You can hear Robin Surtees, Jamie Bowman and Robin Brown interviewed by Jimmy McCracken on the Sefton Park Solstice Cup shortly after the game ended.
Click on the link if you don't know what the Solstice Cup is.
Showing posts with label sefton park cricket club. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sefton park cricket club. Show all posts
Monday, 28 June 2010
Thursday, 10 June 2010
Sefton Park CC plans dawn start to Solstice Cup match
On 21 June 2010, Sefton Park Cricket Club is attempting that rarest of cricketing beasts – a 4.43AM start to a game of cricket in the inaugural Solstice Cup.
Scheduled for the longest day of the summer, the game will start at the crack of dawn and consist of a Twenty20 game that should be over in time for every to turn, bleary-eyed, into work at 9AM.
The game will celebrate Sefton Park Cricket Club's 150th anniversary, and is one of a series of events designed to promote the south Liverpool oasis, which is situated within Sefton Park.
Anyone interested in attending or wanting more information should contact robinbrown78@yahoo.co.uk.
Full press release follows.
Scheduled for the longest day of the summer, the game will start at the crack of dawn and consist of a Twenty20 game that should be over in time for every to turn, bleary-eyed, into work at 9AM.
The game will celebrate Sefton Park Cricket Club's 150th anniversary, and is one of a series of events designed to promote the south Liverpool oasis, which is situated within Sefton Park.
Anyone interested in attending or wanting more information should contact robinbrown78@yahoo.co.uk.
Full press release follows.
Liverpool cricketers set alarm clocks for dawn start
Cricketers at Sefton Park Cricket Club are preparing to celebrate the club's 150th anniversary, and the Summer Solstice in style - with a 20/20 cricket match played at the crack of dawn.
The two teams, made up of cricketers from the club, will set their alarm clocks in time for a scheduled 4.43am start and will be donning gloves and pads in time for sunrise.
The match is scheduled to last for four hours, and Sefton - known locally as The Shack - expects a small, but hardy, group of supporters to be in attendance for the solstice game.
Solstice matches are not unheard, but Sefton Park CC believes this is the first example played in Liverpool, and a fitting celebration for the club's anniversary year.
“I’ve often been told I miss out on the best part of the day,” declared Robin Surtees who came up with the scheme.
“Well, what better way to test this theory than by using every shred of light on the solstice whilst playing cricket! The only downside is I have to go to work afterwards!”
The match dovetails with Sefton's efforts to promote the club as a place to play cricket and relax amid picturesque surroundings.
"What we're hoping to do with the Solstice Cup, and a raft of other events staged at Sefton this Summer, is to raise awareness of this great ground and its facilities," said Third Team Captain, Robin Brown.
"Playing cricket is certainly about playing to the best of our abilities, but above all it's about having fun, and public events like the Solstice Cup are certainly what cricket is all about for the club."
Cricket Chairman Stuart Lomas added “Sefton Park CC is now in its 150th year and has played on this ground since 1876 yet this game will be completed earlier in the day than any other played in its history will have started.
"In spite of the unorthodox time we hope members of the club and the community will come down to Sefton to enjoy this curious match; one of the quirks which help to make cricket the great game it is.”
The Solstice Cup promises to be a unique event in Liverpool and is intended to be one of the highlights of Sefton's 150th anniversary celebrations.
Contact:
Stuart Lomas - Club Cricket Chairman: stueylum@yahoo.co.uk
Robin Brown - Third Team Captain: robinbrown78@yahoo.co.uk
Jamie Bowman - Fifth Team Captain: bowmanjam@hotmail.com
About the Solstice Cup
Sefton Park Cricket Club intends the 2010 Solstice Cup to the first of an annual event at the South Liverpool cricket club.
The game is scheduled to commence at 4.43am and will continue until around 8am. Refreshments will be provided to any brave spectators and media.
About Sefton Park Cricket Club
Founded in 1860, Sefton Park Cricket Club is one of South Liverpool's oldest and most historic clubs and a founder member of the Liverpool and District Competition.
Situated within Sefton Park, the club boasts two pitches, two pavilions and two bars - and is a popular destination for social events.
The club currently fields six teams every week, boasts a thriving junior section and is host to a number of teams without their own playing facilities.
Lancashire Cricket Club's Paul Horton is a Sefton member and the former club captain can still be seen playing the occasional game for Sefton's first team.
Other events planned in the club's 150th anniversary year include Summer Ball on 25 June, club barbecue on 9 July, a visit by the touring MCC side on 15 August and an end-of-season dinner with Derek Underwood on 24 September.
Address: Croxteth Drive, Sefton Park, Liverpool L17 1AP
Tel: 0151 733 5678
Website: www.seftonparkcc.co.uk
Directions - Click here for a link to MultiMap: http://www.multimap.com/s/1U0i3Y0D
ENDS
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
Images of Sefton Park Cricket Club
I took some images of The Shack, as it's known locally, in its 150th anniversary year.
I'm obviously biased, but for me it's one of the most beautiful cricket ground I've ever played at, with only a couple of tower blocks looming above the trees to remind you you're not in the countryside.
Sure it's a bit battered around the edges, but some of the views are spectacular, with the hazy sun filtering through the row of trees that seaparates the two grounds at dusk something rather special.
I didn't capture it at its best on this occasion as there was a junior game on the bottom pitch, and bearded men with cameras are rarely welcome at cricket clubs.
ALso included in the set is some of the 3rd, 4th and 5th teams enjoying a net. If you look closely, you can see Paul Eastham having his off stump knocked back. Tsk
I'm obviously biased, but for me it's one of the most beautiful cricket ground I've ever played at, with only a couple of tower blocks looming above the trees to remind you you're not in the countryside.
