President’s New Year Update
The outdoor season might be three months away but things are starting to happen and the Committee has been working hard on a number of issues.
I wanted to write to you all to tell you what was happening but also to ask for some help – as a club we rely on volunteers in all sections to help with various things – on and off the field - and we would welcome more – whether you are a player, parent or supporter, if you have skills that might help us, there will be plenty of opportunities coming up.
New Artificial Wicket
We should have a new artificial wicket in place for the start of the season. It will have a concrete base and new carpet. It’s a significant investment by the club and it is, of course, used by all sections of the club regularly.
We will be looking to raise some funds towards the cost, starting in a few weeks time and if anyone has expertise in fund raising or is willing to help us with this please speak to any Committee member or email mdafssecretary@gmail.com
Senior Indoor nets.
These are now up and running at the Sports Hall at the Edinburgh Academy Junior School off Arboretum Road from 10am until noon on Sunday mornings every week until the 6th of April. The cost is £ 6 for those in work and £ 3 for the unwaged including students. Committee members Phil, Ram and James are organising and some other seniors have pitched in to help with on the day tasks – thank you.
We are always looking for new players and the poster which appeared on Instagram and on Facebook is capable of being downloaded and put up in an office for example. The first indoor net is free for any new member.
Ask anyone interested to email mdafssecretary@gmail.com and they can ben sent the senior Spond link.
Annual General Meeting.
The AGM will be held on WEDNESDAY 19th MARCH at Murrayfield Wanderers Clubhouse at Glendevon Park at 7.30pm.
The AGM will confirm the five weekend League captains for the season and will also set the membership subscription and match fees as by that time we will know the cost of pitches.
Well in advance of the AGM we will be issuing a captain’s job description so that those who might be interested in standing for a team captaincy this year will know what’s involved.
Senior Season
So you are all aware the League season will run from the weekend of 26th/27th April until 23rd/24th August.
There should be friendly games the weekend of Saturday 19th April/Sunday 20th April although it’s known that’s Easter weekend when some people may be away.
This year our League teams will be in Divisions 2,3,5,7 and the new Division 9.
Women and Girls Cricket.
We are planning to enter a team in the Women’s Premier League this season. The games are mainly on Sunday afternoons and we will be looking for support for the team.
We have a great group of young talented players but it would be great to see more women and girls joining the group to give us more depth.
Please ask anyone who might be interested in joining us in the first instance to email mdafssecretary@gmail.com
If they haven’t played before or haven’t played or for a while that doesn’t matter – please ask them to get in touch.
We are committed to growing this part of the club going forward.
Winter Juniors.
In reality the junior programme has never stopped over the winter.
At St George’s on a Friday night we have had groups of All Stars, Dynamos (2 groups) and Under 12 girls meeting every second week.
At Edinburgh Academy we have four groups of hardball juniors meeting every second week with Aash Rhode leading the coaching back by an extremely capable team of coaches.
Numbers have again been great but if you know of anyone who would be interested in joining any of these activities then please get them to email mdafsjuniors@gmail.com and we’ll provide the necessary details.
As ever we are always looking for parents to help us with sessions and when we move towards the summer it will be very busy so if you are not already involved and think you could help by looking after a junior team on a match day, scoring games or in any way with the admin then also please email mdafsjuniors@gmail.com and we’ll find you something to do.
Sponsorship.
As a community club, one of our aims is to ensure that cricket is affordable for everyone and to help us do this we would like to find some sponsors to help us.
We know in the current climate that businesses don’t have a lot of money and so we have to be realistic.
If you or anyone you know might be interested in sponsoring the club – five senior teams, a midweek social team, a Women and Girls team and six junior teams, then please let us know who they might be and we’d be happy to talk to them – email again mdafssecretary@gmail.com or speak to a Committee member.
Equally we are keen to look at smaller ways of helping – for example to sponsor a ball for a senior or junior match – last year senior balls were £ 16 and junior balls were £12 or what about sponsoring a tea for those playing at Roseburn. Our teas are admired by many clubs – it cost us last year £80 per team tea so again it’s an area where we’d love support.
The Committee doesn’t have specific expertise in marketing/seeking sponsorship so if you have that skill set and are willing to help then please email mdafssecretary@gmail.com or speak to a Committee member.
Scottish Cricket Registration Scheme.
Thanks to all of you who have already signed up with the Scottish Cricket Registration scheme which is free to join. Those of you who signed up in 2024 will be contacted in the next month or so by Cricket Scotland to renew your membership.
Membership continues to be free and so if you haven’t done so please sign up – it’s really important because it provides information which Cricket Scotland can use when talking to both the ICC and sportscotland about matters such as funding.
The aim is that everyone who is plying should sign up and its there too for parents and supporters – help the club to help Cricket Scotland move forward..
I hope this brings you up to date with what’s happening. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
Phil Yelland
President.
