air your views

I would just like to add my opinions to those expressed here.

I have just enjoyed my first season playing with St Annes CC and I must say how welcome I have been made to feel by everyone. This is a great place to play with good players who not only enjoy the game but have a real desire to win.

I am, like all the other players disheartened by the negative comments being thrown around by some of our supporters. Whilst we haven't had the success on the field we had hoped for, I can honestly say that every member of every team from the firsts to the fourths give 100% every time they play. We are all very disappointed when we lose, but we have to take our misfortunes on the chin and try to do better in the next game.

Whilst it is encouraging to hear that our supporters feel passionately about the game, we need their support and encouragement, especially for the younger players.

I previously played for Weybridge CC in Surrey and they too have supporters that feel passionately about the teams and their results. However they always get behind the teams and support them whether they win or lose.

With preparations for the new season nearly upon us I would ask everyone to support all the St Annes teams this summer and give positive encouragement all the players.

Matt Purcell

In Reply to Chris Banting's letter.

I read your comments in reply to my letter with interest and you are entitled to your opinions, as is everyone. I will take issue with you over your comments regarding the attitude of the players and your inference that they don't have that winning attitude. What factual base do you have for your comments?

Have you been in the dressing room or on the field with the team?

Do you know the individual characters of the people you refer to?

The answer to all is no!

The people you refer to have played for St Annes for a good number of years and have had their periods of success (league championship, Lancashire cup, league cups) Did they do it without a winning attitude for St Annes? I would say not. Yes we are amatuers (bar one), most working five days a week, practice 2 or 3 times a week and often play 2 days a weekend and yes we want to enjoy it. This is not an attitude this is a factual statement. Why would we play otherwise? I find it insulting and harsh to question the attitudes of these players, who have shown the club good loyalty. Is loyalty a thing of the past?

If games are lost it is not for any lack of effort or commitment it is that on certain days the other team are better. Fact. I am sure you will have comments to make (everyone seems to these days) but comments without foundation to a wide audience does nobody any favours. I am sure you will agree.

Russell Bradley (and I am sure team-mates)
St Annes CC

Russ, I'm the first to admit that I know very little about cricket (or football judging by my Fantasy League Team) and so in that respect I have to rely on people who do, or at least to people who tell me that they do, have that knowledge. Some of these commentators aren't cricketers but they are or have been sportsmen and so I feel justification in respecting their opinions.

Russ, you are quite correct, I have not been in the dressing room, nor on the field of play but neither do I doubt the personal commitment of any one of the players be they first or fourth team players and I certainly haven't implied or named any individuals in that respect. Like I said I agree with much of what you said in your original letter but there really is a quite widely held view that the "team" don't show the same desire to win that many other sides do. Maybe this is just the negative response to a disappointing season or two - but maybe not. St Annes players are of equal calibre as any of the other Northern League teams but the club doesn't seem to share the same levels of success and I among many others have to ask why? Bad luck? Yes, rain at St Annes while a game was played at Darwen almost certainly cost us the league in 1999. Injuries? Yes, we had a good few players missing at times during last season, Twisty was hampered for half the season, DT was missing for almost half the season, and you had your own injury problems as well. There may be other reasons and all I ask is that we as a club make an effort to identify any areas where improvement can be achieved.

Maybe you don't agree with airing dirty washing in public but many members have commented on how good it is to see all these varied and differing viewpoints being debated in the open for the first time. Personally I find it fascinating to hear the differing arguments of David Gower and Ian Botham being debated on live TV. We don't always necessarily agree with them but it is thought provoking. The website provides the chance for the club's public to have their say and one day maybe someone somewhere will come up with a really good idea. Debate can sometimes lead to changes and changes can sometimes improve results and better results are what we all want or at least that's what I'm told by those who are supposed to know!

