Sit back and enjoy the journey that was ‘Watsonian Cricket Club, Season 2010′

 

A very brief and high level view of 2009 shows that the 1st XI finished eighth position in the SNCL Premier Division, the 2nd XI whilst finishing in sixth place in East League Division One had to win on the final day to ensure they stayed in the ESCA top flight and the 3rd XI propped up their division recording just two wins.

 

One year on and at the end of season 2010 it’s important that we cast our eyes back on what all of us who make up Watsonian Cricket Club have achieved.

 

Starting right at the top, the success of the club on the field this year has been a pleasure to see.

 

Since the first National Premier League first came into play in 1999 the highest finishing position of the club was 7th in 2001, this year we’ve blown that out of the water with a 2nd place finish that all at the club can be extremely proud of.

 

The Second XI too have had a remarkable year, the ESCA Division One title was won by our 2s for the first time, in fact matching the record of our First XI who won the same title in 1976 (the Kim Hughes Year). Whilst previous honours for the Second XI have including winning the Grade A (2nd XI Title) in 1959 (shared with RHS FP), 1961, 1965, 1975 (shared with Stenhousemuir), 1978, 1987, 1998 and the President’s Trophy in 2008 this title is all the more special given the quality of competition including clubs 1st XI’s and of course other talented SNCL clubs 2nd XI’s.

 

The Third XI should also be commended for the stabling the ship, it’s been a tough couple of seasons in reality and as can be seen throughout the East Leagues the danger of following up one bad season with another is only too common. What the 3s did this year was win crucial games and should remember that fostering that spirit and winning mentality in future seasons will see them progress. The 3s have also given a first view to senior cricket to countless numbers of our colts, they are the future of Watsonian Cricket and some of the individual performances from our youths this year have been highly encouraging.

 

A big thanks from all at the club must go to the three Senior XI’s Captains on their hard work throughout the season. I’m sure you will all echo the thanks we must give to Steve Paige, David Breach and Oliver Gaywood.

 

It has also been a big year for Youth Cricket at Myreside. At the back end of 2009 the club took a long look at the work we were doing in Youth Development and tried to understand how it worked, how it should work and what we needed to do to make it better.

 

The first step was ensuring we had a structure that fitted what we were trying to and some simple but effective changes were made, it all sounds very easy however the club as a whole are indebted to the countless hours (day/weeks/months) of hard work that has been put in by many individuals, no more so than Simon Counsell and Michael Brown. It’s true that we have had significant success in 2010 in Youth Cricket but it’s clear we are only starting to scratch at the surface and we are at the start of a very long journey here, everyone has a part to play and can help in some way to ensure that WCC are at the forefront of Youth Cricket and our community. Still what the club has done in this space is a massive achievement for 2010.

 

It has been great to see countless Watsonians receiving international and representative honours in 2010. Ryan Flannigan and Ewan Chalmers have led the way in 2010 pulling on the Scotland shirt on numerous occasions, whilst they have also joined Stuart Chalmers in the Scotland A Squad that is now known as the ‘Scotland Lions’. New ‘Sonian Paddy Sadler who joined the club from RH Corstorphine in the winter led his young Scotland side to the European title and through the first stage of qualification to the next Under 19 World Cup, Paddy was joined by Pete Legget in the squad coached by the now Myreside loving Craig Wright and both of them had superb tournaments.

 

Chris Cash took up the role of vice captain of Scotland Under 15s and had a decent tournament with the ball as he won his second successive title (and Scotland’s third in row) at the Under 15 European Championships. Paddy Baker captained the Eastern Academy who took part in the East League Division One this year, Paddy led a side that often included 3 ‘Sonians to a third place finish in the league. Another fine set of performances and the glimpses the club have seen of Paddy this year show that he has a role to play in the future of Watsonian Cricket.

 

On a domestic front, Stuart Chalmers finished as the SNCL Premier Division’s top wicket taker with 34 scalps and was one of 3 ‘Sonians in the top flight’s top 20 wicket takers.

 

In a 2nd XI fixture in Glenrothes in May Club Records Tumbled as Richard Crosby joined George Cairns at the crease. First they broke the record partnership for any wicket when they passed the mark set in 1996 of 259, and by the time Crosby was out from the penultimate ball of the innings their partnership stood at a staggering 290 runs. 4 further runs were added off the final ball (which included a no ball) as the 2nd XI finished their 50 overs on a club record and a mammoth score of 383-3.

