Old News

Adverse spring weather meant there was no thought it was almost the cricket season at the Saffrons. A mammoth 8 inches of snow fell on Sunday (06/04/08) and local students wasted no time in building an igloo on the sacred outfield!

Under the guidance of coach Richard Burnett and captain Tom Smith (pictured), Eastbourne Cricket Club endured a heartbreaking end to the 2007 season. Finishing third in the Sussex Premier League and losing finalists in the Sussex Twenty20 League Cup.

The hard facts of the season were that ECC, in the league, won one more game than champions, Brighton and lost none, five fewer than the eventual winners. A bitter pill to swallow to all the players involved and surely a statistic in say football or rugby terms that surely could not add up to anything else than an ECC championship winning team.

However, Brighton were worthy winners of the Sussex Premier League, gaining more of the vital bonus points than any other team, which ultimately decided their fate. ECC can only think of what might have been and with all that's gone on in 2007, now surely must be favourites to be crowned champions in 2008.

Kenyan all-rounder Ragheb Aga was the top performer throughout the season. Boasting 656 runs to his name at an average of well over fifty in all matches. This included three centuries and three fifties. England U'19 cap Ben Brown weighed in with 555 runs, including a century and a couple of fifties. Skipper Tom Smith averaged over fifty for the season culminating in nearly 500 runs for the campaign. Ollie Rayner only managed eight innings for the year due to Sussex CCC duties but still hit over 300 runs including his maiden league ton.

In the bowling department, Rayner was top wicket-taker with 30 in all matches at an average of 15. Closely followed by the two Stuarts, Collier and Faith who took 25 each. Tom Smith chipped in with 23 and the experienced Richard Smith 18, having only played half the season.

However, ECC will be kicking themselves on the number of times they failed to bowl the opposition out. Despite two glorious victories over Hastings, only 10 wickets were taken by ECC in both matches, which ultimately left them short in terms of bonus points. A was very much the story for alot of the season.

Undoubtedly the two wins over Hastings have to be the highlights of the season. Both times ECC chased down 270+ after looking dead and buried with the bat. Magnificent centuries from Ben Brown and Ragheb Aga in either games set ECC up for two famous wins. Other great victories were the massive wins over Steyning (home) and East Grinstead (home), both sides fell victim to the superb off-spin of Ollie Rayner who bagged 14 wickets over the two matches. Also dismissing current Champions Preston Nomads for 150, then Ben Brown turning on the style with bat cracking a rapid 97 to win the game.

There were of course disappointments. The cup final defeat to Cuckfield was a massive blow, as Sussex CCC would not release Ollie Rayner, Tom Smith, Ben Brown and Ragheb Aga from their county duties, meaning ECC had to field a weakened line-up in the final. ECC always faced an uphill task but can hold their heads high despite that big set back. Another disappointment, and by far ECC worst showing of the campaign, the 206 run defeat at home to Bromley in the National Cup. However, Bromley did go on to win it!

So to end it all, the future does look rosy in the ECC garden. A team more than capable of winning trophies is present under the influence of a fantastic coach in Richard Burnett. In almost all the matches, each player contributed something significant throughout the season, unlike many other clubs who rely on two or three players to come up with the goods each week. With the same desire, commitment and attitude for the 2008 season, ECC can only go on to a greater level.

The following players were the recipients of the 'Player of the Year' awards for their respective team for the 2007 season.

ECC's club coach, Richard Burnett was recently named 'Clubman of the Year' for the 2007 season at the recent annual dinner. The well attended event which was held at the Royal Eastbourne G.C. also raised alot of money for much needed club funds.

Burnett's tireless efforts have been evident for the past few seasons in which he has been in the role. Attending almost every net session and of course on matchdays too. His pre-match warm up drills are legendary and is a major asset not only to the first eleven but to the club as whole. His words of wisdom are greatly recieved by the players and is a duly recipient of the award and will be back in 2008.

