Failand & Portbury Cricket Club

2009-05-03T11:23:00.006+01:00

Wanted
Spinners for league teams: 1 x left arm, 1 x right arm and 1 x 3 arms.

Be there at nets on Tuesday at 6.00 pm and contact Ed Humphreys on ed_hump@hotmail.com and 07870 986 304 soonest.

No applications please from anyone who needs a visa or wants paying.

And another thing: Anyone available to play in the National Village Cup team away at Middlezoy this afternoon should immediately get in contact as above - there has been a last minute drop-out.

2009-02-12T19:55:00.002Z

Mr Chairman and Gentlemen

You will be aware of the upcoming indoor nets sessions but this is by way of confirmation:

Indoor nets begin at The Downs School, Wraxall this Sunday at 8.00pm. Indoor non-marking soles are needed.

Cost is £3.00 per hour (subject to Treasurer's confirmation) to cover for the outlay on net hire so bring the cash with you without fail.

The full schedule of dates is below:

15 Feb 8pm till 9pm
22 Feb 6pm till 7pm
1 Mar 6pm till 7pm
8 Mar 8pm till 9pm
15 Mar 6pm till 7pm
22 Mar 8pm till 9pm

Be aware the 6pm starts are followed by another club at 7pm so do not be late as time will be at a premium.

The hall is empty after our 8pm sessions so there may well be scope for run-on.

This is an important season with severe challenges ahead so do be there to get yourself into top conditioning mentally and physically alongside performers of all standards, graded not by reputation but by 2009 displayed playing strength.

Email Lyndon Prendergast at l.prenders@sky.com or your squad leaders to confirm you will be there and that you will be part of Big Things due to happen in 2009 with:

- 1st XI and 2ndXI both promoted to the top tier Bristol & District Senior Division, [1st XI Alastair McArthur alastairmcarthur@hotmail.com] [2nd XI Ijaz Shafi ijazs@hotmail.com and Jeff Astle jeffastle1@gmail.com ]

- 3rd XI battling in the Sunday North Somerset League [Steven Pursey stevenpursey@btinternet.com] and

- Sunday Non-League XI with an array of attractive fixtures [John Skinner hjohnandpamskinner@sky.com ]

- Midweek XI with afternoon tour games and evening 20 overs [Paul Duffy paul.duffy@sbjbc.co.uk ]

Contact any of the above to get yourself into a squad and be there at nets on Sunday.

And bring a friend.

And your £3.00.

Squad Leaders - call up your soldiers and get them into battalions.

There are also 2 playing spots left (and unlimited off-field particpator places available) for the annual International Central European Indoor Wintercup in Vienna Austria hosted by the Vienna Cricket Club from Friday 27th February to Sunday 1st March 2009.

This is the 5th successive year that Failand & Portbury CC has been invited to participate in this hectic weekend programme of games, dinners and drinking through the night. Likely oppositions include Vienna CC (in effect the Austrian National Indoor Cricket Team), Berlin CC, Graz CC (from Austria), Elveston CC (former National Village champions from Durham and winners last 2 years), Prague CC and Bessbrough CC from Northants.

Most people are going out by peanuts Ryanair flight Bristol to Bratislava on Thursday night 26th February and coming back by similar peanuts Easyjet or Ryanair flight on the Monday. Accommodation is £18.00 per head at the Ruthensteiner Hostel http://www.hostelruthensteiner.com/ .

Your contact to get on the trip is Tour Manager George Humphreys - email him now on george@oxford-royale.co.uk .

Both Indoor Nets Wraxall and Vienna Tournament:

Don't hang about! Get yourself signed up pronto for schnitzels, pretzels and indoor netzels.

Robert Humphreys
Club Secretary 2009

FORWARD THIS INFORMATION TO ANY FRIENDS

AND TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS BUT MIGHT PLAY IN 2009

2008-11-25T17:15:00.000Z

Chairman’s Report for 2008

In many ways 2008 can be judged a highly successful season, although it didn’t always seem like it at the time. As ever, there were some issues which caused problems from time to time, and we need to deal with these much more firmly next year. So 2009 will be a year of substantial challenge on and off the field.

First the good news…
Pride of place must go to the 1st XI and a terrific achievement in gaining promotion to the senior division of the Bristol & District League. In many ways this was against the odds, particularly after two defeats against runaway winners Cleeve and one to challengers Phoenix WI. The efforts on and off the field to get the return match played, completed and won is the stuff of legends, and I will only refer you to Ben Boundary- Creeper’s real-time report on the FPCC Website. I must mention Alistair’s terrific leadership, ably supported by Simon Bachelor. It was a real team effort, but I will make special mention of the indefatiguable Tony Lippe, still getting through 15 overs unchanged at the age of….., and to Walkers Major and Minor whose performances were critical to the team’s success, particularly in the last tense weeks of the season. Well done on getting up – now let’s make sure we stay there!