Sure it's a bit battered around the edges, but some of the views are spectacular, with the hazy sun filtering through the row of trees that seaparates the two grounds at dusk something rather special.
I didn't capture it at its best on this occasion as there was a junior game on the bottom pitch, and bearded men with cameras are rarely welcome at cricket clubs.
ALso included in the set is some of the 3rd, 4th and 5th teams enjoying a net. If you look closely, you can see Paul Eastham having his off stump knocked back. Tsk
Friday, 2 April 2010
Sefton Super League Darts: Fun, funds, friendship and filth
It's pretty tough to get people to do things nowadays, with so many distractions and mobile communication devices meaning everyone's bored of everything.
It's hard enough convincing people to go down the pub, or even leave the house at all. So it's pretty bloody impossible to get them to do anything involving cricket club administration.
Sefton needs to generate cash more urgently over the winter than over the summer - as there's not a steady stream of thirsty and hungry cricketers turning up to part with their cash. Over the winter things can get lean, and Sefton Park CC is not especially well-placed geographically to attract passing customers being situated, as it is, in the middle of Sefton Park.
So, current Sefton Chairman and fourth/fifth team stalwart Stuart Lomas hit upon a killer wheeze that would combine his three greatest loves: cricket, darts and Excel spreadsheets. The Sefton Super League was born in 2008, and Sefton has never looked back. Lomas, a man best described as grumpy and officious, deserves significant credit.
The first year attracted 16 players, turning up over the long winter months to throw arrows and down Trad. By the time the final came around there were dozens of spectators pouring money into the tills and bitter down their necks to see two of the four finalists whitewashed.
It was a successful start, but there was more to come. the 2009-2010 season saw two separate divisions - the Sefton Super League and Sefton Plate - and a spin-off knock-out tournament. There were also forays beyond the realms of Sefton to other pubs to take on other teams, and the women who play darts at the club got a darts hiding they aren't likely to forget.
The darts nights will have sent thousands into the club's coffers, and many enjoyable nights are the result.
A weekly newsletter, The Arrow, goes out to subscribers, detailing many and varied amiable slurs against the character of Sefton members; another weekly pre-match report, Darts AM, goes out hosted by characters as diverse as Sir Roger Moore, Trevor Jesty and the Transporter bridge; a mainly-nonsensical betting ring has sprung up surrounding the leagues; photos go on Flickr and videos of entrance music and presentations go on Youtube; a hack from a national broadsheet writes up the final.
The culmination of this effort is the finals night, which saw not one but two specially-made videos: one a brilliantly-executed Rocky spoof, and the other a video version of Darts AM, with contributions from Roger Moore, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Brum and Kendo Nagasaki involving interviews, voiceovers, animation and audio and video editing. It's probably fairly baffling and unfunny if you're not in on the jokes, but to me it symbolises the effort that people are willing to put into something they care about.
The success of the darts night gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling. It shows what you can with a bit of effort, a bit of help, and a bit of support. It's an enjoyable way of keeping the wolf from the door from the club's point of view, and it allows a lot of men brought together by a mutual love of cricket to express their fondness for each other in the only way they know: through competition; through forensic discussion of obscure sport and sportsmen; and through viciously defaming and ridiculing one another.
As the club moves towards its 150th anniversary, the darts nights have shown how it is possible to engage and mobilise a membership at a time when it's hard to convince someone to leave the sofa, nevertheless trudge through the mud and wind and rain to get beaten 3-0 by the club's reigning champ.
The video below may mean little to you if you don't come down to the club on a regular basis, but to me it's proof that people are willing to freely give of their time and money to make something they believe in work.
And it's not often you can say that about a video featuring Sir Roger Moore making knob gags.
It's hard enough convincing people to go down the pub, or even leave the house at all. So it's pretty bloody impossible to get them to do anything involving cricket club administration.
Sefton needs to generate cash more urgently over the winter than over the summer - as there's not a steady stream of thirsty and hungry cricketers turning up to part with their cash. Over the winter things can get lean, and Sefton Park CC is not especially well-placed geographically to attract passing customers being situated, as it is, in the middle of Sefton Park.
So, current Sefton Chairman and fourth/fifth team stalwart Stuart Lomas hit upon a killer wheeze that would combine his three greatest loves: cricket, darts and Excel spreadsheets. The Sefton Super League was born in 2008, and Sefton has never looked back. Lomas, a man best described as grumpy and officious, deserves significant credit.
The first year attracted 16 players, turning up over the long winter months to throw arrows and down Trad. By the time the final came around there were dozens of spectators pouring money into the tills and bitter down their necks to see two of the four finalists whitewashed.
It was a successful start, but there was more to come. the 2009-2010 season saw two separate divisions - the Sefton Super League and Sefton Plate - and a spin-off knock-out tournament. There were also forays beyond the realms of Sefton to other pubs to take on other teams, and the women who play darts at the club got a darts hiding they aren't likely to forget.
The darts nights will have sent thousands into the club's coffers, and many enjoyable nights are the result.
A weekly newsletter, The Arrow, goes out to subscribers, detailing many and varied amiable slurs against the character of Sefton members; another weekly pre-match report, Darts AM, goes out hosted by characters as diverse as Sir Roger Moore, Trevor Jesty and the Transporter bridge; a mainly-nonsensical betting ring has sprung up surrounding the leagues; photos go on Flickr and videos of entrance music and presentations go on Youtube; a hack from a national broadsheet writes up the final.
The culmination of this effort is the finals night, which saw not one but two specially-made videos: one a brilliantly-executed Rocky spoof, and the other a video version of Darts AM, with contributions from Roger Moore, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Brum and Kendo Nagasaki involving interviews, voiceovers, animation and audio and video editing. It's probably fairly baffling and unfunny if you're not in on the jokes, but to me it symbolises the effort that people are willing to put into something they care about.
