Hi all,
I hope you have been wintering well and looking forward to a new season with Edinburgh South CC! The committee have been working hard over the winter to bring in a number of changes to improve things. This note brings you up to speed with all the things that have been happening, and also gives some details of what we need you to do heading into the new season.
Outdoor Practice - Starts Tuesday 18th April
This year, we are moving to just one practice on Tuesday 18th April. This will be open to all the club. The formal training session will start at 6.30pm each evening. Members are welcome down from 5.30 - 6pm to work on stuff individually outside of the organised training session should they wish. I should also point out that the net facilities are available for you to use in your own time free of charge whenever you like.
New Coaching Structure
Several weeks ago we announced the move to a new coaching structure - investing money into supporting our existing players over an overseas approach. We expect to announce the head coach of the new women's section within the next week or two. The exciting news is that it will be a current Scotland International player, and they will also play for the 1sts in East One when available. The men's coach role has been harder to fill, so we are looking into other options to provide you all with a coaching structure and support to make sure the Tuesday sessions are of high quality and you get the most out of them,
First matches 22nd April!
The pre season friendly matches are just two weeks on Saturday! As ever, selection will be similar this year to previous years - with teams on the website on the Tuesday or Wednesday before the Saturday. To ensure we know you are available for selection, can I ask that you all update your availability on the website. This will help all the captains hugely. All the fixtures are already on the website, and you can therefore update your availability any time from now. If you need a new login for the website, please just let me know.
Ground improvement works
In two other pieces of good news - Inch Park has appointed a new groundsman with over 20 years experience, latterly at Peffermill. This will I'm sure lead to a significant improvement in the playing surface this year at Inch Park. Inch Park have also secured over £50,000 towards ground improvements. The good news is that part of the work involves new drainage in the boggy bit of the cricket outfield, which will make that part as good as the rest of the outfield on the main square. The bad news is that it means it will be unavailable for use until mid May. The second square is having improvement works too on the outfield. The works there are significantly more substantial, which means the second artificial will be unavailable for around half of the summer. Alternative venues have been organised for the home fixtures for the 2nds / 3rds where a second square is needed.
It will be well worth the disruption in the medium term with significant improvements therefore to the outfields of both in future seasons.
And finally ... subs are due!
If you haven't already, can you please pay your subs (with the exception of casual pay as you play members). Just a reminder casual members can play up to 5 matches at a rate of £10 a match. If you haven't paid your subs by the start of the season you will be classed as a casual member and expected to pay £10 per match, and will be unavailable for selection after five matches.
Subs are £230 for full members and £160 for students. This includes all your costs (practices summer and winter, borrowing of kit, match hire, balls, tea - everything). So once paid up, that's you for a full year.
Bank details as follows:
Edinburgh South Cricket Club:
Any questions regarding any of the above, Ian Irving will be happy to talk through with you. You can get hold of Ian on 07903 238 590.
Thanks again, and I look forward to seeing you all for some cricket within a couple of weeks!
Paul