The old Saffrons pavilion is now no more. Demolition specialists started the work almost 3 weeks ago (10/10/07) and have nearly finished the arduous task of removing the decaying building. A new pavilion has already been built on the site of the scorebox, mainly because of the endless amounts of work that was needed on the old pavilion, which would have crept into tens of thousands of pounds.

No doubt about it ECCs bad luck with the weather made a massive reflection on their 2006 season. An unprecedented SIX matches fell victim to rain as the 'bourne eventually finished seventh out of ten in the Sussex Premier League.

ECC didn't bowl a ball in anger against Brighton as both fixtures were washed out. The home match versus East Grinstead was also called off in controversial circumstances with ECC requiring 65 off 10 overs with 7 wickets in hand. Games at Hastings and Preston Nomads were also halted without any or very little play. And the season's finale against Cuckfield was a nicely poised match with the visitors at 191 for 8 before the heavens opened yet again. All these abandonment's clearly have played their part in not only ECCs final standing in the table but also all the other teams. It would have made interesting reading had most of the games went ahead as schedule as in a typical season you would really only lose a couple to the weather. That's what happened to champions, Preston Nomads but they also lost 6 matches on the way to the title compared to ECCs two defeats. But all in all they won the most games and were deservedly crowned winners for their positive, attacking approach.

Tom Smith was without doubt the 'bourne's 'Player of the Season'. 42 wickets in all competitions along with in excess of 300 runs, all with six fixtures abandoned. His controlled left arm spin proved too much for nearly every side in the league, picking up a season's best at home to St. James with 6 for 49. His 82 not out versus Horsham at home was his top score for ECC, as a good season at The Saffrons and with Sussex 2nd XI culminated in a full Sussex Pro40 call up in which he bagged 2 for 45 on debut. A terrific effort in 2006 form 'Smithers'.

Ollie Rayner's limited appearances due to Sussex CCC commitments obviously hampered ECCs charge up the table but when he did play it was clear he put the side onto another level with his off-spin and aggressive batting style. It will probably be much of the same for 2007 as his career looks like going from strength to strength.

Martyn Garnett in his first season as skipper can hold his head up high. His leadership on the pitch was very composed and for the wee lad also contributed as a frontline batsman hitting over 300 runs, whilst batting in a variety of batting positions (numerically!). Wicket-keeper/batsman Ben Brown also had a commendable season in both his disciplines. A shaky start with the bat could only mean a strong finish as he showed his county potential with blistering batting displays against Three Bridges (102*) and Preston Nomads (96). Mark Tomsett will not be overly happy with his 171 runs for the season, but bearing in mind he missed a few appearances because of working commitments and the travelling down from London for every match, it clearly took its toll along with playing cricket nearly every day; hopefully better things for 2007. Jack Hepburn and Luke Tomsett will all be looking to improve on their run tally next year after enduring indifferent campaigns with the bat. Australian Tim Freeburn hit a creditable 268 runs but his measly 5 wickets with his leg spin failed to live up to expectations. Ragheb Aga showed his credentials with bat and ball towards the back of the season, so hopefully the Kenyan will be around for 2007. 17 year old Charlie Hincliffe also showed he is more than up to the task of first XI cricket with a couple of match saving innings against Horsham and Chichester.

In the seamers department Stuart Collier, Jon Lord, Richard Smith, Chad Chisholm and Aga all produced decent performances for the majority of their appearances. However, what is clearly lacking is an out and out quick bowler to mop up those frustrating tails that can make all the difference between winning, losing and drawing matches. Food for thought for the winter months perhaps...

The real positive factor about ECC is its young, up and coming players. From the 1st XI to the fourths, there are players that all have potential, some fulfilling quicker than others, that are capable of playing a high level of cricket. No doubt, even in 2007 there will be more youngsters that will be on the first team horizon. Watch this space!

At the recent ECC Presentation Evening night, the following recipients were nominated for the respective 'Player of the Year' Awards for the 2006 season.

