In awkward and challenging times for the country overall, cricket can be seen as just a small part, but for us, and many who share our love of the sport it’s been very important.

From a shaky start with the PMs announcement late on a Friday afternoon half-way through the season, we have managed to arrange; a series of friendlies, to be part of two competitive leagues arranged by the Fullers League; had a full Sunday fixture list; and with a big thanks to Craig a sequence of evening 20/20 games. So generally, we’ve been able to navigate our shortened season very successfully and it’s been great to see just how much cricket has actually been played.

We haven’t been able to arrange any social activities because of the restrictions, but there’s been also a host of things going on behind the scenes - particularly with the new clubhouse.

All matches have been affected by the Covid regulations which were created to allow the safe playing of the game. We’ve all had to get used to turning up changed, bringing tea and no bar afterwards. But the camaraderie, the cricket teas and a beer afterwards are all things that are part and parcel of the game…and we’ve missed them!

Thanks to everybody, especially the skippers, for following the rules as needed. We collectively hope the pandemic will be under control next season and we look forward to playing normal games ….in a near normal environment!

Let’s firstly cover our various sides….

Saturday 1st XI

The shortened season meant the Fullers League joined with the Surrey Championship and created a Challenge Cup format for the last month of the season.

We had a successful series of games, finishing second to Sheen Park in our group, with two matches abandoned because of rain. Of the remaining games, we won two and lost one with a break without any matches for three weeks in the middle.

Our home-grown talent of Lawrence and Harry were outstanding with bat, ball and gloves and both have matured immensely this summer. Thanks also to both Dads, Martin and Gary, for scoring and general backup!

It was great to welcome two new players into the side with Otto and Rhys and I hope they’ll both be back next season!

Our Sri Lankan friends also performed well with Sanjeeva, Hadgi and Kevin contributing with all round performances.

On the batting front there were no centuries to report, but both Sanjeeva and the skipper got into the 80’s...and Ash settled really well into the role of opening bowler…and taking wickets!

Let’s hope for a more settled season next year! Thanks all! Tom

Saturday 2nd XI

We had 7 games scheduled in the Challenge Cup of which we played 4 with 3 abandoned. We lost all 4 games (with the Captain losing all 4 tosses!), but the mitigating circumstances were that they were all against teams in higher leagues to ourselves.

As previous seasons, we have had problems with availability and without the assistance of Sandon and Uncle we would have struggled. Thank you to them! When we had youngsters available it made such a difference, especially in the field, but these were too few and far between.

Thanks again to the ageing stalwarts and to Tom who assisted in trying to balance out the sides when we were short. Harry came in twice to great effect hitting a 50 and an excellent 97 not out against Sheen Park in an exciting run chase where we ended up only 2 runs short with a 90-run 10th wicket partnership.

Let’s look forward to next year, but the selection issues will remain with all its challenges. Thanks again to everyone this year and I hope to catch up over the winter. Steve

Sunday XI

Another season, albeit shortened, has come to a close. Given the ominous signs of the looming COVID pandemic in Spring, we were all grateful to finally kick start the season on the 19th July v Cypos, with a stunning victory!

The Sunday XI went through the season with positive results, winning five of eight matches, losing two, and drawing one. Many were evenly contested, often decided in the last over. Of the two losses, one was decided in the last over and the other by a marginal 20 runs.

A big thank you to all who played this season and contributed with the bat, ball, fielding, scoring & umpiring. Stay safe and see you in 2021. AVK

The Grace Dear game

Despite the cancellation of Cricket Week, we were able to play our favourite charity game against the Grace Dear Trust.

We played a T20 test match format with each team having 2 innings and the aggregate score determining the winner. Claygate batted first and posted 175 and the GDT matched that - also with a total of 175. All square after the 1st innings and Claygate then posted a score of 163 in the 2nd innings. The GDT lost a few early wickets but consolidated well in the middle order. The game went down to the last over with Ben Lane securing victory for the GDT off the second to last ball of the innings with a lofted-on drive over mid-on. It was a great way to finish a match that was played in a great spirit and for a fantastic cause. It was great to see so many familiar faces both on and off the field.