Russ, I was certainly not sniping at you or at any other individual player. I have never questionned (well maybe once last season) your knowledge or committment to cricket at St Annes. If I am having a shot at anything it has to be "the club" for maybe being to arrogant of it's own commercial success and/or for maybe being too self centred. Maybe it is now time to look at the examples of other clubs and also at other leagues to see if there is anything we can learn from them so that maybe we can add silverware to our commercial success story. There is much that I have been told that I have not documented on this page because I recognise that this isn't the place for such things but I will happily discuss these with you at some point.

Chris Banting
St Annes CC

Hello, for those of you who remember me now I've been taken off the 1st XI page, I would like to say a few things.

All this fuss about the junior players leaving for whatever reason is being completely blown out of proportion! At the end of the day if players feel they need to leave then they must just go! James & Jack, what is the point of running away from the problem, if you guys feel the need to play first team then you should stop whingeing and prove you are man enough to warrant a first team spot. Whenever I have played first team I take it as honour to be representing my club, not worried about what other teams I may or may not get selected for! In my experience making Lancs Junior sides isnt all it is made out to be!

A first team should be made up of 11 guys who go the field ready to "die" for each other and the team, in my opinion people who have other interests other than the team and there mates shouldn't be playing anyway! So you youngsters, if you think you warrant a first team spot, then stay and fight for it like the rest of us, because moving clubs won't solve the problem. Which other club in the northern league has the facilities and the banter like St. Annes?

I personally would never consider leaving St. Annes for another northern league club, simply because I have a sense of commitment & belonging. Any one who knows me well will back me up when I say that when Ii walk out on the field all that matters is taking home the points! The team must always come first and the youngsters will do well to remember that no player is bigger than the club!

To all the bar talkers who obviously know jack s**t about cricket, instead of drinking yourselves into comas all weekend get a life and watch some cricket every now and again, you might learn something!

Otherwise, the weather is great over here in sunny SA, A BIG hello to all the boys and keep the club going forward. Ignore all the bullshit in the bar!

Cheers, will have a Castle for you,

Pies (Adam Cotton for those of you have forgotten me)

If Jack is considering leaving the club it isn't thought to be because his first team place is under threat.

Editor

I unfortunately don't get as much time as I would like to visit the website that often and as this is the first time in a while I will make a few comments as many others have. I was first glad to see that the website is now only putting letters on the website where individuals have put their names to their personal comments, this I am sure most people will agree is only fair to the club, team, and or, the individuals concerned.

As far as cricket is concerned I think all will agree the last two seasons have been a bit of a disappointment, but at the same time a lot of positive points should be acknowledged. As a club we have given more opportunities than most clubs to young players wherever possible and this is only right as they are the future and the future looks bright, providing they stop becoming professionals (well done Chunks now you can buy a round). But, and I speak from my own experience as captain (Sean I'm sure can comment for himself) sometimes it is not possible. When a senior player is dropped for a younger player that seems to be perceived as a positive sign, when a younger player is dropped for a senior player that seems to be perceived as a negative sign. I can assure everyone that these decisions are difficult and not taken lightly. To me all should be equal, all pay their memberships to play and all have the right to be treated the same regardless of age.

I can further be confident when I say nobody has helped the current crop of younger players over the last 5 years than the players who play with them,often going unseen. There progression over this time shows that most have developed very well but are a long way from being the next Andrew Flintoff (I think a reality check is required here by some). Andrew Flintoff was an exceptional talent that doesn't come along very often and as a club we should be trying to develop players to become good league players rather than the next England test cricketers.

The one subject that seems to be where most of the gossip is focused is Jack and James. I hope both decide to stay with St Annes (though neither has ever mentioned leaving to me) as both are without doubt the talented young cricketers we need, who have both been given opportunities at St Annes whenever possible. Both opened the batting last season something myself and others didn't get the chance to do (probably fair now I'm a middle order slogger) another indication of developing youth and rightly so, but a balance with experience is always needed.

Finally lets get behind our club and teams, we have great facilities and a club to be proud of so let's promote it not knock it. Remember, after all we are amateurs, so let's enjoy it!!

Here's to next season.

