Training will be at Abingdon School this Monday 19^th April 2010 from 6:00pm until 8:00pm. We will then have a Players meeting at the Club to start at 8:30pm please do your best to attend those who cant make it to training please be at the club by 8:30pm for the players meeting.

ITS YOUR MEETING SO PLEASE BE THERE!

We need the following to be able to commence playing this season

Caterer – to do the teas for the season, we will be paying £60 for one tea and £100 for two teas done on home games – if we cannot find a caterer then we will ALL have to take our turn doing the teas!

Press and PR – we need someone to collate all our press cuttings and communicate with the Press this season (See David Ward)

Umpires – we need volunteers to umpire this season on certain games

Ground Duty – we will be working in teams of three for each team at home this season; please do not let down your team mates and show up on time for your ground duty

Abingdon Vale say they have pulled off a major coup by signing Oxford all-rounder Graham Charlesworth.

The 45-year-old has joined the MP Sports Cherwell League Division 2 side as a player, but will also be involved in coaching, especially with the juniors.

Charlesworth, who coaches Oxford University and played for the city club for the past eight seasons, stressed spending more time with his family was key to the move.

Vale’s cricket chairman, Dave Ward, said: “I think if you asked Oxford, they would be very disappointed to be losing someone like Charlie.

“From our point of view, it is an absolute coup.

“We are pleased he has made a family decision. He is someone we have been talking to for a couple of years.”

In light of recent allegations around the league, Ward also wanted to stress that Charle-sworth is not being paid.

Charlesworth said: “I love Home Counties cricket. I think it is one of the best leagues I have played in.

“This is more of a family decision to be honest. We live in Abingdon and now the kids are just getting interested in cricket.”

Charlesworth is looking forward to coaching his sons Luke, who is about to turn seven, and nine-year-old Ben, among Vale’s youngsters on Saturday mornings.

He said: “I have passion for playing cricket at a high level. I still feel I could be playing there [Home Counties], but with our kids at the age they are, it is time to be less selfish.

“Abingdon are a nice friendly club with a good social aspect.

“I’m doing cricket at a good level in my job and this is just a bit of relaxation at the weekend.

“It is pretty informal. I am just going to get a bunch of young kids together and see where we go.

“It is a chance to play some fun cricket.

“Over the winter I have worked with the county age group seamers. It will be nice for me to see them in action around the Cherwell League.

“I have learnt so much and want to pass on that knowledge.

“On the playing side, we’ll have a lot of fun. Winning the league would be great, but we are going to have fun.

“It would be great if we have 15-year-olds playing for us who go on to play for Oxford, Oxfordshire or further afield.

Ward added: “The vision with Abingdon is that we are a feeder club.”

Charlesworth has also set up Oxford Cricket Academy alongside Ward, and will be coaching six to 15-year-olds at different venues around Oxfordshire.

“My passion is getting young kids playing cricket,” said Charlesworth, who will particularly focus on developing under tens.

Ward said: “We are trying to identify good ball players. It may be that we find kids who have not played cricket before, but have a great throw for example.”

The kit will be delivered to Ben Lanham once a week free of charge (and he will distribute accordingly) or you can have it posted to your address and pay the mailing costs. The approximate turn around is ten days.

Club members are also entitled to a 25% RRP discount on other Surridge equipment from Academy sports – more details to follow (items currently not on website)

Many thanks to our shirt sponsors Withy King, gardengames.co.uk and also to Simon at Academy Sports.

If you have any questions please contact Ben Lanham

Other items such as caps and equipment will be added to the site over the coming week. The new Surridge range has only just been made available.

Also, if you are ordering there are two delivery options. You need to select option 2 – collection at no cost (if you want the kit to be delivered free of charge to Ben (for him to distribute)) or option 1 to pay fedex delivery costs and have it delivered to you.

Abingdon Vale Cricket Club are pleased to announce the following Winter Net sessions.

Venue: - Fitzharrys school, Northcourt road, Abingdon OX14 1NP www.fitzharrys.oxon.sch.uk

Directions: - See web site.  Turn left at the end of the drive & follow round to a car park close to the hall.

Dates: - Starting Saturday 27th February for 6 consecutive weeks ending on 3rd April (Easter weekend)

Times: - U10/11 – 9.15am registration. Start 9.30 – 11am

U13 – 10.45am registration.  Start 11am – 12.30pm

Cost: - £3 per child per session or £15 for all 6 sessions, cash or cheque payable to AVCC.

What to wear/bring? – Trainers & white or coloured cricket type top.  Shorts &/or tracky bottoms.  A drink is essential & of course the payment.  This will be soft ball practice & so no need for pads, gloves or protector.  You can bring your own bat if you have one.

We will remind you again nearer the time & look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.

The date of the game is Sunday 16th May, with a 1pm start

Congratulations to all of the below:

County Squad Selection:

Senior Womens Squad:

• Samantha Moore

• Helen Webster

U17 Girls Squad:

• Samantha Moore

U12 Boys Squad:

• Arthur Beard

• Graham Beer

U10 Boys Squad:

• Harrison Ward

Vale of White Horse District Squad selection

U15 Boys Squad:

• Joe Butcher

• Jason Cardy

• Adam Scholey

U13 Boys Squad:

• Matthew Butcher

• Thomas Harris

• Aled Newton

• Thomas Stubley

• Cameron Spilsbury

U11 Boys Squad:

• Amand Halgreen

Please see the photo below – reproduced by kind permission of http://www.abingdonblog.co.uk/

Once the snow melts – we will need to do some ground work to gwt the ground up to scratch for the new season

This Friday, the Under 15 training will be at Josca’s – 6.30pm to 8.30pm

The remainder of the sessions at Abingdon School (7pm-9pm) will not be affected on the following dates:

• Friday 22nd January
• Friday 29th January
• Friday 5th February
• Friday 12th February
• Friday 19th February
• Friday 26th February
• Friday 5th March
• Friday 12th March
• Friday 19th March
• Friday 26th March

For further information, please contact Stuart Cardy on stuartcardy@btinternet.com

The first tranche of Winter Nets have been arranged for  Friday 22nd January and Friday 29th January (7.30pm-9pm).

The venue is Radley College Sports Centre

All are welcome to attend