The success of the darts night gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling. It shows what you can with a bit of effort, a bit of help, and a bit of support. It's an enjoyable way of keeping the wolf from the door from the club's point of view, and it allows a lot of men brought together by a mutual love of cricket to express their fondness for each other in the only way they know: through competition; through forensic discussion of obscure sport and sportsmen; and through viciously defaming and ridiculing one another.
As the club moves towards its 150th anniversary, the darts nights have shown how it is possible to engage and mobilise a membership at a time when it's hard to convince someone to leave the sofa, nevertheless trudge through the mud and wind and rain to get beaten 3-0 by the club's reigning champ.
The video below may mean little to you if you don't come down to the club on a regular basis, but to me it's proof that people are willing to freely give of their time and money to make something they believe in work.
And it's not often you can say that about a video featuring Sir Roger Moore making knob gags.
Darts AM 2010
Peter Kelly's Rocky spoof
Sefton Super League video playlist
Monday, 15 March 2010
2010 Sefton darts quarter finals
Every winter Sefton park Cricket Club stages a darts tournament, with players and members alike competing in the premier Sefton Super League and supporting Sefton Plate divisions.
Drinking, personal abuse of friends and team-mates, inane nicknames and - occasionally - some great darts are the result.
Walk-ons from the quarter finals feature below, with an appearance from Paul Stairhands Stairmand as MC for the night.
Drinking, personal abuse of friends and team-mates, inane nicknames and - occasionally - some great darts are the result.
Walk-ons from the quarter finals feature below, with an appearance from Paul Stairhands Stairmand as MC for the night.
Top Cat V The Mexican Prince
Scotty 2 Hotty V The Enigma
Dr Fun V The Jockie on the oche
Alum V Goz
Friday, 31 July 2009
Big in Japan?
I’ve done my research. Japan competed in Division 5 of the World Cricket League in the Channel Islands last summer, having qualified thanks to winning the East Asia Pacific Cricket Trophy in 2007. Their global debut in the ‘big time’ didn’t go too well, however, with the only fillip being a tie with the Bahamas between defeats to the cricketing powerhouses of Jersey, Botswana and Singapore. They were mercifully rained off against the eventual tournament winners, Afghanistan, who have risen meteorically since to gain official ODI status in April. This summer they held their own in Division 7 of the pyramid, finishing third out of six.
Unlike most lowly-ranked cricket nations, however, it appears that most of Japan’s squad are both homegrown and homebred, with the only reliance on the ex-pat community being a couple of English names and one of apparent sub-continental provenance.
The reason for this preamble isn’t just for showing off my knowledge of barely club-standard international cricket played in distant reaches of the globe (though St Helier is hardly that far), but for the slightly odd episode from cricket nets at the club on Friday night. A young man named Tatsuo from rural Japan walked over to join in. He is studying English in Liverpool over the summer during which time he had seen Pakistani children playing cricket in the park, seen a little on TV in the pub, and was intrigued enough to see what he could do. He’d never seen cricket growing up in Japan and had never played before. It struck me as something akin to me trying to join in a game of Kabaddi whilst touring the Punjab. A very brave thing to do which had the potential to go very wrong indeed.
After an hour or so, with a style very much of his own, he had developed a bowling technique approaching legality with more than a hint of off-break from the pitch. He’d also developed what could generously described as a healthy respect for the ball as well so we left his batting debut for another week but we had an entertaining conversation in the bar afterwards during which he calmly handled all the questions semi-ignorant Englishmen could muster on Japan - yes, of course we asked about the bullet trains. And whaling. He was such a pleasant chap we invited him down to watch the games at the club the following day to experience a game in the flesh for the first time.
I know I’m not the only person to have found it hard enough to explain either the rules of, or merely an enthusiasm for, cricket to English people who are surrounded by the game whether they notice it or not. This includes my manager just this week who has recently watched more cricket than ever before because the Ashes are on the TVs in front of him at the gym. And he still only just about gets the scoring system. What would Tatsuo make of it all?
He arrived in the last hour to see Sefton chasing Southport’s 231. It all seemed to be going fairly swimmingly; I thought he was beginning to understand how the game was ebbing and flowing as a partnership would build and then a wicket would fall in what was turning out to be quite a tense finish. Then, with about five overs left, the bombshell: he didn’t understand why the ‘pitcher’ kept changing ends when Southport were batting at one end and Sefton the other. In the end the chase closed on 230-8 so I then had to try to explain how the draw works.
Fortunately he hadn’t come the week before when the last over had contained a six and three wickets including a stumping off a wide and the most ludicrous and unnecessary run out off the last ball to throw the game away. Fortunately there wasn’t an lbw and bonus points are still some way beyond him.
Hopefully it won’t be the last we see of Tatsuo; he did seem enthusiastic and was keen to learn more. Even if it is just a passing fancy to see this absurd game the English play which can last five days and still be a draw, I hope when he leaves our shores to teach English back in his homeland that he leaves with something of an idea of how cricket works.
Unlike most lowly-ranked cricket nations, however, it appears that most of Japan’s squad are both homegrown and homebred, with the only reliance on the ex-pat community being a couple of English names and one of apparent sub-continental provenance.The reason for this preamble isn’t just for showing off my knowledge of barely club-standard international cricket played in distant reaches of the globe (though St Helier is hardly that far), but for the slightly odd episode from cricket nets at the club on Friday night. A young man named Tatsuo from rural Japan walked over to join in. He is studying English in Liverpool over the summer during which time he had seen Pakistani children playing cricket in the park, seen a little on TV in the pub, and was intrigued enough to see what he could do. He’d never seen cricket growing up in Japan and had never played before. It struck me as something akin to me trying to join in a game of Kabaddi whilst touring the Punjab. A very brave thing to do which had the potential to go very wrong indeed.