Congratulations too to Ijaz and the 2nd X1 on their return to the senior division at the first time of asking, with a special word of thanks to unofficial vice captain Bernard Raines for his efforts on and especially off the field.

We do need to look at availability next year to make sure a full side is fielded at all times.

Sundays also went well (mostly) with the North Somerset X1 (aka Steve’s Grandfathers) making their habitual late season “burst” to achieve a moderately respectable midfield position. And the friendly X1 enjoyed some good cricket thanks to John Skinner’s conscientious leadership.

It was a difficult year for junior cricket, although there were some excellent individual and team performances. Sadly no Under 15s this year, although the Under 13s did well to win the junior Plate final.

All this was made possible by the efforts of our groundsman extraordinaire Paul Bachelor, who did a miraculous job of preparing good cricket wickets in most unfriendly weather conditions. And despite the pernicious efforts of the resident mole population, the condition of the outfield was a considerable improvement this year, for which much thanks to our new assistant groundsman (or lady).

On the down side, far too many players failed to show due consideration and support for their captain and for the club, particularly in settling their subs and match fees on time. This makes the Treasurer’s job near impossible, and must be corrected next season. I hope members will support the committee in making it clear that selection is conditional on payment, a discipline that needs to be led by the captains, enforced by the Selection Committee and monitored closely by the officers of the club.

We have also reached a crossroads in terms of junior cricket. This has been a strong feature of the club for many years, but we are now running out of strong cricketing parents with the time and energy to put into organizing junior teams. Where one asks are the Humphreys and Walkers of tomorrow?

Lyndon has done sterling work as Youth Organiser, and Jane and Rod Billing have put their heart and soul into managing the younger teams in recent years, but unless new people put their hands up very quickly I fear that junior cricket may be taking a back seat for a while.

One other issue facing us, albeit a more practical one – we desperately need a new scorebox. Is this the time to go electronic, and if so can we find up to £4,000 to install it?

Finally, I want to express my, and the club’s, sadness at the untimely death of young Matt Billing a couple of months ago. How devastating and how undeserved for the family. The service at Portbury Church was a desperately moving experience. Somehow, it puts everything in context.

Richard Whittington
24th November 2008

2008-09-01T18:56:00.001+01:00

Double promotion for 1st XI and 2nd XI in 2008
North Somerset XI hold valued league position for 2009
Sunday XI keep going like there was no tomorrow

"I am so happy at last that we reached where we deserve to be.

We should press for more highs next year!

Congratulations to everybody at Failand & Portbury!"

Monty from Atlanta, Georgia

2008-08-14T13:40:00.000+01:00

THIS CLUB

Welcome to Failand & Portbury Cricket Club, offering good facilities, an attractive ground and lots of opportunities for both players and supporters.The ground is situated in Horse Race Lane, Lower Failand and our members come from all over North Somerset, Bristol and further afield including London, South Wales and other godforsaken colonial remnants of Empire.

We play all the year round cricket here*.

Be seeing you!

*in fact, in this instance, away at Barrow Gurney

2008-06-06T14:05:00.012+01:00

Outdoor nets are held at the ground every Tuesday at Horse Race Lane as soon after 6.00pm as is possible (in other words when more than two players turn up to make a start.

Be there!

Consider emailing Chairman of Selectors Paul Nice on paulnice@talktalk.net with news of who you are without delay.

2008-05-26T19:19:00.002+01:00

New players for 2008 welcome
Are you looking for pastures new?

Do you have itchy feet (though washing them regularly)?

Are you 7' 6" tall with forearms like steam-train pistons?

Are you 5' 10" with a practised wrist action?

Are you 4' 9" and good on the pull?

Consider emailing Chairman of Selectors Paul Nice on paulnice@talktalk.net without delay.

You could be in today's team!

2008-05-05T20:03:00.020+01:00

The 2008 Season - It Begins!
The season is underway with wins for 1sts and 2nds and a stunning victory in the 2nd round of the N-Power National Village Cup.

1st XI Vice-Captain Simon Bachelor had a dream start to the season with 100* against St George on the opening day. His patient innings helped the 1st XI record a 13 run victory over the visitors and 25 league points after St George were restricted to 166 with George Humphreys taking 3 wickets up the hill.

The 2nd XI also started well with a comprehensive victory at Pucklechurch, with batting contributions from Babur Khan, Nadeem and Ahmed and three wickets for Tom Ison on his Failand debut. An excellent start - where's the full scorecard, Ijaz? Mark Walker needs it to get it up for us all to see!

The 3rd XI game at Harptree fell foul to the weather but 2 league points were gained from a no-result. Steve Pursey starts another year as North Somerset XI skipper with points on the board.

