OE Newsletter May 18 .pdf

The Phoenix
The Newsletter of
Old Elizabethans
Cricket Club
May 2018

Welcome to the first newsletter of the new season. Its title – The Phoenix – has never been
more apt. The club is aiming to match the symbolism of its crest, by rising from the ashes of
a disappointing season last year, to achieve a new lease of life and success this year. There is
much to play for. With the reduction of the Birmingham & District League to take place next
year, the senior teams will all be striving for an appropriate place in the revamped
Worcestershire Cricket League next season. This should be bolstered by the continuing
development and success of the junior section, whilst the Ladies and Visually Impaired
teams also contribute to the club’s engagement with the wider community.

Club News
ECB Small Grant Scheme – the club has acquired 5 new octagonal tables and seats for main
ground, arriving soon, a fridge freezer for downstairs and a 6 gas burner barbecue, being
used for the first time Friday 18th May. Teams may use it after matches but must book it out,
provide their food to cook and CLEAN IT after use.
Defibrillator - the club now has a defibrillator situated just inside main door of the
pavilion. The money for this was donated by Worcester Vigornia Rotary Club, Sing 4 Breath
Choir and Cllr Andy Stafford from Claines Community Fund. Hopefully the club will never
have to use it!
AllStars Cricket - an ECB initiative for 5 to 8 year olds, starting Friday 11th May 5.45 to
6.30pm - to date 41 youngsters signed up to take part. All participants get T shirt, bat, ball,
bag and cap. Look great in their turquoise and orange kit.
Visually Impaired Cricket team has a smart new kit funded by the Ladies Tea Pavilion at the
County Ground, New Road.
Seniors and ladies are eagerly awaiting their new coloured kit from Gray Nicolls.

Player Profile
Hemika Pathiranage

and bring sustained success to the
club.
What do you personally want to
achieve as a player this season?
Every season, I aim to beat last
year’s statistics (He made a good
start, taking 4-21 in the opening
match).
What are you looking forward to
about being back in the OE’s
dressing room again?
Why do you play for Old Elizabethans Cricket
Club?
I was welcomed to the club by Pete Boyle and
helped out with the coaching. It was a new
experience for me to play for one club. At
home in Sri Lanka, you would play for several
in a season. I played 14 games in my first
season for OE’s and I found them a great
bunch of lads to play with.
As new 1st team captain, what to you hope to
achieve this season?
To bring the team together and create a
sound team ethos. Winning is important of
course, as we need to be as successful as
possible. But we do need to create sound
foundations. I also want to bring some
youngsters on. We could do with some more
17-19 year olds progressing to the first team.
If we can achieve all this, then we can build a
team that will stay together for the future

It is just exciting to be back paying
with the lads again. To get our first win up
front really adds to that anticipation. We have
a new overseas player who is just the right
standard and also helps with the coaching and
pitches in with wicket preparation. He is
fitting in well.
And what had you forgotten about being back
in the dressing room?
I had forgotten just how much Ted talks! He is
very pleasant, but he does talk a lot both in
the dressing room and on the pitch. Some
players even ask to be moved in the field so
they don’t have to stand near him and listen!
I think we will excuse him though for the
great 50 he scored this week!!

Seniors
The vast majority of the B&DCL membership
voted in favour to delay the start of the 2018
League programme until Saturday 28th April.
Fixtures scheduled for Saturday 21st April
have been re-arranged to be played on Bank
Holiday Monday 27th August. OE’s voted
against the delay and inevitably rain washed
out the fixtures on the 28th. However, the
warm sunny May Bank Holiday weekend
finally brought a start to the action.

Around the Club
New Bar Manager – Grace
McNiff

Results – Bank Holiday Weekend
1st XI – beat Newport by 6 wickets
2nd XI – lost to Sutton Coldfield by 2 wickets
3rd XI – beat Birlingham by 4 wickets
4th XI – beat Bredon by concession
Juniors
13 girls won the Worcestershire Indoor
League this winter. The U11 girls were
runners up.

The tournament that was spread over a
number of Sundays.
Boys U12s and U14s came fourth in their
competitons.

Grace has been with OE’s for a while helping with
the VI’s and jumped at the opportunity to put
something back into the club. She has done bar
work for a number of years and relishes the
chance to gain some bar management experience.
She aims to give customers a good service in a
friendly relaxed atmosphere. Grace is looking to
provide a variety of ales with a light and a dark
one currently on offer with a varied one in
between such as Bombadier. Bottled ales from
Wye Valley and Badger should slso be on offer, as
well as popular lager and cider brands. Wines are
also on offer with Pinot and Sauvignon Blanc the
most popular white wines. Merlot is currently the
only red wine on offer but if you would like to try
something else like a Shiraz, then please ask and
she will endeavour to get some in next time you
visit. Food will also be on offer on Friday nights
including curry and chilli with chips as well as
chicken nuggets and pizza. Grace is planning to
hold events throughout the season so please look
out for them and give them your support.