1st XI - Tom Smith
2nd XI - John Tomsett
3rd XI - Russ Varney
4th XI - Giles Adams

ECC all-rounder Tom Smith picked up the Sussex Cricket League's 'Young Player of the Year' Award at the SCL Dinner on Friday 20th October. 'Smithers' took 37 wickets and scored 341 runs along the way to landing the prize. A truly great effort, which was rewarded with a professional contract with Sussex CCC at the end of the season.

ECC all-rounder Tom Smith (right) has landed a one year full time professional contract at Sussex CCC. 'Smithers' has enjoyed his best season by far with ECC bagging over 40 wickets and scoring well over 300 runs. The 19 year old also took his form into the county 2nd XI set up where again he was in the midst of runs and wickets. A fine season was capped off at the Riverside where he took 2 wickets on debut in the Pro40 match against Durham.

'Smithers' has been at ECC since he was 8 years old and years of hard work have paid off to achieve this goal, well done from all at the club.

Charismatic 4th XI skipper Duncan Cameron (below) picked up the 'Clubman of the Year' award at the ECC's Annual Dinner held at the Royal Eastbourne GC on Saturday 30th September. 'Big Dunk' led the fourths to the East Sussex Division 8 title and along with his tireless off the field efforts there could be no better recipient of the award. Along with his trophy, Cameron received a new pair of playing socks for next season, having gone the whole of the 2006 season wearing the same unwashed 'lucky' socks!

The evening was a rip-roaring success with plenty of money being made from the ticket sales and on the raffle. A final figure will be announced shortly.

Player Awards

The inaugural ECC Senior & Junior Presentation night was held at the Saffrons on Friday 6th January. The turn out was a healthy one, all of which listened to speeches by the respective Captains and Managers of all the teams at all levels throughout the club.

Senior Awards - Player of the Year 2005

1st XI - Ollie Rayner

2nd XI - Chris Baker

3rd XI - Adam Blackburn

4th XI - Chris Hoadley

Well done to all of the above and all the best for 2006.

Hacker is new Chairman

ECC bowling legend, Paul Hacker, has been installed as the club's new Chairman. John Heald steps down from the post which he has held for over a decade. Hacker at 36 is relatively young for the role but is well respected amongst all the players and officials not just at ECC but throughout the county.

Hacker will still continue to play, these days he's helping bring on the youth in the second team. After a long career in the all-conquering ECC team of the 90s, where he took hundreds of wickets as every honour was won including the '97 victory in the National Cup Final at Lord's.

Garnett to skipper in 2006

ECC will have a new skipper for the 2006 season, Martyn Garnett (right). The diminutive batsman/keeper will take over from Jon Lord, who had two successful seasons at the helm.

Garnett, 22, possesses a smart cricketing brain, and with five seasons of 1st XI cricket behind him he is a more than up to the task ahead.

Other Captain news:

2nd XI - John Tomsett

3rd XI - Russ Varney - Captain, Simon Hoadley - Manager

4th XI - Duncan Cameron - Captain, Charles Kitching - Manager

Sunday XI - Jack Hepburn

Midweek XI - Graham Underdown

Rayner - Sussex Young Player of the Year

Congratulations to the following ECC players who have had recent success with contracts at Sussex CCC.

All-rounder Ollie Rayner (19) has been rewarded for another excellent year with a one year full professional contract.

Sean Heather has been given another year's deal at Hove after having a good second half to 2005.

Young gun Tom Smith (18) has earned a place on the Academy Plus scheme for 2006.

While wicket-keeper/batsman, Ben Brown ,16, has once again been retained by the Academy.

A very special thanks must go to the 'Tea Ladies' who once again pulled out all the stops with their superb efforts in the kitchen. You know who you are!