In the National Village cup Charlie Walker hit a magnificent 103* for our 1st XI against strong opposition from Wellington in the 1st round . Ashbrittle, Stawley & Clayhanger looked favourites as F&P slumped to 15/3, chasing 165 [chasing wide ones, surely? Ed.], against a pacy and accurate attack. 15 year old Charlie however stood firm and timed his innings to perfection leaving partner Ed Humphreys to hit the winning runs in the penultimate over. See 1st XI v Ashbrittle (home) for full scorecard.

Next weekend (10th/11thMay) the 1st XI visit Long Ashton while the 2nd XI entertain their Long Ashton 2nd XI. The North Somerset XI host Bath Exiles. All vital league games!

Outdoor nets are held at the ground every Tuesday at Horse Race Lane as soon after 6.00pm as is possible to make a start. (in other words when more than two players turn up). Be there!

2008-04-06T12:55:00.007+01:00

NEW PLAYERS AND INCOMING TOURING/HIRE TEAMS WELCOMED
The season is off to a flying start as a core unit of players has been going through their paces at intense net sessions at the indoor Downs School facility in Wraxall. "Excellent news" observed Failand & Portbury legend Paul Bachelor.

New players are welcome but they need to get in touch with nets co-ordinator Alastair McArthur at alastairmcarthur@hotmail.com without delay.

Requests for fixtures from incoming touring sides and companies seeking to stage hire games are being handled by Fixture Secretary Paul Bachelor at paul@outside-edge.co.uk but again early contact is advisable as space is limited.

2008-04-04T11:57:00.004+01:00

NEW PLAYERS WELCOME NOW!

2008-03-04T15:08:00.003Z

MISSION STATEMENT

Now that the 2008 season is upon us:

We must strive to achieve!

Marvin Straightjacket

Club Supremo 2008

2008-03-02T13:18:00.003Z

Look out over THE BRISTOL CHANNEL :

see WALES in the distance!

2008-02-05T22:47:00.006Z

Vienna 2008 international indoor tournament

2007-05-26T23:53:00.001+01:00

Rawalpindi Express (Shoaib Akhtar)

2006-08-08T18:23:00.000+01:00

Thousand target

2006-07-24T23:17:00.000+01:00

Failand Sixes 2006
John Bachelor and George Humphreys

2005-06-10T14:32:00.008+01:00

NEW 1ST XI CAPTAIN

Following the unavailability of MONTY DESAI, whose arrival has been delayed a number of times, FAILAND & PORTBURY CC have taken steps to fill the gap of first team captain.

The unanimous choice was ED HUMPHREYS, who at 19 years 6 months becomes FAILAND & PORTBURY's youngest ever 1st XI captain in the club's 111 year history. Teenager ED is the youngest of four brothers now playing at HORSE RACE LANE.

His vice-captain is all-rounder PAUL NICE.

Following a long awaited first league win of the season last weekend, it is hoped the confirmation of these two positions will bring some stability to the side in time for the expected influx of players back from university.

2005-06-10T12:06:00.001+01:00

5 GAMES THIS WEEKEND
We are aiming to make best use of the good weekend weather by fielding no fewer than 5 teams this Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday the 1st XI play St Mary Redcliffe (H) and the 2nd XI play Bishopston (A), both in the Bristol & District League.

On Sunday the 1st XI again turn out - this time in the National Village Cup area semi-final at Timsbury (A). Meanwhile there are fixtures at home (Cuaco Touring XI) and against Gordano Valley (venue tba).

The good news is that with the influx of new players and the return of the students, pressure for places in these sides is still very keen.

Anyone with any interest in playing is urged to call Selection Co-Ordinator Paul Nice - details on Contacts page - as soon as possible to avoid gut-wrenching disappointment.

Note that the North Somerset XI (3rd XI) has no league game this wekend.

2005-05-15T22:13:00.002+01:00

URGENT
All new players MUST be at nets at the ground on Tuesday 17th May for practice, evaluation and selection. If in doubt, contact Paul Nice soonest - see Contacts page.

2005-05-12T20:23:00.001+01:00

NEW PLAYERS WELCOME!
It's not too late to get yourself into one of the League squads, even though all teams are in full swing now. Whether you are looking to play at weekends or midweek, it's worth a call to Paul Nice - see Contacts page.

2005-04-23T11:01:00.003+01:00

IT'S ALL GO AT FAILAND!

The season started here with a win at Portishead in glorious conditions underfoot and overhead (see 1st XI page for match report). All that winter work and indoor competition seems to be about to pay off (see Statistics page for rolling player performance record).

The current (and just about final form) fixture list is up on the Fixtures page - check it out. "Volume is key" as our leader has said.

