News
Visit the new West Blog
Check out the new West Blog which can be found via the Blog button on the homepage or at http://westofscotland.wordpress.com . The blog has just been updated with the latest musings of our Chairman, John Thomson and other contributions will follow soon so make sure you keep checking back!
McCrea F S West look forward to the challenges of the 2008 Cricket Season
John Thomson, Chairman of West of Scotland Cricket Club, and Douglas McCrea, Managing Director of McCrea Financial Services, are delighted to announce a major sponsorship agreement for Season 2008.
Douglas McCrea says “We are very pleased to be closely involved with West of Scotland Cricket Club and wish them every success for the 2008 Season. This sponsorship complements other sporting connections we have with Partick Thistle and Glasgow Warriors and extends our commitment to support sport in and around the West of Scotland.”
John Thomson says “We thank McCrea Financial Services Ltd for their continued and extended support for 2008. This support not only provides financial assistance for West – (and in 2008 the First Eleven will play cricket as McCrea F S West) – but gives additional help for the development of junior cricket at the Club and at a number of local schools where interest in playing cricket is definitely growing”
McCrea F S West is also pleased to announce the appointment as Club Coach and Professional for 2008 of Grant Robinson, from Northern Districts, in New Zealand. Grant is a left handed batsman, who also bowls medium pace and slow left arm. He is having a successful season in New Zealand and is looking forward to supporting West’s new Captain, Ian Young, in driving the team forward in their goal to make a quick return to the SNCL Premier Division in 2009.
John Thomson says “The First Division in 2008 will be a very tough league. No team stands out and every match will be tight. We will have to play at the top of our game throughout the season and it is great having a player of Grant’s experience to help our young team attain success. His coaching credentials are deemed vital to the success on the field of all our sides while leading the Club’s Coaching activities in the local community”
McCrea Financial Services New Website
While you're online be sure to pay a visit to McCrea Financial Services new website which provides comprehensive information about services provided as well as some very useful online tools and calculators. The site can be found at www.mccreafs.co.uk/
Ever Thought About Umpiring or Scoring?
There is always
a shortage of accredited umpires - why not think about putting something
back into the game and get yourself qualified? The next course in
Glasgow starts on 17th January and if you are interested then details are
available from Jim Connell on 0141 840 1844.
If you would like to know more about scoring then details are available on
www.acus.org.uk - an introductory course only costs £10 so why not give
it a go?
Don't forget that both umpires and scorers can aspire to working at international level as well.
Junior Awards
2007
At West's Junior Section Awards evening on Monday 17th December, the
following trophies were presented for season 2007:
Junior Player of the Year, recipient of the TW Kerr Prize, and also Under 13
Player of the Year: GRAHAM ROBERTS
Under 10 Player of the Year: JONATHAN MOTT
Under 11 Player of the Year: BRINLEY TERRELL
Under 15 Player of the Year: GAVIN SMITH
Under 18 Player of the Year: OWEN THORPE
Junior Team of the Year: UNDER 15s
Special Achievement Award: ANDREW UMEED
Update from John Thomson
Click here to read the Chairman's Christmas Commentary which includes an update following last week's AGM and news of forthcoming events
Congratulations to Richard & Marie Windows
Congratulations to Ricky and Marie Windows on the birth of Charlie Windows on Wednesday 17th October. Family all well. Charlie will be expected at Junior Training on Monday night.
West Wonderkid
West of Scotland's Andrew Umeed was the star of last week's Under 12 Inter District Fesrtival at Merchiston School in Edinburgh. On Wednesday, 11 year old Andrew (a member of Scotland's Under 13 Team) smashed a massive 149 in 110 balls against North District as West District posted a total of 270 in 40 overs. Andrew was at the crease for 2hours 27 minutes. His first 50 took only 35 balls and he reached his century off 71 balls. Record breaker Andrew's marathon innings eventually ended in the 37th over as he fell just one short of 150. This performance followed hot on the heels of Andrew's first half century for his Club's Under 15s at Greenock the previous Friday.