After an hour or so, with a style very much of his own, he had developed a bowling technique approaching legality with more than a hint of off-break from the pitch. He’d also developed what could generously described as a healthy respect for the ball as well so we left his batting debut for another week but we had an entertaining conversation in the bar afterwards during which he calmly handled all the questions semi-ignorant Englishmen could muster on Japan - yes, of course we asked about the bullet trains. And whaling. He was such a pleasant chap we invited him down to watch the games at the club the following day to experience a game in the flesh for the first time.
I know I’m not the only person to have found it hard enough to explain either the rules of, or merely an enthusiasm for, cricket to English people who are surrounded by the game whether they notice it or not. This includes my manager just this week who has recently watched more cricket than ever before because the Ashes are on the TVs in front of him at the gym. And he still only just about gets the scoring system. What would Tatsuo make of it all?
He arrived in the last hour to see Sefton chasing Southport’s 231. It all seemed to be going fairly swimmingly; I thought he was beginning to understand how the game was ebbing and flowing as a partnership would build and then a wicket would fall in what was turning out to be quite a tense finish. Then, with about five overs left, the bombshell: he didn’t understand why the ‘pitcher’ kept changing ends when Southport were batting at one end and Sefton the other. In the end the chase closed on 230-8 so I then had to try to explain how the draw works.
Fortunately he hadn’t come the week before when the last over had contained a six and three wickets including a stumping off a wide and the most ludicrous and unnecessary run out off the last ball to throw the game away. Fortunately there wasn’t an lbw and bonus points are still some way beyond him.
Hopefully it won’t be the last we see of Tatsuo; he did seem enthusiastic and was keen to learn more. Even if it is just a passing fancy to see this absurd game the English play which can last five days and still be a draw, I hope when he leaves our shores to teach English back in his homeland that he leaves with something of an idea of how cricket works.
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Cricket in the Park
NPower's Cricket in the Park roadshow came to Sefton Park in Liverpool this weekend, on a day during the second Lord's test that should have been a bit of a thriller, but instead became a bit of a runfest for the Aussies.
Needless to say, it was all good fun but the promised speed gun wasn't in evidence, and the Virtual Cricket game was something of an embarrassment.
If you imagine what a virtual reality cricket game in 1989 may have consisted of, you're probably on the money. A poor bloke appeared to spend the entire time we were there providing commentary on the virtual cricket, describing everyone who had a go repeatedly missing the ball over and over again.
Anyway, there was some coaching, which was surely much more valuable and Nick Knight sitting on a deck chair. I was loath to approach him, having described him as 'blandness personified' in his commentary stints in a previous post, but watched from afar as he rather charitably managed to give his wicket away to some little kids in an impromptu game.
The big screen itself gave us the opportunity to see Peter Siddle's beast-like face blown up to the size of a house and Shane Warne's annoying voice as loud as any nuclear explosion. What we did enjoy was a description of David Gower by Mike Atherton as 'jazzness personified' in a rare break in the dour boredom of Sky commentary.
We didn't manage to win an npower cricket set, a CD of Jerusalem was as good as it got, but since we had lots of beer we weren't too bothered.
All in all, a good idea, but the promotion of Cricket in the park was hopeless - why no publicity materials sent to nearby Sefton park Cricket Club, of all places?
Needless to say, it was all good fun but the promised speed gun wasn't in evidence, and the Virtual Cricket game was something of an embarrassment.
If you imagine what a virtual reality cricket game in 1989 may have consisted of, you're probably on the money. A poor bloke appeared to spend the entire time we were there providing commentary on the virtual cricket, describing everyone who had a go repeatedly missing the ball over and over again.
Anyway, there was some coaching, which was surely much more valuable and Nick Knight sitting on a deck chair. I was loath to approach him, having described him as 'blandness personified' in his commentary stints in a previous post, but watched from afar as he rather charitably managed to give his wicket away to some little kids in an impromptu game.
The big screen itself gave us the opportunity to see Peter Siddle's beast-like face blown up to the size of a house and Shane Warne's annoying voice as loud as any nuclear explosion. What we did enjoy was a description of David Gower by Mike Atherton as 'jazzness personified' in a rare break in the dour boredom of Sky commentary.
We didn't manage to win an npower cricket set, a CD of Jerusalem was as good as it got, but since we had lots of beer we weren't too bothered.
All in all, a good idea, but the promotion of Cricket in the park was hopeless - why no publicity materials sent to nearby Sefton park Cricket Club, of all places?
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
PJ Horton lbw b Whelan 5
The above would almost certainly be breezed past by many cricket fans and many more may not even recognise it as a line from a County Championship scorecard from last month but to some in a small corner of south Liverpool it stood out as sure as an ill-informed reactionary headline screams hysterically off the front page of the Daily Express.
For this slice of a rather one-sided victory for Lancashire over Worcestershire is one former Sefton player dismissing another; in fact the only thing missing was Paul being caught by Worcestershire’s other ex-Seftonite, Ashley Noffke, who played for the club as an overseas player a few years back but was absent from their starting XI in this game.
It’s one of those odd things with cricket that most of the populace don’t realise the quality of players who are paid for plying their trade on the league grounds around the corner from their house, mixed in with the better local amateur players. In some ways it’s a little like Gareth Bale signing for Prescot Cables.
