cricket Club. See you again in April 2023.

Phil Matten