On Friday 7th, members of Thame Town Cricket Club gathered for the very last time in the clubhouse that was built back in the late Seventies, to celebrate the many achievements of the club’s teams and players in 2018.
The Chairman, Matt Swain, summed up the season well:-
“The Cricket season has flashed by and on the whole we have enjoyed great success again this year.
Unfortunately for the 1st XI, Division 1 of the Home Counties Premier League (HCPL) was a step too far and we suffered relegation to Division 2, but the team will still be competing in this premier club league during 2019.
However, the 2nd and 3rd XI both secured promotion in the Cherwell League, to Division 3 and 8 respectively. Our 4th XI, in its very first year of existence, finished an incredible 5th place in Division 10 which was a fantastic start for them and one we never imagined would be possible just 12 months ago.
Our Women's team competed for the first time in the Thames Valley League and also surpassed expectations, beating Cookham Dean twice and completing over a dozen fixtures throughout the season, not to mention staging Thame’s own softball tournament in mid-August.
The club has grown from having just 121 playing members in 2014 to 250 in 2018; this growth has been driven by both junior and adult sections and we expect that trend to continue.”
The awards were as follows:-
With special thanks to Tracy and Dave Hunt of Aspen Financial Advice Ltd for sponsoring the 4 new awards over the next 3 years - https://aspenfa.co.uk/
Women’s section:-
- Most improved player - Claire Morris
- Best bowling – Sarah Sanderson
- Best batting – Beth John
4th XI
- Best bowling – Ed Mather
- Best batting – Tim Dabbs
3rd XI
- Best bowling – Ian McStay
- Best batting – Andy Jinman
2nd XI
- Best bowling – Dan Patey
- Best batting – Matt Furness
1st XI
- Best bowling – Hassam Mushtaq
- Best batting – Mike Beard
- The John Fulkes Award to a promising young player who has come through the ranks of the club – James McStay.
- Club Champion 2018 – Ali Thomas, for his tireless work in bringing the plans for the new clubhouse to fruition.
- A club tie was awarded to young players making the breakthrough into adult cricket this year – Martin Wiles, Luke Hayes, Drew Murray (plus Max Muncaster and James Carr who couldn’t attend).
- And a very special, one-off award of “The Musketeer 2018” to Robbie Jackson, for his selfless services to all 4 Saturday XIs !!