There are various arguments as to whether these overseas professionals are good for the game; are they raising the standards of the league or do they push clubs to the brink of bankruptcy, leave first teams overly-reliant on one man and take the place of a playing member? It does, however, help to show that despite playing in the lower echelons of the club most of the scribes on here aren’t completely hopeless on the field.
For this slice of a rather one-sided victory for Lancashire over Worcestershire is one former Sefton player dismissing another; in fact the only thing missing was Paul being caught by Worcestershire’s other ex-Seftonite, Ashley Noffke, who played for the club as an overseas player a few years back but was absent from their starting XI in this game.
It’s one of those odd things with cricket that most of the populace don’t realise the quality of players who are paid for plying their trade on the league grounds around the corner from their house, mixed in with the better local amateur players. In some ways it’s a little like Gareth Bale signing for Prescot Cables.
There are various arguments as to whether these overseas professionals are good for the game; are they raising the standards of the league or do they push clubs to the brink of bankruptcy, leave first teams overly-reliant on one man and take the place of a playing member? It does, however, help to show that despite playing in the lower echelons of the club most of the scribes on here aren’t completely hopeless on the field.
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
Every team has one
So everyone’s understandably cock-a-hoop as we’re five-ninths of the way through a heady spell in which Caldy are collapsing from 28-0 to 38-9 thanks to some typically opening day batting and surprisingly safe hands in the field.
Well, at least ten of us are.
One of our number still isn’t happy; his attention drawn to the architecture of a house overlooking the ground. “Bloody modernism… a thing should look like the thing it looks like…rubbish…”
Well, at least ten of us are.
One of our number still isn’t happy; his attention drawn to the architecture of a house overlooking the ground. “Bloody modernism… a thing should look like the thing it looks like…rubbish…”
Monday, 20 April 2009
Pre-season build-up...
Well, here we are again.
Ian Bell’s already scored more runs than the entire Worcestershire side and almost as many as I made last season in his hopefully fruitless quest for a Test recall, it’s 2 days until the start of the LDCC season and despite a few worries along the way, I’ve made it into the 4th’s XI for the trip to Caldy on Saturday, a year and a day since turning out in the 5th’s inaugural game at the same ground on one of the coldest days on which a cricket field has been graced; a day when I discovered I could bowl inswing in three jumpers, though only with the assistance of a gale blowing across their exposed lower ground. One of those days you’re glad you’re crap at slip.
A week ago the long-range forecast read an ominously familiar 6 degrees Celsius, feels like 2 degrees, thanks to a brisk northerly but it looks like we could have one of the more meteorologically pleasant opening days for some time – last year both Sefton’s grounds were underwater (though the umpires still refused to call off the 1sts’ game until 4pm) – as even Caldy, precariously close to the Dee estuary, looks like it should make double figures with the promise of plenty of sunshine.
After 3 months of scraping ice off windscreens and traipsing through drizzle to net indoors on the bounciest tracks this side of Perth, turning to the traditional damp April greentops should cause enough challenges for those of us who’ve bothered getting a bit of practice in.
Fortunately for the 4ths, most of the top 6 are the other side of 50 (this week’s average age is around 38) and would be as likely seen in the Ukrainian gymnastics team as working on their game so they’ll still be ready to prop onto the front foot and jog the long singles, whilst the interspersed under 35s who’ve still not given up hope of that County cap, or at least another go in the 3rds, have been working on their back foot shots very nicely since the second Wednesday in January. Which will be pretty much useless until at least June.
But expectations are still high for a glorious return to the top flight; the skipper’s kept faith with the same experience which couldn’t avoid the drop last term and we’re ready(ish) to prove we still have some worth.
Ian Bell’s already scored more runs than the entire Worcestershire side and almost as many as I made last season in his hopefully fruitless quest for a Test recall, it’s 2 days until the start of the LDCC season and despite a few worries along the way, I’ve made it into the 4th’s XI for the trip to Caldy on Saturday, a year and a day since turning out in the 5th’s inaugural game at the same ground on one of the coldest days on which a cricket field has been graced; a day when I discovered I could bowl inswing in three jumpers, though only with the assistance of a gale blowing across their exposed lower ground. One of those days you’re glad you’re crap at slip.
A week ago the long-range forecast read an ominously familiar 6 degrees Celsius, feels like 2 degrees, thanks to a brisk northerly but it looks like we could have one of the more meteorologically pleasant opening days for some time – last year both Sefton’s grounds were underwater (though the umpires still refused to call off the 1sts’ game until 4pm) – as even Caldy, precariously close to the Dee estuary, looks like it should make double figures with the promise of plenty of sunshine.
After 3 months of scraping ice off windscreens and traipsing through drizzle to net indoors on the bounciest tracks this side of Perth, turning to the traditional damp April greentops should cause enough challenges for those of us who’ve bothered getting a bit of practice in.
Fortunately for the 4ths, most of the top 6 are the other side of 50 (this week’s average age is around 38) and would be as likely seen in the Ukrainian gymnastics team as working on their game so they’ll still be ready to prop onto the front foot and jog the long singles, whilst the interspersed under 35s who’ve still not given up hope of that County cap, or at least another go in the 3rds, have been working on their back foot shots very nicely since the second Wednesday in January. Which will be pretty much useless until at least June.
But expectations are still high for a glorious return to the top flight; the skipper’s kept faith with the same experience which couldn’t avoid the drop last term and we’re ready(ish) to prove we still have some worth.
Sunday, 19 April 2009
and so it begins.....
The first text came through at five to nine on Wednesday: “Game on Sunday at hightown 4 Hazo”. In the next hour I received 8 more asking me to play on both Saturday and Sunday. I should be flattered – I was barely playing two years ago.
