Castle Hill Leicester Road Uppingham Rutland LE15 9SP www.utcc.co.uk Twitter: @UTCC_ Date: 13 th February 2012 Contact: Neil Wedge 07715 295040 or Charlie Scott 07947 038500 or Adi Salt 07900 065382 Subject: Pre Season Update Embargoed until: 09:00am 13 th February 2012 The Journey Uppingham Town Cricket Club has had a very productive and busy last 4 years. Having managed the ground relocation from Newtown Road to Castle Hill, this progressive market town and community based club is setting out more goals for the coming season and years ahead. In their sights is a brand new 4 lane artificial net facility, the desire to establish two league teams in The Everards Leicestershire League soon and furthering the great progress made on bringing both boys and girls through into senior cricket. 2011 was the first full season at Castle Hill and as well as achieving so much off the cricket pitch the club retained division 1 status with the 1 st XI, the 2 nd XI finished strongly and the 3 rd XI gained promotion. The Saturday league side new to the Northants Cricket League won all matches and gained promotion. The Burrough League team secured promotion with some excellent mid-week performances. Friendly cricket on both Saturdays and Sundays remained very strong and again proved to be the springboard for many youngsters to play the longer format game. The junior teams recorded possibly the strongest results in the club history with many winning cup and league titles. A number of players were selected at district and county level. The new ground won plaudits from all that visited with both squares playing very well and the Clubhouse having a great atmosphere especially when there were two home games or on Thursday nights when the juniors practise. The club was re-accredited too for Clubmark by the ECB during the summer. Chairman, Charlie Scott commented: There were times over the last few years where we thought the ground move may take longer or there be a shortfall on funding given the economic environment today. Thankfully with the help of the ECB, Rutland County Council Youth Opportunity Fund, local sponsors and the time dedicated by our committee members, players and supporters we can now start to enjoy the fruits of our labour. A New Era Having completed the first full season the club has embarked on a number of new key initiatives given the facility they now run and have to maintain. A small dedicated team under the stewardship of Peter Pop Cox has worked tirelessly to maintain the two squares and outfield, requiring many dedicated hours. Under Vice Chairman Adi Salt the club also started the process of developing part of the ground to house a 4 lane artificial net for practise. This project required funding to the tune of 30,000 approximately which has now been raised since approval was given last August. The club has also taken time out to look at how it manages itself and provides a sustainable long term future for players and juniors by revising the club constitution and committee structure. This took some four months to Questions about this press release please contact Neil Wedge on 07715 295040 Page 1
progress through a consultation period and then Extraordinary General Meeting in December and being put into action at the AGM this January. The aim of this restructure was mainly to set the club up for the future to maintain the significant investment in the new ground, but to also spread the workload and encourage more volunteers to participate in what is a key part of the community in Uppingham and the surrounding villages. Vice Chairman, Adi Salt commented: The new club structure will ensure we make good use of the strong supporter base we have and make sure we give an equal focus to looking after the ground and driving forward our cricketing ambitions at senior and junior level. 2012 News Ben Jets Out to India Uppingham Town cricketer Ben Collins is currently in India with England U19s. Ben is hoping for an injury free season 2012 so he can feature more at Leicestershire and also in our 1 st XI in the Rutland League campaign. Brother Max meanwhile is still putting in the hours at Grace Road as part of the Academy. Winter Nets Start The first of 10 winter nets sessions have started on 9 th February at Uppingham School Sports Centre between 8pm and 9pm for Under 15s to Under 18s and senior players. Kev Bennett is organising the net sessions cost is 3 per session or 25 for all 10 weeks. Fixtures The Rutland League and Northants Cricket League Fixtures are now firmly in the diary. Junior fixtures in the Border Counties Youth Cricket Association are being finalised as are our friendly programme for both Saturday and Sunday. More news will be available on our club website www.utcc.co.uk Club Honoured to Host Competition Finals This summer Castle Hill will be the venue for The ECB Regional Under 15s Club Championship Finals when there will be two games in the morning and then the finals and play-off match in the afternoon. The date is 1 st August and we are sure the competing teams from the East of England will welcome some local support too. On 20 th June Castle Hill will also host the Leicestershire and Rutland Girls Kwik Cricket Finals starting at 3pm and concluding around 5pm. New Media Embraced by UTCC The club took the opportunity to revamp its website and also joined up with Twitter and Facebook to keep players, supporters and sponsors right up to date with cricket and social activity at Castle Hill. The clubhouse has its own wi-fi which is available to those at the ground. The new website and associated media will help the club communicate fully to playing members, parents and supporters in the lead up to and during the season. Website: www.utcc.co.uk Twitter: @UTCC_ Facebook: Uppingham Town CC Questions about this press release please contact Neil Wedge on 07715 295040 Page 2
