By Ian Palmer
A sure sign that summer is approaching is the start of the cricket season.
Following a particularly wet March the ground staff at Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club (sponsored by Frank’s The Flooring Store) are trying desperately hard to get the ground playable for the first game, on Saturday, April 15, when the second team entertain Bedale Seconds.
On the same day the first team make the short trip to newly promoted Shildon for a local derby in Division 2 of the NYSD.
All of the club’s teams have trained throughout the winter and the ladies team have already played competitive fixtures when they followed up last season’s league championship by winning the indoor South Durham Ladies Tournament.
The first team have strengthened their batting line up by acquiring Tom Young from Sedgefield. Tom has experience of playing at a higher level and started last season as captain of Sedgefield first team in Division 1 of the NYSD.
The club are also delighted that the hard work continues to pay off at junior level with four players being selected to represent Durham County Cricket Club and another two being selected in the Durham County Girls Development Squad.
In addition, the club have continued their commitment to invest in youth by funding coaching courses for two of their younger players.
Matthew Greaves and Leo Mercy (pictured above) have recently attended and passed the ECB Level 2 Coaching Course and will now work alongside the Clubs other coaches.
Unfortunately, however, due to a couple of players choosing to leave the club and others making the decision to stop playing, Aycliffe are currently short of players to make up the senior squad and are looking to recruit players to play Saturday afternoons in either the first or second teams.
We are particularly looking for players, over the age of 13 years, who have experience of either club cricket or schools cricket.
Anybody who would be interested in playing should contact the secretary Lee Weldon on 07759 754959.