With a BBQ at The Griffin afterwards, the Trust were able to raise around £2K for the charity. A fantastic effort and thanks to everyone who supported! Craig

Juniors

We squeezed in a couple of winter training sessions before lockdown and league matches were cancelled soon after. However, the club was very pleased to be able to hold covidsafe training sessions on the Rec for most of our junior age groups from mid-June. CCC were able to loan kit to all those that needed this so that the sharing of equipment was kept to an absolute minimum. These sessions ran so smoothly that in July & August we extended them to younger age groups which proved very popular. All in all, over 100 5-17year olds enjoyed professional cricket coaching this season despite very difficult circumstances.

The Club’s thanks go not only to professional coaches Chris, Chris & Nick but also to the Team Managers and to Kieran, Matt, Damian & Russ without whom this would not have been possible. We look forward to the 2021 season where we all hope to enjoy a Covid-19 free cricket season in our new clubhouse. Anyone wishing more details or to join the Junior section please email russ.pam@btopenworld.com Pam

The portacabins

We were able to help the building contractors and the CRGT by giving them use of the units over the summer. The CRGT gave us the green light to proceed with the sale of our portacabins at the end of July. We’re pleased to confirm that we have sold the cabins to the company that originally supplied them to us, even if it was a slightly lower price than we initially envisaged. There were a number of advantages - no transport cost, no doubleshuffle, no need to organise another extension to the lapsed Planning Permission, no hire of a metal road to protect the ground, no ground reinstatement costs etc etc. It also helped the CRGT massively in terms of the final stages of completing the new building and the schedule for reinstatement of the land. They should be removed in the next week or so.

The Clubhouse

The new building is now looking very good and completion is expected in the next few weeks with a final date tbc. There will need to be a period of testing/commissioning for all the various facilities - such as for Pistachios the cafe operator, and a fit out with the relevant general, cricket and football memorabilia. The CRGT are hoping it will be opened at the end of October.

The new facility will be a tribute to all those who have given such a lot over the last few years. It’s been a mammoth effort - building on the efforts and energy we expended on Clubhouse 1 opened back in 2012! There will be many things in the building to make it feel like home and that will be ‘refined’ over the winter. The bricks that so many CCC members sponsored have also all been re-done are now back in pride of place!

We are really looking forward to playing and hosting games (and spectators!) next season.

Recruitment

We were delighted to welcome several new players this season. Otto and Rhys and their group of friends became connected to the club through using the outdoor nets during the summer. It’s through this route - people using the nets - that another new group of players has contacted us and expressed a strong interest in playing next year.

The new clubhouse will no doubt attract new players when they see the quality of our new facilities. However, we always need new players and half a dozen new names would make a BIG difference to the way we manage all our sides. We were at the first stage of launching a recruitment campaign when the pandemic struck, so we will be considering something similar this winter focussed on our new clubhouse. Any friends interested? Bring them down!

End of season dinner and club awards

With the current Covid situation, it won’t be possible to arrange any end of season event. The committee will be discussing any awards for this season, given that it’s been so short.

Our financials

Overall, the club is in good condition financially and will be helped with the portacabin sale. With the shorted season we decided not to charge match fees or subscriptions and we hope that decision helped everyone.

Helping your club

Your committee has been very stretched over the last few months managing the Covid situation, contributing to the ideas and plans for Clubhouse 2 ... and disposing of the portacabins. Its been a very busy time. If you can help in whatever way, please let us know as we need to increase the numbers on the the committee to help us take advantage of the facilities that the new clubhouse brings. However, there are many things that the club will need to look at in terms of a return to a full season in 2021. The committee will be discussing ideas in the early Autumn, but if you have any thoughts please let us know!

And thanks

Of which there are many:

Our friends from Sri Lankan Cavaliers, Sanjeeva, Hadgi and Kevin as well as Uncle and Sandon. We have formed a very close relationship with them over the last 10 years…and we hope we can continue that in the future.
The CRGT for their efforts and energy committed to the new clubhouse, including Mike (our representative on the CRGT) and Damo who also acts as coordinator with Burleys on ground maintenance. The wickets were still variable in bounce and we plan to address this during the autumn.
Our local neighbours who have to cope with our parking needs, which will become even more demanding with the increased requirement for the new building.
The organisations that have helped us navigate our way through the Covid situation… with support and advice from Surrey CCC, the Surrey Cricket Trust and the Fullers League.