New Operating Committee The first meeting of the new Operating Committee for UTCC was held on 2 nd February at The Falcon Hotel. The new smaller committee is the main decision making body for the club and comprises the following volunteers: Chairman: Vice Chairman & UTCC Supporter s Association Chair: Treasurer: Secretary: Ground Chair: Club Captain: Clubhouse Chair: Cricket Chair: Junior Cricket Chair: Welfare Officer: Charlie Scott Adi Salt Sam Findlay Claire Cox Dick Reeve Colan Bartram Kev Bennett Neil Wedge Mark Norton Stephen Berridge Mike Gaul continues as President of UTCC and Chair of Selection with Gary Marsh organising fixtures. Details of the club structure, roles and responsibilities for each person and sub-committee are on the club website. Honorary Life Member Mike Turner At the 2012 AGM UTCC members approved a proposal to make Mike Turner MBE the first honorary life member for his unstinting help, support and guidance around the ground move from Newtown Road to Castle Hill. Steven Pask Ltd Continues Association with UTCC A stringent tendering process organised by Vice Chairman Adi Salt secured the services of Steven Pask Ltd from Grantham to construct the artificial nets on the south west part of Castle Hill ground. The 4 lane net area will have bowler run ups provided too and extended netting to make the area very safe for practise. The club will be securing a bowling machine partly subsidised by Rutland Lions to aid practise sessions. The nets will be ready for the start of the new season. The project will cost close to 30,000 when complete. UTCC 2012 Captains Appointed UTCC have named the Captains that will lead their senior sides in 2012. The Rutland League teams are skippered by Martin Bennett (1 st XI), David Clayton-Fish (2 nd XI) and Charles Richardson (3 rd XI). The Northants Cricket League will have Jamie Dumford continue as Captain and the Burrough League team will be looked after mid-week by Stu Lambie. Dave Thorpe, Steve Wade and Rob Roberts continue their sterling work with the Friendly Teams over the weekend. Cricket Week Available to Under 11 to 18s in Rutland As part of the clubs ongoing partnership with Rutland Youth Opportunities Board, a cricket week will be run at Castle Hill week commencing 9 th April with 2 hours per day of cricket skills, drills and nets. The sessions will be limited in the numbers that can attend and will be open to boys and girls in Rutland. Any enquiries can be made through the club website or to Neil Wedge (neilwedge@uppinghamtowncc.co.uk). A further week is planned for Summer school holiday and will be advertised in June. Tree Planting at Castle Hill Gets Underway The club has started a programme of tree planting around the perimeters of the ground. So far Oak, Elm, Beech and Birch trees have been introduced to the outer boundaries of the site in addition to a Service tree, Wild Cherry, Questions about this press release please contact Neil Wedge on 07715 295040 Page 3
Hawthorn Rosea and Apple trees. The club have been keen to feature a version of Elm tree to the ground that isn t susceptible to Dutch Elm disease to try and re-establish the tree successfully. The club will be continuing the tree planting programme during 2012 and are making available the opportunity for dedications to be made for trees already planted or future tree planting. Contact Charlie Scott or Dick Reeve to discuss the cost and provision of bronze plaques. Sponsors & Vice Presidents As in previous seasons Uppingham Town will rely on the support of local businesses and individuals to help generate revenue to keep activities at the club running to meet the level of cricket activity. There are opportunities for sponsors to have promotional signage at the ground or simply cover the cost of match day cricket balls. More information is on the website or can be obtained from Secretary Claire Cox (russellc982@aol.com) or via the club website. New Players Welcome Uppingham Town CC is keen to make cricket available either on a competitive or friendly basis to new members. If you would like to know more information about the club and visit the ground before the season starts please go to our website for more information. During the season a typical week at Castle Hill looks like this: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Burrough League 20 over league cricket U15s/18s & Senior Practise from 6:30pm Junior Fixtures U13s and below Thursday Night Cricket Practise Friday Nighters Social Cricket for the Community Junior Fixtures Northants Cricket League Saturday Friendly Cricket Rutland & District Cricket League Sunday Friendly Cricket Sunday Morning Junior Fixtures Dates for the Diary 2012 Date What s Happening? 9 th February Winter nets for U15s to U18s and Seniors at Uppingham School Sports Centre 8pm to 9pm 10 weeks. w/c 9 th April Cricket Week coaching and training for Rutland 11 to 18 year olds 14 th & 15 th April First senior games of the season 19 th April Season Start Open Evening 25 th April First outdoor practise for U15-U18s and Seniors 26 th April First outdoor practise for U13s and below 29 th June Sponsors Evening 30 th August Bowl Out and Junior Presentation Evening Castle Hill 17 th November Annual Presentation Evening The Falcon Hotel 25 th November Annual General Meeting Questions about this press release please contact Neil Wedge on 07715 295040 Page 4
Images supplied: 1. Castle Hill from last day of 2011 season 2. Castle Hill from this weekend in the snow 3. Charlie Scott Chairman 4. Adi Salt Vice Chairman 5. Dick Reeve Now Ground Chair and retiring Treasurer 6. Martin Bennett 1 st XI Captain 2012 7. Steve Wade Saturday Friendly Captain Questions about this press release please contact Neil Wedge on 07715 295040 Page 5