FOLLOWING the death of their late President, Club legend Bill Matten last May, Sandford Cricket Club officers has spent their time since reviewing suitable candidates to fill this important position within the Club’s hierarchy.

I am now very pleased to report that at the Club’s AGM in November it was unanimously passed that former player Andy Glass should be invited to take up this position, and I’m also very pleased to report that Andy has accepted the Club’s invitation with immediate effect.

Andy played for the Club in the early 1970’s, and as a child grew up being a lifelong supporter. In his playing days he was a very graceful, but hard-hitting, middle order left hand bat, as well as being a more-than-useful- right hand “trundler” – seam bowler. He probably wasn’t the fastest runner in the Club, but hey! we can’t all be good at everything!

His father Don was a former player for the Club, and is one of the Club’s oldest surviving members. Don is still a regular supporter at Creedy Park, even though he is now in his 90’s.

Andy’s mother Mildred was also a keen supporter, and became one of the renowned tea ladies committee back in the day, until sadly her early demise back in September 1991.

Andy’s sister, Bridget Ashplant, was a scorer for the Club, until she found love (if that’s possible with Nigel), and started a family. She too is still an occasional tea lady, as well as a keen cricket “nut”.

She can regularly be seen at the Club supporting the Sandford teams whilst “route-marching” around the perimeter of the ground. She’ll have further to walk next year, with the second ground being in operation.

Andy’s younger brother Pete, was up until a few years ago a regular playing member, but now participates in the more social side of the Club, usually with a pint of Devon Mist or Lager in his hand, and trying to keep his wife Yvonne on the straight and narrow!

Andy’s nephew Ryan – Pete’s son – is one of the young crop of useful players still putting on the Sandford colours to keep the Glass family tradition at the Club to the fore, and following in his father’s footsteps on the social side of the Club.

In response to being asked to fill the President’s role, Andy replied: “Having recently accepted the position of Club President and not having lived in Devon since leaving in 1976, I would like to briefly to introduce myself.

“My playing at the Club stretched from learning the game in the old nets, to playing whilst at school in the mid-seventies, a time when the fixture list and quality of opposition was very different from today.

“That being said the social life was of a Premier League standard even then.

“I continued to play at University and in occasional games at the Club during summer vacations, but thereafter career priorities took over.

“The majority of my professional life was spent overseas (in countries with a minimal awareness of cricket), but I was able to follow the Club’s fortunes remotely on a weekly basis through my family, and with an occasional visit during the season.

“Having returned full time to the UK in 2021, I intend to watch more cricket at Creedy Park in the forthcoming seasons and am particularly excited to watch play on the new second pitch, and to observe what I understand to be a thriving junior section.

“I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible in the near future.”

Having known Andy all his life, and having pitched our cricketing skills against each other at a very early age, I cannot think of anyone I would have liked to have taken the helm at the Club more than him.

I personally, am looking to catch up with him more during 2023. I know my late father would have been “chuffed” with this appointment, as he was very fond of Andy, as he was of all of the Glass family.

As well as inviting Andy to become President, the AGM also invited three other people to become Honorary Vice Presidents. They were Bill Palmer, plus Rosie and Richard Cheriton. Again, they have all accepted their invitations, and Club is pleased to welcome them into this capacity.

Bill Palmer is the father of Sandford’s veteran opening First team bowler Jamie Palmer. Ever since Jamie first joined the Club, Bill has been following the First XI around the County and taking an active role in the Club. He is always willing to help on matchdays by carrying out the drinks at home matches.

He also helps whenever the Club have a big game, like when Devon turn up to play. The committee felt that his devotion to the Club over the past 14 years or so should not go unnoticed, and Bill was very pleased to accept his invitation.

Rosie and Richard Cheriton have had a lot to do with how Sandford Cricket Club has been able to look to progress as a Club over the past couple of years.

They were approached about 18 months ago and asked if they would consider allowing the Club to use part of the ground adjoining the playing surface at Creedy Park so the Club could consider having a second pitch.

Thankfully, without hardly any hesitation, they agreed, and were very generous in offering the Club a 10-year lease, which will at least offer the Club the opportunity to develop, at the same time as giving them surety and “piece of mind” for the foreseeable future. Without their generosity the Club could not have envisaged having a second ground of their own.

In response to their invitation Rosie replied: “Thank you so much for the nomination and election of both of us as Vice Presidents of Sandford Cricket Club. We would be most honoured to accept this very kind gesture.

“We were more than happy in playing our part, to help you in extending the cricket ground at Creedy Park, and wish the Club all the success for the future.”

Also at the AGM, the Club was pleased to ratify that Jackson Thompson will be the new First XI skipper for next season, following Richard Foan’s departure to go and live in Australia with his partner Jess and their little girl.

We wish them well, and thank Richard for all the hard work he has done over the past few years he has been skipper, as well as the commitment he has shown to the Club over the past 20 years or so.

Jackson has not wasted any time in getting stuck into the job, and has already signed an Indian overseas player for next season, who, on paper at least, looks as though he will entertain the Sandford public. His performances in the Indian Ranji Trophy and One Day competitions have been quite encouraging from what I’ve seen so far.

The Club have also signed a young Under 17’s fast bowler, Matt Jeacock, from Ottery St Mary. Matt plays in the Devon U’18s alongside one of our other young players, Lawrence Walker, who also joined from Ottery a couple of years ago, and looks a very useful addition to the squad. We wish him the best of luck, and hope Sandford can help him with his cricket development.

Whilst talking about young players, let’s not forget our very own James Theedom.

James will be 16 next year, but has recently been signed up to be part of the Somerset County Cricket Academy. A great honour for him, and the Club.

He was invited to play at the prestigious Bunbury Cricket Festival at Loughborough last year, which is where most of the Country’s best young players first get noticed, and following a very successful tournament, he has been invited by Somerset to join their Academy.

He is another quick bowler, and a more-than-useful batsman. We wish him well, and look forward to seeing him in the Sandford 1st team in 2023.

As well as a change at the top of the First team, the Seconds will also have a new captain, with Chris Jelly taking over from Shaun Hawkins. 

Shaun has decided to hand over control due to family commitments, which is fair enough.

However, the Club would like to thank Shaun for his efforts over the past few years culminating in leading his side to promotion from Devon League C Division East into the B Division for 2023 - the highest position the Seconds have ever been, and one of only two Second teams in that Division.

Best of luck to Jells, who I’m sure will do a good job, but it is a big step up, so it will be interesting to see what happens.

The Thirds will remain under the reins of Club legend Matt Theedom. Matt’s aim next year will be to try and attain promotion for this team. The League have introduced a new Division at that level - H - due to a number of new teams joining the League, so there will now be H Divisions East, West and Central, with promotion for one team only from each Division.

With the Thirds now being able to play on the new second pitch as from next season, it will be interesting to see two games being played at Creedy Park at the same time. This will be in conjunction with when the Seconds are also playing on the main pitch.

So as you can see, although the successful 2022 cricket season finished over three months ago, a lot of work has been going on behind the scenes in preparation for 2023.

The Club would like to thank everyone who has supported them in 2022, and look forward to seeing you all again in 2023. We hope you will have had a very enjoyable Christmas by the time you read this article, and we wish everyone all the best for the New Year. See you all soon.

Phil Matten