No sooner had it started than the cricket season is drawing to a close. Remarkably there have been no cancelled or abandoned matches, with Bolney fulfilling their list of fixtures so far. In the column inches below, please find an overview of what has happened and what we still have to look forward to. Download the newsletter to read more.

With the season finally up and running it seems strange to be writing this in the middle of August. Four games have been successfully and safely completed at the writing of this newsletter and there is still lots going on behind the scenes for members and supporters to be aware of. Download the newsletter to read more…

14 weeks after the original start date of the season, I’m delighted that we have finally been given the green light to go ahead and play cricket. Bolney’s season will finally get under way at home to Plumpton on 18th July. The lucky XI will be the first to follow our new guidelines set out by the ECB. It won’t be cricket quite as we know it, but everyone is looking forward to getting out and playing again. Read more…

2019 Season

Cricket has returned to Bolney after it’s winter in hibernation. Snowdrops and bluebells have already come and gone in 2019 and the season is in full swing.

The league team is currently sitting in joint 4th place in the league having won three and lost one games. Kingsley Morris set about the season in remarkable fashion with three centuries and a fifty in the first four games and is currently the joint leading run scorer in the entire county. The Sunday team has struggled for opposition almost as much as raising a team themselves. They have lost one and drawn one of their games this season. More on that to come.

Recruitment and Colts

With more cricketers taking up increasingly cosmopolitan lifestyles (or so I’m told), kids more likely to pick up an X-Box controller and stay indoors than pick up a cricket bat and no cricket available on terrestrial television – participation in cricket in quickly on the decline. Bolney CC are determined to buck this trend and keep a cricket club at the heart of the community.

We are constantly in need of new players and welcome anyone that would like to come and try out. We offer league cricket on Saturdays, friendly cricket on Sundays and very informal 20/20 games midweek, which usually include BBQs and a bar. We’d love to see some new faces. These games are very relaxed and suitable for all ages, genders and abilities. 

With support from Sussex CC, parents and Bolney players, Bolney is continuing its proud tradition of offering a 12 week coaching course to children on Friday evenings. We currently have 23 colts registered under the guidance of Bernie Thys from Sussex Cricket. Anyone is welcome to attend the remainder of the course or just come along for a trial to see if they like it. Please contact Sarah Harvey at BolneyccColts@gmail.com. Should it help to persuade you further, our bar is always open on a Friday evening serving various drinks including those made available through our sponsor Bolney Wine Estate.

Our tribute to Wendy

Anyone familiar with our updates will already be well aware of the loss of our beloved Wendy Lambourne over the winter. She was not simply a great pillar and ambassador for Bolney CC, but the entire Bolney community at large. A completely selfless person who dedicated hours of her life to helping others. While a number of suggestions were discussed by the committee about how we could go some small way to recognise the love we had for her and how much she meant to us all – we decided it would be prudent to try and put something back in to the community. In conjunction with Bolney Nursery, we intend to raise money to buy and plant trees with the aim of creating a specific woodland / copse on the border of the cricket ground. More details will follow on what we think the size and scope of the area will be, however if you would like to get in touch regarding making a donation please contact Simon Adby (Simon@bolneycricketclub.org.uk). We expect each tree to cost £50. Any donation will be gratefully received. 

I would like to begin by thanking all of our Vice Presidents who so generously support us each year.  It is renewal time now and I have received over £500 so far!  We would very much welcome new VPs who would like to support the Club, there are no duties to perform and the benefits are a free tea on Sundays!  If you would like more information please contact me.

How lovely to see the bluebells poking their heads through the ground as it is a sure sign our thoughts will be turning to cricket; I can’t wait to see the scorebox unwrapped and the seats out for the season.  This will all take place on April 7^th when we have our spring cleaning workforce party in action – drawn, I think, by the promise on bacon rolls!

Our first game this season is on Saturday 14^th April although it is always ‘weather permitting’ this early in the season.  These are friendly games until the league begins at the beginning of May.  We are always looking for new players of all abilities and so if you would like to ‘have a go’ please let me know, you would be very welcome.   We are currently running weekly indoor nets at East Grinstead Sports Ground if anyone would like more information on those.

We will again be running our Colts coaching on Friday evenings for 11 weeks commencing 18th May, 6 – 7 pm.  We are very fortunate this year to have our old coach Reg Perrin back with us alongside Keith Hosken who helped us last year – two extremely well qualified coaches who make the sessions so popular with the children.  If you would like more information please contact me.

Our fixtures are all on the Bolney CC website and we would be delighted to welcome spectators.  What could be better than sitting in the sunshine in such a beautiful spot, with either a cup of tea, a pint or an enjoyable glass of Bolney Wine Estate wine?

Wendy Lambourne