Almondbury Casuals Cricket Club

 

Autumn Committee Meeting 2002 Minutes

 

 

At the Royal Oak, Upperthong, 30th Oct 2002

 

Present: David Pedley, Bill Crossland, Will Ward, Greg Smith, Tony Hirst, Ken Jagger, Marcus Longbottom, Rupert Wilson, Jim Netherwood, Sam Stier, Marc Davis

 

1. Apologies were received from: Richard Ellis, Ken Jagger, Alan Priestley

 

2. Minutes of the Last Meeting were digested.

 

Matters Arising:

• Ties (12) and Caps (6) are now available at ASDA price for new and existing members. The delicate mothball odour should soon be dissipated by the Ellimans Rub used extensively by all good Casuals before the match (and drunk by some after). Rupert reported his cap had gone missing at the last Italians International. Unfortunately Rupert had not shared the same fate.
• Further copies of the long out of print History of the Casuals by J B Hartley had come to light and would be foisted onto new members in a effort to clear the Chairman’s box (room? – ed).
• The success of Colonel Beaumont’s clandestine mission to recover the Mike Hallas Trophy from Ben Rhydding is still unclear. He is reported to be going in undercover – possibly a good permanent option for the old soldier.

 

3. Treasurers Report

 

Once again the Casuals had failed to make an impression on the gold reserves, foiled by their own willingness to spend heavily at the mere mention of a raffle. The excellent set of accounts, still warm and redolent of the forger’s ink, was discussed at the bar.

Thongsbridge are still owed for two matches, but this is not for lack of trying.

The Treasurer reported that several non playing members had proved untraceable. Jim Netherwood, a Casual of over 50 years, offered to review the list to identify those still living, and to clarify his own position in this respect.

Building Society funds and Premium Bond Holdings would both be boosted in an effort to make the money work a little harder.

One match captain, making a late but timely appearance at the meeting, had so far failed to account for his season’s receipts. A little light work with the treasurer’s truncheon addressed this issue, and he should be fit to retain his position next season.

 

4. Election of Officers 

 

A vote of thanks and a round of drinks was proposed for the standing officers, seconded and drunk. They remain unchanged and immutable.

 

5. Members List          

 

Several new members were identified, including Duncan Cleave, Nick Bone, James Lockwood, Ian Cooper, Mike Rich, Sonny Ramadhin, Oliver and Christopher Platts, Tom and Mick Jagger, Mark and Steve Waugh. Invitations would be despatched once the night’s started to draw out and the secretary had enough natural light to sharpen his quill.

 

6. Fixtures

 

The previous seasons fixture list was applauded with the proviso that Will must try harder next year. As well as the usual impossible requests (Paul Getty’s XI, including Claudia Schiffer, away), Low Bradfield, Chatsworth and the Cryptics on a different date all got a mention. Burge felt for East Keswick, while Marcus favoured East Darton near Barnsley, who might also allow use of their pitch.

 

Jim Netherwood queried our current relationship with Thurstonland – Will has a good contact there if needed, but Thongsbridge would be favoured wherever possible for home fixtures.

 

7. Equipment and Nets

 

The Chairman was currently holding Wills equipment but promised to return it unharmed, to Sara’s relief. The Duncan Fearnley “Kipper” Bat had been exhumed and had stroked an accomplished and totally unexpected boundary or two in the hands of its namesake against the Corinthians at Paddock.

Rupert pointed out that if we insist on using sub standard balls we should not be surprised when his were regularly rattled against the wall. Marcus agreed to spend some of the profits on a better quality selection if the bowlers promised not to deliver the usual selection of wide long hops to be despatched into the scenery. Rupert remarked that it would be nice if the opposition balls suffered a similar fate.

Nets with Alan Priestley’s Old Boys would be sought.

 

8. Autumn Dinner        

 

The Old Grange in Almondbury, Nov 15^th. Numbers were down on last year but a late rush could not be ruled out. Funding from the reserves was agreed should the requisite number not be reached.

 

9. AGM and Dinner 2003

 

Building on the success of the last event at Woodsome, next years date was confirmed as Friday April 25^th 2003. The President was coerced into speaking and professed to be deeply touched, although fingered would be more appropriate. All agreed that the Judge had been excellent, and would be difficult to follow. While Rupert felt that people would expect a personality, the general feeling was that if the Casuals were to host a major expense event it should be through a Sportsman’s Evening.

 

Terry Cole and Keith Bradley were suggested, and Sam Stier and Tony Hirst agreed to pursue them.

 

10. Any Other Business           

 

A deep and philosophical discussion on the Meaning of Life, Casuals Membership, local interest, new blood, old bad blood, and cricket in general. The Secretary failed to understand or note most of this but all agreed with the Chairman’s sentiment that we should endeavour to halt our dwindling members and introduce new blood by any means possible.

 

Will welcomed the website and all those who contributed the match reports and sparkling wit and repartee in the chat room, particularly from the well known Morecambe pedant, who ought to know better at his age.

 

The Oldest Member reminded the club of the importance of varying the batting order to involve players of all abilities.  Taking a hold of his Horlicks, he went on to recount an incident in the Test Series of 1963, when he and Jack Taylor were asked to open the batting against the virulent opening pair of Hall and Griffiths, on the basis of “first changed, first in”. Striding out to the Thurstonland crease with none of today’s fancy protective underwear, they faced a fearsome barrage of hostile deliveries, but with a native cunning managed to deflect unplayable deliveries from unmentionable parts of their bodies. Such was the speed of the bowling and outfield that within four overs, 30 byes were on the board (an unheard of rate in Casuals Cricket), Charlie Griffiths off the field with avian bunions and Wes Hall a frustrated wreck on the long on boundary. The Casuals then knocked up 350 for 2 declared in 32 overs and went on to a famous victory by loads. Strangely enough this game must have been scored in one of the books left in the pub by Colonel Beaumont and sadly passed unrecorded into Casuals history. Match captains take heed.

 

A corrected version of the season’s statistics was circulated.

 

The Chairman outlined the plans for the upgrading of Thongsbridge and it was agreed that we support their lottery application in any way we could. Will agreed to invite Alan Moore and his wife to the Autumn Event as guests of the Casuals.

 

The meeting closed at 9.45pm, leaving the oldest member snoozing gently by the fire, reliving the halcyon summer days of long ago.

 

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