To all scorers and umpires who did their bit. Thank you to the 1st team scorer, Cathy, in her first season at the club, providing a marvellous replacement for Dick Blake. Also, the husband and wife pairing of Mr & Mrs Baker with 2nd XI scoring and umpiring duties. Pete Andrews also helped out in the umpiring department for both the 2nds & 3rds. To Claire, for her sterling work with the third team scorebook. Charles Kitching for his all round efforts in the 4th XI.

Once again, a huge indebtedness to Brian Hepburn for raising a tremendous amount of money in the ECC Golf Day, the fixture cards and the rejuvenated EB Knockout Tournament.

Jim and Darren Cumming for the organising and running of the inaugural Luke Lockyer Memorial Trophy, which also raised plenty of cash for the club.

A massive thanks to coach Richard Burnett for his dedicated efforts at training, selection and on Saturday match days.

We are devastated by the news that "due to a mess between the ECB and Surrey CCC the junior cricket at the Oval on 8 September has been cancelled." What a brilliant way to treat young players! What is the truth behind it and who is responsible?

Congratulations to both our U12 and U13 Team - the Sussex Junior Cricket Festival Winners - 2005.

Commiserations to our U11 team who won all their area games but did not qualify for the final on the runs to wicket ration applied across the County.

ECCs 2nd XI finished the season on a high and cemented second place in the table with a 3 wicket win over Brighton at the Saffrons. Brighton won the toss and batted. The visitors posted 200 for 8 form their 53 overs after being in big trouble earlier thanks to wickets from Richard Smith (5 for 70). Skipper for the day, Simon Funnell took 2 for 14 and there was one for Graham Underdown.

EB made hard work of the total but chased it down in just 33 overs. Simon Cane-Hardy hit 64, Luke Tomsett (23) and there were also 41 extras in the Eastbourne total. EB did throw a few of their wickets away, but Underdown and Chisholm saw the 'bourne home.

The 3rd XI lost their crunch promotion match at St. Peter's, going down by just a 2 wicket defeat. Russ Varney did hit a ton for EB but it wasn't to be for Murray Schofield and his troops.

The 4th XI had a walk over victory after their opponents, St. Peter's dropped out on the Friday being unable to raise a team. Other results meant that the fourths were crowned champions and will now move up to East Sussex Division 8 in 2006. Well done boys!

The 2nd XI had to endure a bore draw against Chichester's twos. The match had to be played at Seaford College due to Chi's ground hosting a festival. EB were stuck in on a green wicket but batted very well for their entire 53 overs, posting 207 for 9. Top scorer was Richard Smith (82), and he was well supported by Chris Baker (40). Mark Trubshaw also hit a quick 23. Chi never really went for the target as the EB bowlers shared the wickets around Chad Chisholm (2), Ollie Ody (3) and Smith (2) as the 'hosts' ended up on 138 for 8 at the close of play.

A big thank you to Golf Day Organiser Brian Hepburn, who once again done a superb job in raising vital funds for the club. The Royal EB G.C. was the venue once more, as nearly 50 golfers turned out and there were just under 60 for the evening meal. Around £1200 was raised from the day. Also, many thanks to all the respective sponsors for the day itself. A great effort by those all involved.

Luke Tomsett hit his maiden 2nd XI hundred and was the star with the bat for EB as they played out a bore draw at Horsham. EB posted a big 259 for 4. Opener Darren Cumming made 92 before he was unluckily run out backing up at the non strikers end. 'Jumby' Tomsett went past three figures ending up on 109 not out. Horsham never really went for the 260 set for victory, they played out their 47 overs to finish up on 187 for 4, in what was not great cricketing spectacle on a batting friendly wicket.

A select ECC XI beat the University of Brighton on Monday night at The Saffrons by 59 runs. EB posted 161 in their 20 overs, Tom Smith top scoring with 65 not out, while Martyn Garnett blazed 49.

The Uni never got going and with the wickets shared between the two Smiths, Lord, Hepburn and Rayner, EB won comfortably.

A good match practise situation ahead of Saturday's testing visit of newly promoted Preston Nomads.