This is it – what we’ve been looking forward to for the last six months and I can’t wait. The last text I received from the 4th team captain probably best summed up best what it’s all about – “Do you have Adam’s number? The one who doesn't like ham?” Let battle commence.
The onset of the season brings to an end the endless phoney war of winter nets. So what did you learn?
1) That you are really unfit
This might suprise you but none of us are getting any younger or fitter. Yes, many of us have played darts all winter but how many have us have gone running? How many have joined a gym? How many of us gave up smoking properly?
Needless to say the answer’s not many. I’m 31 and these days getting fit means waiting for injuries to heal and drinking lager instead of bitter. Remember the quicker you move the quicker you’ll hurt yourself.
2) That you are still making the same mistakes
How many times did you get out last season playng the same awful shot? The across the line pull? The wafting cut? The ridiculous reverse sweep?
These shots are part of our make up and we need to all accept them as part of us. We wouldn’t be the same without them. No matter how many times you’ve resisted playing these shots in the nets you know that given the earliest opportunity that’s how you’re going to get out this weekend. Accept it and let’s move on.
3) Nets are useless and lie to you
What a joy it is playing on these fast, true indoor wickets. How many times did that nice half volley get cracked through the covers? How many times did those attempted bouncers sit up nicely waiting to be pulled to that imaginary boundary? How many times did you complete your marathon 8 minute innings with a feeling of smug satisfaction and a thought of “yes I really can bat”?
Fast forward to a freezing cold April afternoon at Caldy and you’re playing on pitch that is a cross between runny poo and Formby Beach. The 50 year old slow lobber runs in, the ball pitches on a length, you play your extravagant off drive approximately 8 years too early and you turn around to see the ball roll against your middle stump. Nets lie – don’t ever forget.
I’ll leave you with a quote from recently retired former England batsman Ed Smith. Like me he’s an English graduate. Unlike me he went to Cambridge and once scored three hundreds in a week.
“Don’t think it will be easy tomorrow, imagine it will be difficult; then at least you will practise getting into the right mental state.”
This is it – what we’ve been looking forward to for the last six months and I can’t wait. The last text I received from the 4th team captain probably best summed up best what it’s all about – “Do you have Adam’s number? The one who doesn't like ham?” Let battle commence.
Notes from Winter
The onset of the season brings to an end the endless phoney war of winter nets. So what did you learn?
1) That you are really unfit
This might suprise you but none of us are getting any younger or fitter. Yes, many of us have played darts all winter but how many have us have gone running? How many have joined a gym? How many of us gave up smoking properly?
Needless to say the answer’s not many. I’m 31 and these days getting fit means waiting for injuries to heal and drinking lager instead of bitter. Remember the quicker you move the quicker you’ll hurt yourself.
2) That you are still making the same mistakes
How many times did you get out last season playng the same awful shot? The across the line pull? The wafting cut? The ridiculous reverse sweep?
These shots are part of our make up and we need to all accept them as part of us. We wouldn’t be the same without them. No matter how many times you’ve resisted playing these shots in the nets you know that given the earliest opportunity that’s how you’re going to get out this weekend. Accept it and let’s move on.
3) Nets are useless and lie to you
What a joy it is playing on these fast, true indoor wickets. How many times did that nice half volley get cracked through the covers? How many times did those attempted bouncers sit up nicely waiting to be pulled to that imaginary boundary? How many times did you complete your marathon 8 minute innings with a feeling of smug satisfaction and a thought of “yes I really can bat”?
Fast forward to a freezing cold April afternoon at Caldy and you’re playing on pitch that is a cross between runny poo and Formby Beach. The 50 year old slow lobber runs in, the ball pitches on a length, you play your extravagant off drive approximately 8 years too early and you turn around to see the ball roll against your middle stump. Nets lie – don’t ever forget.
I’ll leave you with a quote from recently retired former England batsman Ed Smith. Like me he’s an English graduate. Unlike me he went to Cambridge and once scored three hundreds in a week.
“Don’t think it will be easy tomorrow, imagine it will be difficult; then at least you will practise getting into the right mental state.”
The inevitable nasty game
So, the cricket season is finally upon us with much creaking of joints and burning of uncovered heads.
Even in the leagues of third-team cricket, sooner or later the unpleasant game rears its ugly head. For some reason the nastiness that is often apparent in lower-league cricket seems much worse that at higher levels, and people who are in all likelihood pleasant enough off the pitch can turn into, for want of a better word, complete bell-ends on it.
Unpleasantness can stem from several sources: a long-standing club rivalry; accusations or suspicions of cheating (potentially widespread as teams umpire over their own batsmen); deliberate go-slow tactics or blocking, tantamount to negative or tactical play (especially evident when clubs field two teams in the same division); excessive or intimidating appealing and sledging; or simply sheer spite and meanness of spirit.
Some teams revel in their unchallenged ability to marry all of the above elements and wear it as a badge of pride. Fisticuffs have been known to result during and following games.
It may surprise those who have never been on a cricket pitch that the worst antagonists are rarely chippy and mouthy youngsters, but fat middle-aged men.
These types seem to derive enormous satisfaction from such verbal confrontations, in what can only be some kind of cricketing equivalent of small-man syndrome.
In Test Cricket – where careers, fortunes and the highest glories in the game are at stake – mental disintegration is an accepted part of the sport, and however unpleasant it's understandable.
On a small, bumpy pitch in the lower leagues the only explanation can be that the exponents of sledging simply enjoy being unpleasant to their opposite numbers, who often include children as young as 14.
It's a tiresome development in lower-league cricket that's designed to sap the will, concentration and mental strength from opponents and it overshadows the cricket being played.
All too often the post-match talk is not of a stunning catch, classical innings or fiery bowling spell, but of the cheating umpire, negative tactics and loud-mouthed twat on the opposing team.
