NEWS 2002

15 December 2002- Dates for your diary:
Next committee meeting is on 7th January 2003 at the Malborough starting at 8.00pm.
Next work party 12th January 2003 at 10.00am.
Nets begin on Sunday 16th February at 11.00am, to be held for 6 weeks at Fairford Sports Centre. As usual most people will wander in at 11.15am and then complain that they had no time to bat, try turning up early and ready instead of late and asleep!

4 December 2002 - Village knockout news - Fairford have once again reached the second round of the village knockout courtesy of a bye. After the Chairman's passionate speech at the AGM to take the competition seriously he was overjoyed to hear we have a visit to Bredon to look forward to. As Bredon had a successful season in Glos/Wilts Division One last year the road to Lord's looks a tough one already.

12 October 2002 - The AGM was held in front of a packed clubhouse of 15 people, a record for this millenium! Most of the committee remain the same with the main change being captaincy by committee on Sundays, just like Saturday's then.

5 October 2002 - The club's annual dinner was held at Drake's restaurant where drunken speeches were made, promises made for next season and various awards presented. Apart from the salmon and the surprise charge for coffee everything went as well as a dinner organised at the last minute can go.

14 September 2002 - Presentation evening at Drake's Restaurant on 4th October, get your choices and money to Paddy ASAP. AGM 11th October at clubhouse, all members required to attend.

4 September 2002 - League season ends in disappointment with the first eleven losing for the second time this season at home by one run this time against Shurdington. The seconds lose at Cheltenham Saracens despite a career best 60 from Simon Bayliss. Oh well, back in May we'd have settled for a season like we've had but it's still a disappointing finish.

29 August 2002 - First eleven defeat Witcombe by 80 runs with Brothers (51), Newport (57) and Townsend (51) all making 50's in a total of 222 all out. With rain threatening Denness (2-28), Bird (2-33), Peyman (3-35) and Bayliss (3-11) shared the wickets to avenge the defeat earlier in the season. A weakened second team lost to Ruardean Hill by 72 runs.

The final weekend sees the visit of Shurdington with Fairford looking for a win to keep the pressure on leaders Woodmancote who need to beat Cirencester to lift the title.

This year's annual dinner will be on 4th October at Drake's Restaurant in Fairford, forms are on they way to all members.

21 August 2002 - The Stinchcombe eleven are free. The County League last night declared Fairford's 2nd XI game at Stinchcombe void. The result of the game had to be decided after Cliff Taylor led his troops from the field after conditions became unfit for cricket (see 7 August). The verdict was sensationally reported in the Gloucestershire Echo as follows:

FAIRFORD ESCAPE WALK-OFF PUNISHMENT

Fairford 2nds have escaped punishment for failing to complete a County League 2nd XI division three match at Stinchcombe this month. The game, played on a wet day, ended early when Fairford walked off complaining that the conditions were a threat to health and safety. The County League disciplinary committee decided last night to declare void the match against Stinchcombe Stragglers 2nds on August 3.
The committee members have decided to write letters to each club reminding them of the spirit of the game. Chairman John Gurney, from Mitcheldean, said: "We were really stuck because one club wanted to play on and the other didn't, and half-an-hour later the roles were reversed."
"In the end, we said okay, the match is void, and we'll be writing to each club reminding them of the spirit of cricket. We're talking about two 2nd XIs not involved in promotion or relegation, and neither would they be if any points were deducted. We felt there was no point pouring oil on troubled waters."
Fairford were fielding when they decided they did not wish to continue. They claimed the wet ball was a threat to players' safety.

It's a real shame that after the league committee came to a sensible decision and stated they did not want to inflame the situation that a local newspaper still chooses to sensationalise matters; there was never a threat of punishment, only the result was being decided. It was an unfortunate incident that should have been sorted out by the two captains on the day and will now hopefully be put to rest.
The same paper couldn't be bothered to mention our win over Newent on Saturday and has also conveniently ignored the fact we topped the league for 2 months. Obviously a storm in a teacup in division 3 of the 2nd XI league is bigger news than 3 clubs separated by only a fraction of a point competing to be crowned top of the whole County League. Sad.

19 August 2002 - An winning weekend with all three teams recording convincing victories. The firsts beat Newent by 6 wickets with Fred Bayliss and Ian Peyman amongst the wickets then Adrian Newport (54) and Mark Greener (45) knocked off the majority of the runs needed.

The seconds were even more decisive winners away at Birdlip scoring the required 162 for the loss of just 2 wickets with Bryan Jobling scoring an unbeaten 116 supported by Cliff Taylor with 30.

Cliff was again in the runs on Sunday with an unbeaten 53, assisted by captain Paddy Bullock (29*) and Lee Clark (34), to lead the side to an 8 wicket win against a depleted Windrush side.
Anyone who would like to have witnessed a world record attempt at uttering the "f word" would have been truly impressed by the efforts of their wicket keeper/ opening batsman, sadly for him his swearing was much more noticable than any cricketing ability.

14 August 2002 - Even more disappointingly the game at Kings Stanley was called off without a pie being lobbed in anger. The crunch game between Woodmancote and Tewkesbury was also called off meaning the two sides have avoided each other this season so things remain the same at the top.

The seconds enjoyed the dry weather at Fairford, skittling out league leaders Arcadians for 92 with a hungover Bryan Jobling the star. Fairford then had a mid-innings collapse before winning by 4 wickets.

The Sunday eleven made a rare appearance with an outing at Kempsford where the hosts were dismissed for 144 with Rich Bennett the leading light amongst Fairford's 9 bowlers. Treasurer Paul Freeman making his first appearance this season hit an unbeaten 77 to see the side to victory despite a late collapse in the rain with the finishing line in sight.