Russell Bradley
St Annes CC

PS. Just watch me storm the fantasy league now I have a settled side!!!

PS2. If either Geoff or Callas read this unlucky in the rugby guys (50 point margin was it), men versus boys I think the phrase is.

I read your comments with interest and I agree with much of what you say. However, the fact remains that two of our best junior prospects may be heading to other Northern League clubs to play their cricket and I think that is a terrible shame and I, like many other people, just wonder why they are considering leaving.

I honestly don't know where James will play next season. I know that he has been advised to go to other clubs because he has to play first team cricket if he is to have any chance of keeping his place in the Lancashire U/17s side in 2003. Second team cricket will lose him that opportunity - and that is what Lancashire have told him. After the way he was treated last season I wouldn't blame him for looking elsewhere, but that is up to James.

I have known and been hearing all about Jack since he was eight years old and I know that he is a true competitor and that his desire to be successful has upset a number of people over the years (even at 8 years old). I think this is what sets Jack apart from the rest, that and a hell of a lot of ability! It may be that Jack has outgrown St Annes and the "we are amateurs, so let's enjoy it" attitude. Yes, it is an amateur league and our players are amateurs but surely there is nothing wrong with wanting to be in a winning amateur side! If a few more players had the same desire to win that Jack has may be we might have some more success. Its just a thought!

The club is a great club, and it does have some of the finest facilities and some of the best players so why aren't we winning things? Perhaps we are doing some things wrong - perhaps there are other and better ways. Perhaps not. I agree with an earlier comment, you can sweep a mess under the carpet but it is much better to clear it up. Efforts are being made to recruit a team manager and coach for the senior sides but perhaps we should be looking at changing a few things now - like selections. Who for example selects the first XI captain? Change is needed if things are to improve - it isn't just taking a swipe at the club or at individuals. Maintaining the "status quo" won't improve anything, as Russ will agree, otherwise he would still have his original eleven players and be bottom of our fantasy league!!!

Chris Banting
St Annes CC

The following comments were made on the Guest Book and have been copied here. The anonymous entries have been included because they were submitted before we stipulated that all comments must include a name and address.

I'll tell you why people are leaving the club! Its because the first team is so poor. Not in so much its players there are some half decent players there, but the attitude while playing the game. The team do not communicate in the field (more with the opposition in a derogatory fashion) they never build presssure, or look capable of beating a top 4 team. I'm glad to see your club is employing a coach a step forward I hope. But this person will have their work cut out as they will have to deal with some overly inflammed ego's, for what reason they have these ego's is beyond me. This is a club which has won nothing for a long time and needs to get in to shape. Dont leave your club - build it up! Look at Darwen they have a team of home grown individuals and know how to win. I'm not a Darwen fan, in fact I dislike them but they must be admired. These comments need saying this club could be huge get it in gear!!!!

Having read the comments of an earlier visitor to our Guest-book, it is clear that this facility is providing an opportunity for any Tom Dick or Harry to “have a swipe” at the club and players.

The thing is, Tom Dick or Harry do not have to add their name to their remarks and can anonymously take cheap shots at the club, teams or even individuals. The remarks are then available worldwide for everyone to read.

I know that as far as the cricket side of things is concerned, we have our problems (most clubs do) and I am confident that everyone will be looking to do better next year.

It is however, in my view unacceptable for people (whether they are members or non-members) to use this facility to anonymously criticise the club without anyone knowing who they are. This could easily be used by the mischievous for political “@#%$!-stirring” and the club should not be endorsing this.

If anyone feels strongly enough to make a comment about the club, whether detrimental or not, they should PUT THEIR NAME TO IT and be counted. They should not hide behind the anonymity of an e-mail address.

Sean Bickerdike
St Annes CC

Just a quick reply about not signing your name to comments, I can totally understand why the person hasn't put their name to it. The reason being is that the league would come down heavily on any cricketer who expressed any views about clubs, players, unpires or officals having found this out first hand.