An inter-university 20 :20 tournament is taking place at the ground all day tomorrow (see News page). Be there to watch and help out!

There is a buzz about the club as players old and new are fighting for places in the teams the selectors are putting together (see Selection page for postings of team sheets or not as the case may be).

Look out for Failand & Portbury CC in 2005! And keep checking this site for news.

2005-01-16T18:26:00.003Z

Nets start Tuesday 1st February 2005
8.00 pm to 9.30 pm from February right through till 5th April nets take place at The Downs School, Wraxall (off the Clevedon Road) in their purpose built sports hall with its 4-net cricket facility and viewing area above.

Cost is £3.50 cash per session and there is a requirement to wear non-marking soles.

They're open to all club members and those expecting to be selected for the 1st and 2nd XIs are required to attend.

Non-members aiming to play some cricket at whatever level during the summer (i.e. from 16th April against Portishead (A) till 18th September against Lynton and Lynmouth (A)) will also be very welcome.

Members of The Alan Mullally Appreciation XI (against whom our Midweek XI fire off on Wednesday 27th April (H) 6.15 pm) are especially welcome.

Whoever you are, please contact either your team skipper (contact details on the Contacts page) or alternatively Selector and Winter Indoor Nets Co-Ordinator ("SWINCOO") Paul Nice on (07720) 054 638 or paulnice@talktalk.net .

It's particularly important that you give one of these advance warning of your arrival as this year each session will be limited to a maximum of 40 players.

Remember the words of our leader: "Volume is key."

Be seeing you!

Marvin Straightjacket
Club Supremo

2004-12-29T18:20:00.000Z

INDIAN OCEAN CATASTROPHE
Our feelings go out to all those, locals and visitors, cricketers no doubt among them, who are really up against it right now because of this catastrophe, as well as to the relatives of those who have died.

It all gives events on the cricket field a degree of perspective.

One kind of immediate help that we can give is through putting funds into one of the organised agencies that is geared up to convert money donations into things that the people in the affected areas need immediately: like water purifying tablets, waterproof bags to sleep in and medical supplies.

One such agency is Oxfam, though there are many others. You can go direct to Oxfam's catastrophe appeal fund at http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_you_can_do/give_to_oxfam/donate/asiaquake1204.htm
and make a credit card donation to help them in what they are doing.

Another one is the Red Cross and their online earthquake and flood appeal page is at: www.redcross.org.uk/donate . They have a Red Cross logistics team in Sri Lanka doing the best it can to help with tarpaulins, blankets, cooking utensils and rehabilitation during the months ahead.

£10.00 for you and me is the cost of a few pints of beer in the pub tonight.

For somebody in one of the affected parts of Asia, our £10.00 could be the difference between his/her life and death in the coming weeks.

Marvin 29.12.04

2004-12-23T10:40:00.000Z

A merry Christmas and a happy New Year 2005 to everyone!

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
Eleanor Roosevelt

"Vorsprung durch Technik"
Marvin Straightjacket

"Que tous vos voeux se realisent en 2005"
Charlie Cheesewire

"Volume is key"
Monty Desai

2004-12-12T18:08:00.001Z

FIXTURES NEEDED

A complete list of the 2005 fixtures will appear here shortly after Christmas 2004 but in the meantime, fixture secretaries from other clubs may wish to know that we have the following available dates only on which our 3rd XI is seeking games against similar strength opposition away from home:

Sunday 8th May 2005 (A) 2.00pm start [now filled 20.12.04]

Sunday 29th May 2005 (A) 2.00pm start [now filled 13.12.04, Charlie]

Our 3rd XI (otherwise known as the North Somerset XI) was recently described as: "A very pleasant bunch of people* made up of some who used to be able to play, some who think they used to be able to play, some who manifestly never really cut the mustard at any level, some very promising youngsters and a couple of players recruited on the way to the match."
*Some mistake here, surely? Ed.

Note that we now have no more availabilities for Sunday or Saturday fixtures in 2005.

However, we still have the following spaces for incoming midweek touring teams looking for a game in pleasant village surroundings, on a good batting wicket, at a ground easily accessible from the M5 Gordano services junction and against a good or if needed appropriate standard of opposition:

Monday 20th June (H) 2.00pm
Thursday 30th June (H) 2.00pm
Monday 11th July (H) 2.00pm
Thursday 14th July (H) 2.00pm
Monday 18th July (H) 2.00pm
Thursday 25th August (H) 2.oopm

Our ground is also available for hire on some evenings (particularly Wednesdays, Thursdays and some Mondays but never Tuesdays). If you are looking for an ideal venue for an evening social game, let us know.

We should be pleased to hear from you - email the secretary on vispavonis@googlemail.com .

Be seeing you!

Marvin Straightjacket
10.12.04