Time
Be it time at the crease, time left in the innings, time with your friends and family, time to yourself, time to make a change or time slipping away. There is no more precious resource for us all than time. It is something we spend freely and waste regularly yet always rue the loss of. How you spend your time might be a very difficult decision or it might be the easiest choice you have ever made. One thing for certain is that as we get older it seems to speed up considerably!... Which is why I always feel awkward when I ask for time from others.
Our cricket club has been super lucky throughout the last 18 months in that we have come through it not only with our finances in reasonable health but we have welcomed a number of new members. These new members have allowed us to have record number of colts across all the age groups and consistent league cricket for our Saturday 5XI, even playing a friendly 6XI on one occasion! To all of you we offer you a hearty welcome and a sincere hope that you enjoying your experience with us.
One of the consequences of having these new members along with opening up after the pandemic is that running the club is demanding. Looking after all our facilities and organising all our endeavors both on and off the pitch has required lots of time from the few of us who volunteer. I am aware this is not the first time I have mentioned this but as chairman I am incredibly grateful to everyone who steps up and gives their time and I hope that you share my gratitude as members who benefit from the generosity of these wonderful people.
Put simply, these amazing souls need our help. There are some key parts of the club that are very heavily reliant on a few key individuals and they are at risk of giving too much. As well as directly enabling cricket to be played by preparing pitches and organising teams there is a huge amount to be done 'behind the scenes' such as looking after the clubhouse and bar, managing websites and social media, creating sponsorship opportunities, maintaining facilities, managing purchases and investments among many others. These roles not only keep the club running but the people who hold them also have an active role in deciding the direction and manner of the club's progress as leaders. This means that the time spent involved in the club is a genuine opportunity to create something. Those who volunteer can proudly put their hands up and say that there is a bit of the world beyond their household that is much better for them having been involved in it. Cricket may only be a hobby or pass-time to some but to us as members this club is a community of friends and family, a stage for our triumphs and tragedies, a reward for patience and graft and most importantly a place in the world to be proud to be part of.
As we come toward the end of the season I urge you to consider how you spend your time and whether you might be able to spare some of yours to contribute to this amazing part of the world. Roles we are currently recruiting for are:
- Club Secretary
- Benefit game officer (PCA fixture)
- Grounds staff
- Colts Coaches and team helpers
- Clubhouse Coordinator
- Club committee members (for future leadership roles)
I look forward to hearing from you if you can offer even the smallest amount of your time to preserve our home from home.
Yours in cricket,
Jon Last, Club Chair
jonnylast1986@aol.com