Dear All

As 2009 rushes towards us it is time to draw our attention to the upcoming cricket season. In a few months we will all be rummaging around for the linseed oil and bat tape in order to fully prepare for a very important season for Worcester Park Cricket Club.

Our club has enjoyed 6 or 7 years of success, on all levels. We have played at Lords in the ECB National Finals Day twice and reached the inaugural Surrey Championship 20/20 Finals Day. All our Saturday XIs have won promotions and our Sunday cricket remains extremely strong and well supported with 3 League Championships secured. We constantly ‘punch above our weight’ in terms of performance on the field – a testament to the talent of our playing staff and the hard work of our colts section coaches who provide us with our young talent.

We are also hugely successful in the culture and spirit of our club. This has been created by all of us, and remains our most important feature and attractive incentive to join us. Everyone gets on with everyone else, and this is no better shown than after matches with the mix of all ages and abilities seen in the clubhouse. I hope that this is your experience.

However, it is important that we as a club strive to continue to enjoy success, both on and off the field. Both are linked in so many ways and we cannot stand still, despite that being at times the easy, and more comfortable, option.

As I have stated 2009 is a very important year for our club. Off the field Steve Clarke and his social Committee are planning the most extensive social calendar this club has ever produced. These events vary in type and nature but are alike in being organised for the benefit of our members and for the club. I hope that you all support these events.

You will soon be able to see what is planned on the new Club Website at www.wparkcc.co.uk. I would urge everyone to visit the site and to register. We plan to use this site extensively for all aspects of club life in 2009, from selection to social. If we get everyone registered, it can be a vital tool in brining our club together.

2009 will also be very important on the field as all sides compete for promotion.  However, I think we would all agree that we must do everything we can to get our First XI promotion this year. The example of the likes of East Molesey and Epsom show that rapid advancement in the Leagues can be achieved. This is also not just a First XI target. For this to become a reality, the whole club membership must work towards the success of the First XI. They are our flagship side, whose position within the Championship we are all judged upon.

This will not be easy. In the past 2 seasons we have lost some established players from our club for numerous reasons, as well as players tied up at University and playing school cricket. We need to attract new players of every standard to strengthen all of our sides. It is up to all of us to try to bring fresh faces to the club – this is imperative. It is also up to us to seize the opportunities created by leaving players.

At the recent AGM Stu Kelly was appointed Club Coach. This is a major step towards achieving our goals on the field. Following numerous discussions and meetings with Rob Bell, myself and others we have agreed upon the direction that we feel the club must take on the field in order to maintain the success we have enjoyed in previous years. Basically we feel a more professional approach to pre-season, nets and match preparation in general is needed. We are not suggesting an ultra-strict regime, but in order for us all to improve and for the sides we play in to improve things can be done better. Please read the letter from Rob Bell to all club members outlining the plans for pre-season this year in the coaching and training section.

So in conclusion, we can all agree that Worcester Park is a successful club, on and off the field. The two are indisputably linked, and we must do everything we can to continue to be successful. With a new website, a new social calendar and a well-attended and hard working pre-season we can achieve that.

Dom Fell
Club Captain