 

The partnership of 290 beat that of the previous mark of a 259 unbeaten partnership between Herzberg (142*) and Fowler (109*) in 1996 against Glasgow Accies, a game in which current ‘Sonians club vice captain Euan Stubbs played for the opposition.

 

That previous record partnership was soon push down from second to third place in the all time stats as Crosby again hit his highest club score of 163 in partnership with Mark Yellowlees (91) they racked up a stand of 269 at Grange Loan in the final 2s game of the season.

 

In June and in what turned out to be one the of the 3rd XI’s crucial fixtures, 3s Captain Oliver Gaywood took 7 for 25 against Edinburgh Accies which proved to be one of the individual highlights of the season bettering Paddy Sadler’s 7 for 28 for the 1st XI at Myreside against Heriots in the Scottish Cup.

 

By July and August the First XI had gone on such a good run that meant we started to run out of benches at the boundaries edge. Bob, Joe and John Martin who were all crouching round the boundary edge while the new balcony work was being completed had to jostle for a seat as ‘Sonians came out of the woodwork to support the team. No more notable supporters turned up a Myreside though than two former Australian professionals who following stints at Myreside in the 70′s and 80′s went on to represent their countries. Firstly at the home fixture versus the National Academy 1976 Watsonian and former Aussie Test Captain Kim Hughes was at the boundaries edge and talked to some of the 1st XI while the 1981 Pro and 11 times capped Test leg spinner Bob Holland was a guest at the Honorary Vice Presidents and Club Sponsors Tea when the 1s took on West of Scotland.

 

Another one of the biggest successes this season has the club’s new look website launched in December 2009, the site has seen high levels of traffic and receives an average of 100 hits per day. It has certainly helped bring ‘Sonians news and views to the world and as an accolade in April the club won the first ever Cricket Scotland Website of the Month Award. Thanks to the WebMaster Ollie Gaywood for all his hard work and to the regular contributors of match reports for all senior and junior XI’s that have helped make this a success.

 

Also in April ‘Sonians Fitness Sessions hit the web headlines with club fitness guru Mike Legget interviewed by the Cricket Specialist Website - PitchVision.

 

The club has received excellent media coverage in among others The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday, The Herald and The Edinburgh Evening News and are thankful to all journalists who cover Scottish Cricket – especially Bill Lothian, CricketMedia Scotland’s Willie Dick & David Kelso and Gary Heatly – for taking the time to write about us.

 

In addition the new Scottish Cricketer magazine launched in August ’10 included a double, double page spread on ‘Sonians entitled ‘Club Spirit to the Fore at Myreside’. If you haven’t got a copy then please contact Ross Brooks.

 

The Annual ‘Sonians Golf Day at Gifford Golf Club was a huge success and raised funds of £400 for the club, this will now be an annual event and Golfing Shark Robert Legget will be looking to defend his title in 2011.

 

The new look WCC Season Brochure is still an important part of raising club funds and this year provided an excellent view of the ‘new look’ Watsonian CC. Many thanks to all who contributed and thanks to David Breach for pulling this excellent publication together.

 

On behalf of the club we must say a Big Thanks to all our Sponsors and of course a thank you to all those who put in many hours of work off the field. The club wouldn’t run with just a squad of players and is grateful to all the committee for their hard work and to the immense effort put in by First Team Manager Stewart Robertson and Club Scorer Euan West.

 

Of course we can’t miss out our supporters, so thanks for sticking with us and we hope you enjoyed most of the cricket this year. Regulars in the crowd in 2010 have included the famous trio of Bob Lockhart, Joe Flannigan and John Martin along with Jeff Burton, Colin Baird and Peter Yellowlees popping up with regular visits to the boundaries edge.

 

So that’s a little taster of the 2010 at Myreside and it is important we realise how much we have achieved this year.

 

We have laid a foundation and the challenge is to improve and build on it in 2011. The planning has started already, from improving our facilities and improving our colts coaching to re-writing and bringing our club records up to date. All of this will go towards making Myreside and better place to play cricket and toward making Watsonian Cricket Club bigger and more successful.

 

It’s has been a magnificent year and one that wouldn’t have been possible without your hard work and dedication so we salute you ‘Sonians, one and all.

 

We have raised the bar at Myreside and now begins the challenge to raise it higher in 2011.

 

Ex Corde Caritas

 

ps, all this and not one mention of ‘Twitter’!

This entry was posted on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 10:05 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.