The above statement isn't on here to cause any problems etc, its mine and many other cricketers views. On a brighter note I think your site is fantastic and I often surf in to see whats going on.

Paul Dennison
Lancaster CC

I wish people would stop speculating about people leaving the club, why do you think Zac left. Maybe he isn't a world beater of a cricket player but when the club is short on players as it is we don't need it. Just look at the team the club had to put out in the second team cup final, due to the lack of players.

In reply to this anonomous entrant who wrote in the Guest Book, in my view it is not the "who" that is important, I think the question that most people are asking is why players are contemplating leaving the club. Speculation or not, the fact is that the club is short of players and more may be leaving - so all we are asking is why? If there is a problem is it not better resolved? Surely it is better to clear up a mess than sweep it under the carpet!

Further comments in reply to the Cricket Chairman's End of Season Report

I was sat at my computer reading my letter when a couple of things struck me. We are led to believe Lancashire CCC have informed various clubs that the teenage players in the Lancashire Youth squad must have first team cricket. As Alan Briggs remarked in his letter, senior cricket scouts and the press are not interested in second team games. On Zac's leaving the club, I believe he will end up a better batter than bowler and as you will no doubt remember against Fleetwood he ended up top scorer with 45 not out batting at number six (Oh how we could do with someone batting at number six who can score 45) and the thing about it is he is only young and is going to get better. I don't know why he left but I bet the reason was because he could not be guaranteed first team cricket, the same is more than likely what is happening to James.

James like Zac is only going to get better both behind the wicket and with the bat, he has got to be given the number one position, its no use dropping him because he made only one mistake. There confidence and and natural ability should be allowed to be freely expressed at first team level.

About Jack Kelliher, it is only rumour by the Evening Gazette - everybody knows Jack's capabilities and every effort must be made to keep him at the club. I'm sure that poor old Doug must be tearing his hair out after grooming these lads for 3 or 4 years and seeing them thinking about leaving the club before we even start to see the best of their cricket. We managed to keep hold of Andrew Flintoff - let's hope we can keep hold of James and Jack.

Barrie Moorhouse
15th November 2002

In Reply To The Cricket Chairman's End of Season Report

I have read the Chairman's report with interest and would like a couple of things answered;
One, is the so called snide remarks the Cricket Chairman was suppossed to have heard and what they are, the only one I heard is the one uttered by myself at the 2nd team Cup Final against Lancaster when we were batting and scored ninety runs in thirty overs and I "invited them to swing the bat" as everybody around was saying we will be lucky to get a losing draw even though it was a cup final and as I said in my earlier letter it looks as though we go into games without a game plan (even cup finals).

The second point is the rumours going around about our young cricketers namely Jack and James. It would be a disaster if these two lads were to leave along with Zac who for whatever reason left last year, there must be something seriously wrong if all this unrest is going on at teenage level.

I hope the Chairman will have some answers at the AGM on Tuesday, as Oscar Wilde once said, to lose one cricketer is unfortunate, to lose two is downright careless, but to lose three would be a bloody disaster.

These lads have come through the junior teams to achieve not only first team status but Lancashire youth status and although it would not be the end of the world, it would be a shame if we could not see the best of their teenage years on the cricket field before moving on to a higher grade of cricket which I'm sure they will. We or the committee must make a great effort to keep Jack and James (I don't see the reason why he was dropped in the first place) some one said it was political within the club. I don't know you only hear rumours, I hope all this will be cleared up on Tuesday night.

Barrie Moorhouse
15th November 2002

The Season in Review

In these few notes there will be some things that will be called “more negativity from the barstool”. This is not my intention, I love my cricket. I am trying to focus on a few ideas that can improve our results.

I have had a good season, and have enjoyed most of the cricket I have watched, as has my wife, Sharon.

These are the views of me alone and as I haven’t picked up a bat or bowled a ball for twenty years you may give them the value you think that they deserve.

