2018 - The season begins

Welcome to the New Year.

Firstly apologies for the lack of action on the website front. With Facebook communications being predominantly used for Club information publication of articles on the website has been poor and for those members not on Facebook this needs to be attended to. So this is my first New Years Resolution underway!

This year will see a new set of challenges with the new Devon 'all through' league having it's debut year. The Devon League has for many years been behind the majority of the leagues across the nation in having separate first and second XI leagues. Following much debate over the years the newly adopted format is in line with our neighbouring counties and although the first year or two will see some mismatches with teams placed in the wrong position in terms of standard, it is anticipated that this will regularise in a season or two and operate as well as other counties.

In the first instance I do not foresee massive changes for YBCC although losing some of members to other clubs will potentially cause issues in the short term whether this is simply due to numbers or the skills lost. The onus is on all club members to encourage recruitment of new players and for parents and coaches to nurture our youth players to step up to the senior cricket, using the 3rd XI and P&D league to acclimatise to the raising of skill and confidence levels.

YBCC is a village club and although ambitious we will always have issues with the larger city clubs tempting players away in search of higher standard cricket for aspiring players. Whilst this is disappointing in terms of loyalties there is little we can do to prevent it other than make cricket as enjoyable as possible at Langton Park. Good wickets, clean facilities , friendly atmosphere to go along with wonderful setting of the ground on the moors. We are not a rich club and financially we are restricted with what we can currently achieve in terms of equipment and ground improvements, nevertheless we have a lot of cricket passion and desire to make YBCC a home for the old and young, players and spectators, novices and experienced campaigners. It is these qualities that lend themselves to YBCC rather than other clubs.

This season we will be continuing to pursue to long term lease to enable further avenues of funding to be sought and allow further investment in the club. In addition we will be looking to the members to seek new opportunities of sponsorship, fund raising ideas and donations. The everyday maintenance of the club costs money, machinery, loam, materials for upkeep and occasional repairs draw down on funds, as a committee we try to keep membership costs and match fees as low as possible to provide cricket at a low price but in order to do this we need external monies, so please look for that match ball sponsor, sign advertiser or simply a donation to help keep cricket affordable at the Club.

Many Thanks. Geoff

Updated 21:45 - 31 Aug 2019 by Geoff Willcocks