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Our new Club Manager - Nicky Ison

Our new Club Manager - Nicky Ison

Claygate CC Communications6 Jan - 12:00

An interview with Nicky about his plans and love for the game

Nicky has made an immediate impact and has brought huge passion & energy to the role.
- Craig Schultz

The club comms team managed to catch up with new club manager, Nicky Ison, to discuss his plans for the club in 2025 and to get some insight into what he loves about the game.

Off to a flying start
Nicky joined the club after moving to Claygate and almost immediately joined the 2024 committee. He has done a great job of increasing the club’s social media presence and reach especially to a younger audience.

Since taking over as Club Manager, he has been working hard behind the scenes to prepare the club for the new season and to improve the quality and level of coaching provided at indoor and outdoor nets.

A bit of background
Nicky played at Upminster CC from junior level onwards and undertook various roles both on and off the field. Nicky is also an ECB qualified Level 2 coach. He made a huge impact to the Saturday 1st XI men’s side in his first season and won the club bowling cup with 18 league wickets in 68 overs, best figures of 5 for 30 and also took a hat-trick.

It’s fantastic for the club to have Nicky handling the day-to-day club operations and to bring both his passion and experience to the club.

An interview with Nicky...
Please tell us a bit about yourself...
I played at Upminster for 17 years. My wife and I moved to Claygate in 2023 and our daughter came along later that year. I knew I wanted to spend my weekends closer to home, so I decided to join Claygate for the 2024 season. I’ve always been involved in the organisational aspects of a club, so I was keen to help off the pitch too. I really enjoyed my first summer at Claygate and more than happy to try and bring more of my experience to the club.

What are the main things that you want to focus on as club manager in 2025?
I’ve started to focus on the upcoming winter training. I want to raise the standards of the coaching for all teams and with the club investing in another coach for the sessions, I hope we will see some progress and results in the summer.

Other items in my in-tray are for us to increase our sponsorship money and to grow girls/womens cricket at the club. I would like to bring in player sponsorship and more club sponsors and full details will be available soon. Girls cricket is growing quickly and I would like the club to expand our sides and offerings in this area. The women's players will be joining indoor winter nets for the first time in the 2025 season as part of that process.

I also think live-streaming matches is a great way for a club to raise its profile. I introduced it at my previous club, and it is something I am looking at for Claygate.

How did you get involved in cricket and when did you start playing?
I started playing when I was 10, when my dad took me down the famous Ilford Cricket School. Joe Hussain (Nassers’ father) was my first coach, and he was brilliant. We were at the school every hour of the weekend with training and indoor tournaments. A great way to learn all about cricket!

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about playing cricket?
It’s one of the hardest sports you can play, and you will mostly fail more than you succeed so remember to stay positive. But it is the best sport for socialising, and the good days make it worth it.

What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?
I’ve always just loved bowling, and spending a hot day with your mates in the field is always such a great laugh, even if the ageing body struggles a bit in the field these days.

Who is your favourite cricketer and why?
Brian Charles Lara – the best. Was lucky enough to be in Antiqua when he made 400* against England, the greatest batsman, better than Sachin Tendulkar.

Do you have a favourite cricketing moment?
I’ve been promoted/won the league with Upminster four times and each of those seasons was very special.

What is your cricketing dream?
By the end of my playing career, I would like 1,000 Play Cricket wickets and 10,000 runs – then I’ll think about becoming the old man drinking on the sidelines.

Wishing you all the best in the role Nicky!

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