A few points for consideration

Selection & Development

1. We need selectors who watch all teams to identify new talent, to encourage development, to ensure that the First XI is not seen as an “exclusive” club.
2. We need selectors, with a technical knowledge of the game, who watch individual first team squad members, to identify problems when form is lost and how they may be overcome.
3. We also need to find people with good local contacts to “evangelise” on behalf of the club and all its teams in order to attract new talent that has already been developed.
4. More support must be given by senior members and players to the juniors. Dougie will be sadly missed in his role.

Batting

1. Our main run getters score quite slowly. Our hitters very rarely get beyond 20 to 30 runs. Surely it is about time that the coach (or team manager), if indeed there be one, started setting targets to be achieved during the course of the innings. E.g. Aim for 3 per over in the first ten, 4 for the next 20 and 5 for the remainder of the innings. This would help us set a gettable target of around the 200 to 220 mark when batting first. It would also enable us to chase a big score rather better than we can at the moment because it would be managed.
2. More emphasis needs to be placed on run accumulation, getting the singles and twos early on. Coaching (if we have a coach) could concentrate on shot choice and placement. Banging away in the nets is not enough. Our players, with perhaps the exception of Jack Kelliher, do not have the range of shots to cope with opposing bowlers who are all too aware of our batters strengths and weaknesses.
3. Early in the season it was noticeable that the batting order was not consistent, week to week. This does unsettle players. Am I at No. 2 this week or No. 10?
4. Geoff Love had an excellent batting season, scoring a lot of runs, albeit slowly. This would be okay if we could consistently score at the other end. Perhaps consideration should be given to getting Geoff to open with the aim of him holding up one end for the main part of the innings. Jack’s opening partners have hardly scorched the outfield!

Bowling

1. Geoff Love is a top quality bowler and kept us from humiliation from time to time e.g. the home game against Morecambe and he is the ideal person to bring on players like “Maxie” Baer and, I hope, the spinner who is always injured.
2. The pace attack seems to need some specialist coaching. They can be quite quick and Joe and Twisty can get among the wickets. However I think they need to develop more guile on some of our featherbed wickets. Quick bowlers should not too often be thumped over their heads for big sixes. There is a matter of length and line.
3. Adrian was underused as a breakthrough bowler. He can get wickets when you want them.

Fielding

1. Generally I thought our fielding standards were high compared with most other teams in the NPL, particularly some excellent ground fielding and throwing.
2. My only concern is the distance that Sean (at places like deep mid wicket) puts between himself and the bowlers. I prefer, for tactical reasons, to see a captain fielding at mid on or as a close catcher. He must be able to impose himself on the bowler, particularly when things are not going to plan.

The Wicket Keeper Debate

Lastly, with some trepidation, I offer a few thoughts on this controversial issue. As I know neither Duncan nor James well I feel I can give my point of view honestly.

Both are good keepers and have not let the side down. I believe that James has a still developing talent and that he has, perhaps, a future in the game at a higher level than the NPL. His early season record with the gloves was outstanding and placed him high up in the victims taken table. He also batted with some maturity and skill high up in the order.

This is the important bit. The idea of Premier League Cricket is to provide a development area for young talent that will hopefully feed into the County system. We are doing the trick with Jack and Yogi (Maxie?). We should also be doing it with James. Senior cricket scouts, the press are not at all impressed by tales of derring-do from the second team (no offence lads). The club has a duty to develop our best talent because that is what is expected of it by the ECB etc.

Alan Briggs
3rd barstool from the end
18 September 2002

Under Achieving

Once again a Season on under-achieving at the club. We just cannot seem to get it together and have lost two or three games that we certainly should have won. One of our most significant failures is our first six batsmen to score a decent set of runs throughout the Season. Leave Jack Kelliher out of the equation. He is only 16 years old and anything he gets is a bonus to us.

There has been recent criticism about the run rate of the professional. I think he has got it exactly right. He has virtually won 2 games on his own, the most recent one at Fleetwood, away, taking 7 wickets and making 70 odd runs. Without his efforts with bat and ball we would have had a lousy Season, and no doubt in a few games would have been bowled out for less than 100 runs. I think he has performed admirably for the Club throughout the Season, and fully deserved his renewal of Contract for next Season, for which I have lobbied.