Trevor Bayliss
Trevor Bayliss, the former Club Professional, and current Head Coach of New South Wales, has been appointed as the National Coach of Sri Lanka. Trevor, from Penrith, NSW, was an outstanding professional player and coach at West in seasons 1989 and 1990, and was instrumental, not only in the Club's 1989 Scottish Cup triumph and 1990 Western Union Championship victory, but his superb coaching and work ethic was the basis for the Club's continuing success throughout the next decade. His friends at West wish Trevor and Julie and family every success and good fortune in this new venture and look forward to copious supplies of free test match tickets when Sri Lanka next visit these shores.
Google Groups
Good to see so many of you joining the Google group - only a few have posted any messages so far - come on guys let's get some discussions going!
Ian Young turns out for England
The recent test
match between England and Pakistan at the Oval was remarkable, not only
because it was the first time in 129 years of test cricket that a Country
had been adjudged to have forfeited the match, but also because it is
probably the first time in 129 years of test cricket that a young player
from West of Scotland CC has acted as 12th man for England. This honour fell
to Ian Young, a product of the West junior section, who is currently based
at Lord's and playing for MCC Young Cricketers. Ian, who recently travelled
north with MCC and scored 43 and 79 not out against a Scottish Select XI in
Glasgow, was on duty for the first two days of the Oval Test. He thoroughly
enjoyed his time with the England boys, most of whom he knew reasonably well
as part of his job at Lord's is to provide net practice for both teams in
the days leading up to a Lord's Test Match.
By chance, Ian's father was at the Oval to watch the game and was deeply
moved, watching his son running round the boundary to chants from a full
house of "who the f****** h*** are you?"
Photograph of WSCC 1863
Mr George Cunningham from St Andrews recently contacted West secretary, Jim Young, with news of a remarkable discovery. He had been looking for a suitable frame for a family photograph and found exactly what he was looking for, while rummaging through some old paintings, photographs etc. that had been passed on to him by an uncle, who used to live in Glasgow. In the frame was a Diploma in Dog Obedience, but when Mr Cunningham removed the Diploma from the frame, he discovered behind it a photograph of West of Scotland CC dated 1863. The photograph, slightly faded, but still reasonably clear, appears to have been taken from the south west looking towards Partickhill and includes players and spectators grouped together on the playing area. Mr Cunningham has very generously donated the photograph to the Club. Once it has been reframed, it will be put on view in the Clubhouse. The Club is extremely grateful to Mr Cunningham and Mr Young has written to him to pass on our appreciation.
Lynne Dickson
West's ever growing Junior Section has received yet another boost with the news that 12 year old Lynne Dickson, a regular in West's Under 13 team, has been selected for the Scotland Ladies Under 21 squad that will travel to Holland in August to compete in the European Championships. Lynne, a pupil at the High School of Glasgow, is in her third season at West. Her hard work and time spent in the nets has seen Lynne make rapid progress. In 2005 she was top Under 12 wicket taker, picking up 17 wickets at an average of 8.76. Cricket Scotland required to obtain special dispensation from the ECC to include such a young star in their Under 21 squad, but her performances over the last year meant that they had no hesitation in approaching the powers that be in Europe. Permission was duly granted and our Lynne will be soon off to Deventer with the squad. Just don't let her take her mobile phone Mum.
West Become TOPClub
West Junior
Section enjoyed the "mother" of all parties on Friday 16th June. The Club
Under 11s provided the entertainment on the field by beating the visitors
from Renfrew, while Juniors and Parents gathered for loads of excellent
grub, thanks to the efforts of our Junior Section mums. The event was
marshalled by Helen Dickson, who, assisted by a plethora of mums, produced a
superb array of food, much of which disappeared under attack from a swarm of
junior locusts that devoured everything in its path.
The evening was a great success and the highlight was the presentation to
the Club by Cricket Scotland of The TOPClub Bronze Award in recognition of
the achievements of the Club's Development Programme for Junior Cricket.
West of Scotland is the first Club in the West District to achieve this
Status, and only the second Club in the whole country to do so. By the end
of season 2007, it will be a prerequisite of membership of the SNCL that a
club has achieved this level of development of its junior section, so West
is currently well ahead of schedule, and will be looking for Silver Status
next season.
The Club is grateful to all coaches, administrators and helpers who have
made this possible, and it is fitting that so many parents were in
attendance at the presentation as their enthusiasm and support is a vital
factor in the Club's success.