Sadly it's hard to see a change in the way cricket is played in the 21st century, perhaps it was ever thus, but as a feature of the game it sucks so much enjoyment out of simply playing cricket.
And that is its only function and purpose, to crush weaker teams and humble powerful rivals, deployed by those for whom winning is the only thing that matters.
Even in the leagues of third-team cricket, sooner or later the unpleasant game rears its ugly head. For some reason the nastiness that is often apparent in lower-league cricket seems much worse that at higher levels, and people who are in all likelihood pleasant enough off the pitch can turn into, for want of a better word, complete bell-ends on it.
Unpleasantness can stem from several sources: a long-standing club rivalry; accusations or suspicions of cheating (potentially widespread as teams umpire over their own batsmen); deliberate go-slow tactics or blocking, tantamount to negative or tactical play (especially evident when clubs field two teams in the same division); excessive or intimidating appealing and sledging; or simply sheer spite and meanness of spirit.
Some teams revel in their unchallenged ability to marry all of the above elements and wear it as a badge of pride. Fisticuffs have been known to result during and following games.
It may surprise those who have never been on a cricket pitch that the worst antagonists are rarely chippy and mouthy youngsters, but fat middle-aged men.
These types seem to derive enormous satisfaction from such verbal confrontations, in what can only be some kind of cricketing equivalent of small-man syndrome.
In Test Cricket – where careers, fortunes and the highest glories in the game are at stake – mental disintegration is an accepted part of the sport, and however unpleasant it's understandable.
On a small, bumpy pitch in the lower leagues the only explanation can be that the exponents of sledging simply enjoy being unpleasant to their opposite numbers, who often include children as young as 14.
It's a tiresome development in lower-league cricket that's designed to sap the will, concentration and mental strength from opponents and it overshadows the cricket being played.
All too often the post-match talk is not of a stunning catch, classical innings or fiery bowling spell, but of the cheating umpire, negative tactics and loud-mouthed twat on the opposing team.
Sadly it's hard to see a change in the way cricket is played in the 21st century, perhaps it was ever thus, but as a feature of the game it sucks so much enjoyment out of simply playing cricket.
And that is its only function and purpose, to crush weaker teams and humble powerful rivals, deployed by those for whom winning is the only thing that matters.
Sunday, 29 March 2009
Sefton Super League - The Final (with videos)
A tale of two whitewashes, with the fancied Boyner and the unfancied Iwan LP Williams on the receiving ends of 5-0 and 8- thrashings from Belly Boyo Bellis and Stu Killer Ken Lomas.
Write-ups are to follow, so for now here are the vids.
Write-ups are to follow, so for now here are the vids.
Boyner versus Belly - Plate Final
Iwan versus Stu - The Final
The presentation...
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Sefton Super League: The Final - with Stu Lomas
Ladies and Gentlemen!
6 months and a day since the inaugural season of the !Sefton Super League! was kicked off with a crushing win for Chris Wylie, the end is now well and truly in sight with just two games remaining. But what a pair of matches!
First up, from 7.45 comes the final of The Sefton Plate between two players who faded in the second half of the regular season but seem to have rediscovered their darting mojos right on cue.
Chris “Boyo” Bellis has already blown away the second and third favourites for the crown, Robin Surtees and John Garnett respectively, and faces up to former housemate and the plate’s number one seed Mark “Der Kaiser” Boyns who is still smarting from his 3-1 reverse in the regular season and will be looking for revenge.
But this is a completely different kettle of fish. This is a final: the lights, the crowd, the trophy, the glory. Who will come out on top over 9 legs? Even the bookmaker thinks it too close to call (almost).
• Form: Boyns WWDLDL, Bellis WWDLLL
• Boynsbet odds: Boyns 4/6, Bellis Evs
Hot on the heels of one titanic struggle comes another, with the final for the Biggest Prize in Sport™ from 9.00pm. 20 darters set out on the long road for glory; after 421 legs these were trimmed to 8 for quarter-finals. Now only 2 remain.
“Top Cat” Iwan Williams only qualified for the last 8 in the penultimate game of the regular season but, always the man for the big occasion, has raised his game and already knocked out club captain Robbie Houghton, ranked third, and pre-season favourite Robin Lindo, who finished the season second, in a gripping semi-final. Can he go one step further and cause an upset which would dwarf all others.
He meets Stuart “Killer” Lomas whose near-perfect copybook’s only blot was an opening game draw and has reached the final with wins over Robin Brown and Simon Gozzard.
With Official Bookmaker Boynsbet pricing a Lomas victory at 1/6, dare anyone bet against him? There is one man who is certain to be; Iwan Williams has taken to the big stage like a nice guy turned nasty and will be gunning for the favourite over 15 legs.
Form:• Lomas: WWWWWW, Williams WWWLWD
Boynsbet odds:• Lomas 1/6, Williams 10/1
Attendance is naturally compulsory, and surely only a fool would miss this feast of oche action. Make sure you’re down early to sample the pre-match atmosphere and to ensure you have at least a chance of getting the best seats.
Venue: Sefton Park CC, Croxteth Drive L17 1AP. Doors 7.00pm. Toe-the-oche 7.45pm.
www.seftonparkcc.co.uk
www.seftonparkcc.blogspot.com
www.boynsbet.com
6 months and a day since the inaugural season of the !Sefton Super League! was kicked off with a crushing win for Chris Wylie, the end is now well and truly in sight with just two games remaining. But what a pair of matches!
First up, from 7.45 comes the final of The Sefton Plate between two players who faded in the second half of the regular season but seem to have rediscovered their darting mojos right on cue.
