THE 2018 Cricket season is fast approaching and Sandford Cricket Club would be very interested to hear from anyone who would like to play cricket next season.

It may be that you have recently moved into the area and are looking for a new Club next season. It maybe that you used to play, but may have not played for a couple of seasons for whatever reason.

Or it may be that you just wish to change clubs or try and improve your cricketing ability.

Be you a man, woman, boy or girl, we would love to hear from you.

The Mens’ teams offer Saturday cricket from the beginning of May to the first Saturday in September.

The First Eleven will be playing back in the best standard of cricket available in Devon this season ie. the Devon League Premier Division, following their promotion from the A Division last season.

The Second Eleven will be playing on the same Saturdays in the Devon League D Division East, in the new “all through” league structure.

This will see the Seconds playing some clubs Sandford has never visited before. This could include “smaller” club’s First Eleven’s, as well as renewing acquaintances with some clubs we used to play against many years ago, but have not played in recent times, as League cricket took us in different directions.

It should be an interesting season for the Seconds.

On Sundays, the Club has two teams competing in the North Devon League, with the Firsts playing in the First Division, and the Seconds, having gained promotion last year, playing in the Second Division. These games will start at the end of April and carry on until mid-September.

For those who do not know the structure at Sandford Cricket Club, although Sandford itself is a small village, just outside of Crediton, the Cricket Club certainly isn’t small.

The Club has one of the best facilities in which to play cricket in Devon, and as well as boasting four senior Mens’ teams, we also have a senior Women’s team, as well as numerous Colts age group teams, ranging from Under 10’s through to Under 15’s, for boys and girls.

Friday nights at the Club are reserved for Colts’ training, with the six to eight year-old boys and girls taking part in “All Stars” training from 5pm to 6pm, followed by the older children receiving coaching from 6.30pm to 7.30pm, as well as it being a great social night for their parents.

Last year Sandford boasted the most “All Stars” numbers of six to eight year-old children taking part in this coaching in the County.

This training is led by Devon’s Cricket Development Officer, Matt Theedom, who has also been a “life-long” member of the Club.

The facilities themselves at Sandford are second to none, with a superb clubhouse, which includes a bar and big lounge area. The pitch and playing surface are considered so good that Devon have played one of their home three-day Minor Counties matches at Sandford for the past three seasons, with another one scheduled this season for the weekend beginning Sunday, June 24 to Tuesday, June 26.

The Club also runs a Community League competition, which has now been in force for the past seven years, and these games are played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between the beginning of May and the end of July.

Net practice for the Senior teams has already started on Monday nights at Exeter University, and will continue through to mid-April, before the outdoor nets at the Club become available.

If you haven’t visited Sandford’s ground at Creedy Park, midway between Crediton and Sandford, please do so to experience the superb surroundings the Club can offer members.

Get a feel of what things are like at the Club. Imagine yourself sat with a pint of cider, or a glass of wine, on a balmy Saturday or Sunday afternoon, or one evening watching the Colts or a Community League match. Perfect!

Any club whether cricket, football, rugby, archery, bowls, amateur dramatics, whatever it may be, they are always looking for people to take part or volunteer to help.

Sandford Cricket Club is no exception, and with the facilities and organisation required to try and run things smoothly, volunteers are never turned away.

As a cricket club, as well as any new players, we would be very interested to hear from anyone with umpiring or scoring experience, or even some who would like to consider taking it up, especially scoring, especially as one of our regular scorers would like to consider giving up his Sunday duties if possible.

Training is available, so don’t feel you would be “thrown in at the deep end”, you won’t be.

Sandford is very much a family orientated Club, but with a very professional outlook on how things should be run. So if you feel you may be able to help in anyway, or would like to start playing for the Club, or even just become a member, please call Phil Matten on 01363 774872 or Richard Foan, First Eleven Captain, on 07465 923 070, and one of us will point you in the right direction to welcoming you to our Club.

We hopefully look forward to hearing from you.

Bring on the Summer.

Phil Matten