The other noteable thing about the Season is Joe Davies's record. He gives everything with bat and ball and is a good all-rounder.

I was talking to a Darwen player at a recent match and he said for some reason St. Annes go into every game without any game plan - perhaps we can learn from that description for next Season.

St. Annes are a much better team than our record shows us to be but the top batsmen have to dig themselves in for a few overs and concentrate on getting a decent run of scores and another decent bowler wouldn't go amiss.

On the wicket-keeping episode I do not know the true story but I am told that James Ellis has lost his form - I could not see that but I am sure that if he could play for Lancashire Youth Team he is good enough for St. Annes First Team. We don't want him doing a Zac Taylor. We should be encouraging these lads and giving them every chance.

As a final summing up, I know that we are only 10 amateurs and 1 professional and the lads play for the love of the game, but I think a little bit more self-belief would improve results. Here's to next Season.

Barrie Moorhouse.

I'd just like to make a short comment, obviously I cannot comment on the wicketkeeping situation as I'm too close to the issue and do not feel I should.
(Read More About This)

What I would like to say is that when we play cricket be it the first team, second team, third team, fourth team or any of our junior sides, I can assure everyone that there is no one at the club who wants those sides to win more than those eleven guys playing. We are not a team of eleven professionals who train or play every day of the week, we play because we are a group of guys who enjoy each others company and want to play cricket. When we lose, 99 times out of a hundred it will not be through a lack of trying. Everyone who plays understands that at times those people who watch will not agree with the way we play or who plays, buts that's just part of the sport, and the fact that everyone has different opinions about who should play and how the teams should play, certainly makes the weekends more entertaining.

Perhaps this year the first team haven't been as succesful as some people may have wished, but this hurts the players most. Hopefully next year they can be more succcesful in the league if everyone gets behind them and gives them their full support. Anyway maybe things aren't too bad after all a place in the cup semi final isn't too bad is it?

Duncan Whalley

Comment

The place for players, spectators and club members to voice their opinions. We would like to hear your views and comments.

Click Here to send us your comments

Wicketkeepers

There has been much discussion resulting from the decision to drop 'keeper James Ellis from the first XI in favour of Duncan Whalley. Cricket Chairman Graham Tindall has made a statement on that decision and the reason for it. Sean has now also submitted a similar statement.
Click here to read the statements and to submit your comments.

A Statement

I would like to put the record straight on recent allegations against me from 2 of your second team players in the final of the second team cup competition. I was branded a racist player and put in front of the league committee to answer allegations among other things. For the record I was found not guilty on the racist remarks, why the 2 individuals tried to make up such blatant lies against me is anyone's guess. I am not going to name the 2 individuals on here but you know who your are and I hope you are fully ashamed of what you tried to do to me. Its one thing to play hard but what you tried to do is unforgivable. One thing that puzzles me is that if I had said those things then why did you not appear at the meeting to back up your claims???

On the whole I have found St Anne's a friendly place to come and play but after what those 2 individuals tried to do has changed my mind completely.

I hope this message gets put on your page because I would like their fellow players and supporters to know what kind of players are at St Anne's Cricket Club

Thanks

Paul Dennison
Lancaster Cricket Club

Thank You Chris Banting, Webmaster

How many of us ever think when we visit the Website that somebody has spent time and a lot of effort to produce it.

None to be honest, we take it for granted but Chris has made a site the club can be proud of, it is up to date, sometimes controversial but it is there for all.

John Cotton our club Chairman in his AGM report thanked Chris for his efforts, but there are not usually many people at the AGM to hear it.

Thank you for taking the time and making the effort to continuously try and improve the site and provide up to-date information

John Kettlestring

UNDER PERFORMING?

The first XI have not had a great season by their own admission and there has been a lot said about the team's poor performance and many reasons given to explain it.

What do you think?

Click Here to send us your comments