7 August 2002 - Disappointingly the top of the table clash at home to Woodmancote was abandoned due to rain, the match delicately poised with Woodmancote 63 for 3 from 19 overs. The seconds created controversy by walking off due to the adverse weather conditions meaning conditions were unsafe, the umpires (oppposing players) thought they should carry on so the league now have to adjudicate on the result.

Cliff Taylor gave an exclusive interview with the Gloucestershire Echo that looked like this:

IT WAS UNPLAYABLE - SKIPPER TAYLOR

Fairford's second team walked off during a County League game because they thought the conditions were "unplayable". They called a halt to their 2nd XI division three match because they believed that to continue after rain at Stinchcombe Stragglers would be a safety hazard.The match was abandoned with Stinchcombe 69 for three after 32 overs chasing Fairford's 122. The result has been recorded as a seven-wicket win for Stinchcombe, who were given 123 for three.
The result - the scores and points awarded - will now be determined by the County League's management committee. Fairford captain Cliff Taylor said: "One of their batsmen walked off and an over later we left the field for reasons of health and safety. "It was too wet to play. The ball was dangerous because we couldn't throw it. You couldn't hold it, and as far as I am concerned the match was unplayable."
"The rules say that where the captains cannot reach agreement, the game is abandoned. Common sense should have prevailed, and it didn't." Fairford have to write to the league's committee to explain why they did not play the game to a conclusion after the umpires (opposition players) decided they could play on.

29 July 2002 - Back on the losing trail as a weakened team lose by 7 wickets at Stone. The seconds continue their winning streak with a 1 run win over Hatherley and Reddings. Club six-a-side won by Chesters who defeat Kempsford in the final, Fairford find new overseas player - more news to come.

21 July 2002 - Back on the winning trail though it didn't look like it at 31 for 5 and 66 for 7 but a magnificent partnership of 129 between captain marvel Derek Townsend and the committed Colin Bullock turned the game around. Golden arm Ed Bird then snaffled 5-37 ably assisted by Bullock with 3-20 to give us maximum bowling points.

14 July 2002 - Lost our second game of the season to Tewkesbury by 3 wickets in a tight, competitive game that was a credit to all who played. We ultimately paid the price for poor availability and fitness problems that left us short in the bowling department.

Mr Brown said he would be delighted to come and use our new showers in 2003 if neither team earns promotion. This section has been spell checked!

Fairford are to approach Saga to sponsor all the old, injured players in the team and lastminute.com to sponsor all those who find something better to do at the last minute.

9 July 2002 - Completed the double over Cirencester with a crushing 134 run victory. For the first time in yonks we scored over 300 with 3 players scoring 50's. Vital game against second place Tewkesbury coming up this Saturday, weather permitting.

Off the field the new floor in the showers has been laid, shame we aren't playing at home this Saturday as Mr Brown - the opposing captain - would love our new facilities!

2 July 2002 - Slight blip losing to Witcombe by one run but recovered to beat Shurdington in a low scoring thriller. So top of the pile at the half way stage and a visit from Cirencester to look forward to on Saturday.

20 June 2002 - Still going strong after wins over Kings Stanley and Newent making it 6 out of 6. The 2's have won 2 and lost 3, while the Sunday team look set to play 2 games in a row.

New shirts available, see sheet in clubhouse. Sign up to help with 6-a-side on 28th July.

2 June 2002 - Fairford continued their amazing early season form with a tense 1 run win over league leaders Woodmancote. Fairford take over at the top after winning 4 out of 4. Where will it all end?

26 May 2002 - New showers have been installed and are working so thanks to Paddy Bullock you can now go home clean and refreshed to your loved one.

New artificial wicket has been installed and is being used for practice. On first impressions it is just like the rest of the wickets at Fairford - slow, low and our bowlers can't land the ball on it.

More help is needed on club nights to finish the interior decorating and to paint the newly installed window frames. You could also practice batting and bowling, an awful lot of players appear to be too good to practice.

On the playing side the first team have won their first three games with victories over Cirencester, Tewkesbury and Cam - the last time this happened the monarch was male. The seconds have beaten Haresfield and lost to St Stephens while the Sunday side hasn't played yet due to a lack of players.

Membership is now almost overdue and those who play regularly should all have coughed up by now. There are a number of noticeable exceptions from the "paid" list, not wanting to name names but it would seem that New Chapel don't pay very well.

20 April 2002 - The club is now open on Tuesday and Friday nights for nets and ground maintenance so please come round and join in - it doesn't all happen by magic!

The next big event is a quiz night on Friday 26th April at 8.00pm when Mr John Jackson will be the quizmaster so come along and help us raise some much needed cash.

Membership is now due, seniors £35 and juniors £15, Paul Freeman or Simon Embleton-Smith will be happy to see your cheques.

4th April 2002 - we received news from Awards For All that the club had been granted £5000 to purchase and install an artificial wicket. This will enable us to have a consistent surface for both junior and senior players to practice on, so no excuses anymore. It will also allow the club to host more social games and allow local schools to use our facilities.

Further good news £500 has been granted to us from the Cotswold District Council towards the showers, only £500 to go!

4th March 2002 - league fixtures have been received. No surprises with our first game being away to local rivals Cirencester for what must be the first ever league meeting between the sides. The following week sees the seconds start their campaign with a visit to St Stephens while the first team host Tewkesbury. The village knockout sees us entertain Kingsholm in the first round (on previous from our only round but who knows!).

We have received a donation of £600 from the Fairford festival towards refitting the showers at Fairford, only another £1000 to go!

4th February 2002 - the winter work parties has seen the inside of the clubhouse completely repainted and cleaned-up, fortunately we have still retained the FCC musty smell. There is still plenty of work to be done with the new window frames to be painted, carpets to be laid and the kitchen/bar cleaned and tidied