SANDFORD Cricket Club held its annual Sponsors Evening at its club headquarters at Creedy Park on Friday, April 29.

An excellent turnout saw a large number of sponsors attend, together with their guests, as well as some of the subscribers to the recent Crowdfunder Appeal, that saw the club raise more than £4,000 from members and non-members towards the cost of new covers.

Vice Chairman and Sponsorship Co-ordinator, Phil Matten, in his opening address, thanked everyone attending, including not only the sponsors and Crowdfunder guests, but also committee and playing members of the Club plus members of the "Old Gits" who do such sterling work helping to keep Creedy Park look so immaculate.

He introduced the Club’s new overseas player for this season, Matt Hopkins. Matt plays First Grade cricket in Sydney for the Penrith club and is primarily a middle order batsman, who allegedly bowls a little as well.

Matt Theedom then explained how successful the recent Crowdfunder Appeal had been. It had been set up as a large amount of expense had been incurred by the Club since the end of last season including replacing the old covers, purchasing a new tractor, replacing the engine in the old motor roller, and meeting the cost of a new bore hole.

Overall, a massive amount of expense for a club of Sandford’s size, but necessary, to ensure current standards at the Club were not only maintained, but also would be improved going forward.

Matt was also pleased to inform everyone that a major National Company had been found to have their name imprinted on the new covers – Mortgage Advice Bureau – through their local representative, Jason Matten. Jason, as well as being the Grandson of current President Bill Matten, is also a playing member of the Club, as well as being a former bar manager. His generosity in providing the funds to top-up the appeal was appreciated by everyone.

Matt, as well as thanking all contributors, made everyone aware that there had also been an anonymous contribution of £500, but overall thanked everyone for their generosity and helping to make the appeal successful.

Phil then went through the list of sponsors, thanking each of them. Many of them have been supporting the Club for 10 years or more, including main sponsors, Graphic who have been main sponsors for 20 years, and local solicitors, Charlesworth Nicholl, who have been sponsoring for more than 25 years.

A new major sponsorship deal has been set up with Helmores estate agents and Phil thanked them for their support, and hoped it would be a long-standing arrangement. Helmores were represented on the evening by one of its partners, Phil Morgan, whose son is involved in the Club’s Friday night colt’s training programme.

The Club has also been able to secure a number of other new deals including Meadowside Garage, Sandford. Owner Phil Harvey had spent a lot time trying to resolve the problems with the roller, before conceding a new engine was required. Meadowside Garage also provided a car for the Club’s overseas player to drive last season, and have provided another car for this year’s overseas player.

Other new sponsors for 2016 include Ladds Guns, The Beer Engine (Newton St Cyres), Keith Bevan, Crediton Coffee Company, Cox’s Butchers, Jay Northfield, Crediton Auto Services and The Cricket Company.

Renewed deals have been agreed with Mole Avon Town and Country Stores, Pool ‘n’ Spa Services Ltd, Eakers DIY, Three Little Pigs, Crediton Milling Company, Sandford Orchards, C.Sansom Ltd, N.A.Guppy Ltd, Crediton Car and MOT Centre, Devondale Electrical, W.F.Chinn, Ladds Computers, Mid Devon Tyres and Servicing, Coombe Valley Fabrications, A & S Paving, Adams Home Hardware, The Lamb Inn, Terry and Kim Petherick, and Le Roy Funeral Services.

The Club was also very pleased to thank a few private supporters, Sue Sparham, Mike Palmer, Peter and Sylvia Whitby and Sandy Eakers for their continuing generosity.

Although Phil finished by thanking Nicki Radnor for the splendid buffet she had produced for all those present to enjoy, it was not the final word, as club president Bill Matten, who had been on hand to accept the sponsors cheques, said a few words. He not only reiterated what Phil had said, but also added that what was now in place at the Club was beyond his wildest dreams, and that this had not only been mainly achieved through the financial support of the sponsors, but also through a lot of hard work by all members of the Club. He thanked everyone for their efforts and finished wishing all teams plenty of success in 2016.