Pre Season Email posted last night by our Chairman and Vice Chairman
Hello everyone,
With the start of the new season approaching we wanted to take this opportunity to write to you all to reflect on the success of last year, inform you of current affairs around the club and to wish you all well as we return to face the new encounters ahead.
The previous twelve months have been a difficult time for us all. With so much change within our personal lives the future of our club, and even the game itself, looked extremely uncertain. Yet, as you know as well as we do, there is something special about Woodham Mortimer Cricket Club.
Last season was an immense test. Gone were the days of Cricket teas, changing room banter and pre-game huddles. Yet despite these changes the club experienced one of its most successful years in recent memory. Within the reduced schedule WMCC were victorious in 21 out of the 23 games played, suffering defeat only to Little Baddow and Hatfield Peveral, in what were both highly competitive cricket matches. We hosted old friends such as The Journeymen twice, and are looking forward to our next match, which will see the two sides gather to celebrate the 30th anniversary fixture. We also welcomed new additions who flourished when given the chance to perform whilst enjoying their Cricket. In a year where so many teams suffered around the world we came together to support one another to help keep this club the incredible place it is to be a part of.
Much has gone on behind the scenes within the past few months. Improvements to our facilities are currently being examined with features such as fencing and signage requiring much-needed advancement. The first ever WMCC coloured kit has been developed for all Warsop Sunday League, T20 and Interclub fixtures. Surridge Sport have been enlisted as our official supplier with a brand new 1st kit unveiled for the 2021 season. Our social media presence grows in strength by the day across a variety of online platforms. We have also successfully established various sponsorship deals with multiple businesses, providing both a cost-effective method to supply kits to our members, whilst also establishing an enhanced identity within the local community. Though we are a club small in stature we should no longer be one with a small mentality, confidence or ambition. We are progressing in the right direction and we should all be enthusiastic for what the future holds. We would like to extend our gratitude to every sponsor who has pledged their support to WMCC for this season and we look forward to working with you all throughout these new business partnerships.
Furthermore, we are delighted to announce that the committee have made the unanimous decision to honour Trevor Mason with a lifetime membership for his services to the club. Trevor, who made his debut in 1977, has been a phenomenal servant of Woodham Mortimer Cricket Club throughout the decades and we look forward to paying tribute to his remarkable achievements later on this year.
As we now turn our attention to the season ahead we are met with a strong sense of optimism. With both Saturday league teams promoted last year we have a major opportunity to stabilise our club within these higher positions. Should this aspiration be accomplished we can then continue to progress by bridging the gap between the divisions to ensure we all compete to the highest standard of our capabilities. Additionally our Sunday XI will compete in Division Two of the Warsop Sunday League as well as an extended list of friendly fixtures. These matches, combined with the mid-week T20 format, will hopefully provide ample playing opportunities to our increased membership base which we are excited to see represent the club this year.
The time is now close at hand. As we return we would like to remind you all to proceed with caution whilst we continue to operate under these difficult conditions. Please adhere to the government guidelines as best as you possibly can and hopefully we will return to the normality we once knew soon enough. We understand that our present circumstances are strenuous, with significant implications to our mental health, and so should any of you feel the need to reach out please do not suffer alone in silence. We are not a Cricket Club, we are a family, and as all united family groups we will always be here to provide support should you require it.
We have now entered a new era. Let us proceed to build upon the foundations we have created to continue to raise this great club together. To all our players and supporters we hope you continue to stay safe and we look forward to welcoming you back to Pheasant Park when the time comes for us to meet again soon.
Up The Woodies
Ian & George