Chris “Boyo” Bellis has already blown away the second and third favourites for the crown, Robin Surtees and John Garnett respectively, and faces up to former housemate and the plate’s number one seed Mark “Der Kaiser” Boyns who is still smarting from his 3-1 reverse in the regular season and will be looking for revenge.
But this is a completely different kettle of fish. This is a final: the lights, the crowd, the trophy, the glory. Who will come out on top over 9 legs? Even the bookmaker thinks it too close to call (almost).
• Form: Boyns WWDLDL, Bellis WWDLLL
• Boynsbet odds: Boyns 4/6, Bellis Evs
Hot on the heels of one titanic struggle comes another, with the final for the Biggest Prize in Sport™ from 9.00pm. 20 darters set out on the long road for glory; after 421 legs these were trimmed to 8 for quarter-finals. Now only 2 remain.
“Top Cat” Iwan Williams only qualified for the last 8 in the penultimate game of the regular season but, always the man for the big occasion, has raised his game and already knocked out club captain Robbie Houghton, ranked third, and pre-season favourite Robin Lindo, who finished the season second, in a gripping semi-final. Can he go one step further and cause an upset which would dwarf all others.
He meets Stuart “Killer” Lomas whose near-perfect copybook’s only blot was an opening game draw and has reached the final with wins over Robin Brown and Simon Gozzard.
With Official Bookmaker Boynsbet pricing a Lomas victory at 1/6, dare anyone bet against him? There is one man who is certain to be; Iwan Williams has taken to the big stage like a nice guy turned nasty and will be gunning for the favourite over 15 legs.
Form:• Lomas: WWWWWW, Williams WWWLWD
Boynsbet odds:• Lomas 1/6, Williams 10/1
Attendance is naturally compulsory, and surely only a fool would miss this feast of oche action. Make sure you’re down early to sample the pre-match atmosphere and to ensure you have at least a chance of getting the best seats.
Venue: Sefton Park CC, Croxteth Drive L17 1AP. Doors 7.00pm. Toe-the-oche 7.45pm.
www.seftonparkcc.co.uk
www.seftonparkcc.blogspot.com
www.boynsbet.com
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
Seton Super League darts night - 2
The second of the quarter-final evenings was a marathon five-match night, with two quarter-finals and a semi.
Despite the nasty weather there was a good turn out, and a clear five hours of drinking.
Northy, after nearly having a mishap with the camera by almost filming three minutes of his face, thanks to having the camera the wrong way round, then missed off Rob's entrance where the club skipper was compared to Mahmood Ahmedinadjad and Brains from Thunderbirds.
Goz versus Stu
An epic between Achilles and Paris. Two heroes battling it out to the last. Luckily Stu didn't drag Goz's dead body to the gates of Troy. He shook his hand instead.
Allum versus Lindo
Lindo was clinical. Allum had no asnwer. Lindo licked him.
Bowman versus Stairhands
A cocksure Bowman got the shock of his life when steplimbs gave him a beating.
Boynsy versus Northy long leg
Sadly not a cricket placement but Boyner and Northy's marathon 100+ dart leg.
Despite the nasty weather there was a good turn out, and a clear five hours of drinking.
Iwan versus Rob
Iwan was underdog, but pulled off a big upset with some superb darts.Northy, after nearly having a mishap with the camera by almost filming three minutes of his face, thanks to having the camera the wrong way round, then missed off Rob's entrance where the club skipper was compared to Mahmood Ahmedinadjad and Brains from Thunderbirds.
Northy versus Boyner
A pretty poor match, enlivened by the tension of a 100+ dart leg.Goz versus Stu
An epic between Achilles and Paris. Two heroes battling it out to the last. Luckily Stu didn't drag Goz's dead body to the gates of Troy. He shook his hand instead.
Allum versus Lindo
Lindo was clinical. Allum had no asnwer. Lindo licked him.
Bowman versus Stairhands
A cocksure Bowman got the shock of his life when steplimbs gave him a beating.
Boynsy versus Northy long leg
Sadly not a cricket placement but Boyner and Northy's marathon 100+ dart leg.Sunday, 1 March 2009
Darts night entrances
The entrances from the first Sefton Super League quarter-final night.
Sadly Stu's disco ball blew a fuse on the night, but Bowser's energetic emceeing and some inspired entrance music choices made up for the lack of visuals.
Highlights were Wylo's Mr Boombastic, Goz's Bastard and RB's Blakes 7 theme tune.
There was sadness for JD and his followers, though, as his latin Pete Kelly-voiced rap didn't survive the transition from computer to club's PA.
A distraught JD never looked like winning after the initial disappointment.
Brownie versus Stu
Robin 'Geordie Express' Brown versus Stu 'Killer Ken' Lomas in the first Sefton Super League quarter final.
Sadly Stu's disco ball blew a fuse on the night, but Bowser's energetic emceeing and some inspired entrance music choices made up for the lack of visuals.
Highlights were Wylo's Mr Boombastic, Goz's Bastard and RB's Blakes 7 theme tune.
There was sadness for JD and his followers, though, as his latin Pete Kelly-voiced rap didn't survive the transition from computer to club's PA.
A distraught JD never looked like winning after the initial disappointment.
JD versus Goz
The Mexican Prince versus The Bastard in Sefton Super League darts quarter final at Sefton Park Cricket Club.Brownie versus Stu
Robin 'Geordie Express' Brown versus Stu 'Killer Ken' Lomas in the first Sefton Super League quarter final.Belly versus Alf
Chris 'The Boyo' Bellis and John Alf Garnett contest the Sefton Super League plateWylo versus Surtees
Chris 'Wylo' Wylie and Robin The 'Pontefract Firebird' Surtees contest the second battle of the plate in Sefton Super League darts.
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