ECC batsman Mark Tomsett and bowler Jon Lord have both been in top form recently.

'Tommo' has enjoyed a string of good scores for the club. In his last three knocks for the 1st XI he has made 73 (vs. Hastings), 47* (vs. Steyning) and 68 (vs. Bexley). Whilst adding a 76 and a whopping 150 (retired) for the Sunday and Midweek XIs.

Club captain, Jon Lord has taken 16 wickets this season already, including 12 in his last 3 games. He has been hitting consistent lines and lengths and the results are paying dividends.

ECCs Sean Heather picked up the runners-up award at the recent Eastbourne Achievers Awards held at the Winter Gardens. He was nominated because of his superb 2004 with the bat, breaking the all time Sussex League record, hitting 1086 runs.

Amazingly, Sean was overlooked for the top gong in the Sports Achiever category. That prize went to Len Smith of Eastbourne Borough FC, who doesn't even play sport!! Hmmm?

Congratulations to Tom Smith and his young Eastbourne C team on securing the Indoor League title. 'Smithers' side lost only two matches along the way, beating rivals Eastbourne A in their penultimate match last Sunday.

Special thanks must go to Eastbourne's officials for the league. Umpire, David Lockyer and scorer, Peter Bibby. It would be difficult to run three teams without their much appreciated help.

Ragheb Aga a Kenyan International and recently Captain of Kenya will be with us next season.

Ragheb [ Ragz] is at Brighton Uni and played with us on and off for the last 2 years - but could not play in the League 1st or 2nd teams because of a restriction on overseas players. He is now qualified to play as a non-overseas and we welcome him back to the Saffrons.

Ragz spent time with St James in our League last year as their overseas player and did very well.

He also appeared for Kenya in the ICC Champions Trophy which took place in England last September.

Eastbourne CC will not be hosting Lashings All-Stars in the 2005 season. The inaugural match last season, in which Lashings won, was badly disrupted by the weather, thus effecting the attendance and finances. It is understood that Lashings' are demanding an much increased fee. A figure in which ECC and The Saffrons regard as far too much for a single day's cricket.

Sean Heather (right) was in London in November to pick up his 'Cockspur Rum' Club Cricket Conference Player of the Year award at Cafe Royale in Regent Street. The honour is recognised nationally, and is a really superb achievement. Sean, broke the league record for runs scored in a season, amassing a mammoth 1086 runs! He richly deserves his award and will pick up Woodworm cricket equipment along with more rum as his prize!

ECC run machine, Sean Heather has capped a superb season by scooping the 'Wisden Cricketer Monthly Magazine's Club Player of the Season'. This is a magnificent achievement, as this judge by experts of the game and competition is from all over the country against all fellow cricketers. Heather, picked up the monthly award for July, after scoring nearly 600 runs in the month alone!

ECC's league record runs holder, Sean Heather, was presented with the league batting award for the 2004 season at the league dinner, on Friday 15th October at the Hove Dogs Stadium. Heather hit a mammoth 1086 league runs in 2004, beating the previous best of Aussie, Ben Cameron by just 4 runs.

Club scorer, Dick Blake and groundsman, Jim Cumming have said their retirement farewells to their respective duties at the Saffrons. Both being long stalwarts of the club, the super efforts will be sorely missed.

Dick, is stepping down after 8 long years and yearbooks in the score box. In a nutshell, his handwritten statistics have been magnificent. See you on the boundary, Dick, but bring your pen in case we are short!!

Grafter Jim, will be missed likewise. Every hour under the sun over the past 5/6 years he has devoted to the Saffrons. All the best in your retirement, Jim. Keep off the bloody square though!!

ECC held its annual dinner at the Hydro Hotel on Saturday 2nd October. The evening was enjoyed by all. A big thank you to all of you that attended. There were 111 in total, which is a great effort. All this loyal support goes towards raising vital extra funds for the club. Thank you once again.