Saturday 1st  X1

So near and yet so far. The 1st XI season ended with a flurry of great performances that unfortunately were not quite enough to gain a much-desired promotion to Division 1 where we ended up third. Our early season efforts varied from poor to hopeless and these provided us with too big a hill to climb at the tail end of the summer. Almost an exact replica of last season.
There were a few notable performers with the bat especially a memorable partnership from the Atkinson brothers at Barcombe where we chased a total of 233 and got them in 40 overs with Johnny A 109 and Chris 63. Chasing a total seems to be a challenge that drags us out of our lethargy as was proved again versus Rye, 213 for 2 off 42, and a fantastic last match versus Uckfield reaching a winning 190 off 30 overs.
Our bowlers were not as all conquering as they might have been and whilst Ally Evans, 5 for 30 v Uckfield and Olly Wills, as always beating the bat but with little or no luck, put in some good spells we were unable to back them up on a regular basis. The first match of the season unearthed what we all hoped to be our new secret bowling weapon - Mike Nolan taking 6 for 20 - but as everyone predicted at the time this was a big flash in a rather shallow pan. Mark Hilfiker proved that the day of the elder statesman is not gone as he ended up top of the bowling averages despite a bad back, leg, groin, shoulder etc. Similarly brave efforts from Bob Norfolk and Paddy Nolan prove that with a couple of working limbs between them they are still forces to be reckoned with.
Our thanks go to Tom Hutson for continuing to score with unerring accuracy and to Les Brown, our new groundsman, for putting in a huge amount of work throughout the year. Special mention should also be made of Colin Truran's invaluable work particularly during cricket week.
Finally to the highlight of last season when Jamie Theakston put together the strongest squad ever to play at Ditchling comprising some 10 international cricketers, 3 county players, David English of Bunburys fame and himself, all lead by their team manager Alex Stewart. It was a fantastic day for the club and winning against such a star studded XI made it even more so. Our thanks go to all the professionals who took time out to enjoy some Ditchling hospitality, to the huge numbers of supporters who turned up to watch and especially to Jamie for an extraordinary feat of organisation.

Saturday 2nd XI - Escape from ESCL V - Summer 2004

All successful sides have unique qualities - ours are undoubtedly our ability not to let our startling mediocrity get in the way of a good game of cricket and that there is no cock up that we can't blame on the skipper. Usually fielding sides with at least four wicketkeepers, seven opening bowlers, three people who claim they can spin the ball and ten top order batsmen, we bestrode the league like a colossus, declining the gaudy and unnecessary glory of first place for the comfort of second place promotion, with Wadhurst just missing out on the third place by a point.
There were some sad losses along the way; Simmo left for a career in DIY in Essex, Kevin Grant just disappeared, and Chris Fox was as good as dead having got married mid-season. But there was the reappearance of Rob Lee and, more surprisingly his subs. Three unsuspecting new members, Samit, Anurag and Ridhish, whom our new skipper, Ed Burns, managed to persuade to play with the promises that we were the nearest cricket club to Clapham and we had a lap dancing club in the pavilion. Between them they provided the top of the batting and bowling averages; the most ducks and the gayest bowling action seen for years.
Good performances were seen all round: Rob Lee (including a 7-23) and Chris Evans bowled out the batsmen and Sam bowled out the nine year olds. Samit and Ridhish with centuries, Jamie with three fifties, Anurag and Mark with plenty of big hitting, got the runs, and the rest of us, um, helped to make the tea ladies feel wanted.
Our success can mainly be put down to forgetting to have the traditional mid-season slump and only playing two games with less than eleven players (a record). We meandered through May and June towards the usual pants we serve up in July but actually then won four games on the trot and found ourselves at the start of August in a position where even we couldn't mess it up.
A successful first season for the skipper and the new challenge of life in ESCL IV awaits where the advice of the senior pro's in the outfield will be as important and relevant as ever, and the fight for 9,10 & 11 in the batting line up will remain as fierce as ever.
Bring 'em on.


"Strollers"
A dodgy start to the season with bad weather combined with a lack of practice (ability?) taking its toll. The first high point in the season came on the first home game - a brilliant tea provided by Anna from Stoneywish (thankfully she managed to continue this class throughout the season - Thanks Anna).
On the 22nd May we managed to beat Staplefield for the first time in recent history thanks to some great bowling from Emmens, Davis, Butcher and Claringbull. They were 77 all out and we cruised to victory with the loss of only one wicket.
Unfortunately we were then thrashed by Chigwell, Brunswick and yes Staplefield away. We managed to pick ourselves up and get back on winning form by firstly beating St James Under 12 XI with G. Theakston grabbing the headlines with the enviable figs of 1.2 overs 2 wickets for 1 run. Followed by victories against Ferring, Lingfield, Cuckfield Ladies and Lewes St Michael's twice.
At this point we should mention Ken Butcher who has been a real force for the strollers over many years. This coming season Ken is standing down as a regular player but we are all delighted that he will be officiating as an umpire. We wish Ken all the best and congratulate him on a great, sometimes brilliant career.
Our form in the Pub was not the greatest in 2004 but we feel sure that the training we have all undertaken through the winter months will prove beneficial for 2005.
"Stroll on"
Played 13, Abandoned 1, Won 7, Lost 5, Drew 0

 Sunday XI

It's been emotional, what a season. If you had said to me when we were at Findon in the cup chasing 280 in 40 overs and opening the batting with Bill Baxter and Nigel Philips who had scored 10 in the first 15 overs that we would have the season we did, I would have eaten my bat.
Where to start, the batting of Simon Leadsom averaging around 66 and scoring nearly 700 runs, the 123 scored by Jerry Spencer, the awesome bowling attack of Evans, Collard, Edgill, Prickett, Spencer, Leadsom Jnr and Snr, the huge diving one handed catch to his left as stand in wicket keeper from Tom Marshall, young 11 year old Flynn Home beating his dad in the final of the double wicket, Rory and Bill Baxter seeing us to victory on more than one occasion, Paul Davey keeping wicket like no other terrestrial alive or my LBW against The South Indies, so much champagne to select from. The truth is it was no individual moment but a collection of people that made last season so excellent and my happiest year playing for Ditchling. As that sounds very sentimental I shall carry on for a few more lines, because we will allegedly be missing our vice captain this year. Tom Marshall was the man for our season; calming, entertaining, enthusiastic and anyone who witnessed that catch will confirm skillful. So from me and the team thanks mate and good luck with them all "down under". We await the tour dates.
For the first time in a while, on a Sunday, we won considerably more than we lost and I believe that victories reached into double figures. Thanks to all involved, it all went so very well last year that I suggest we take a moment to remember the summer of 2004 because it may be a while before it happens again or it could be the year that started a long run of glory. I still dream we will win the Cricketer Cup at Lords, just as long as we don't meet Findon in the first round!
On a personal note it will also be a memorable season as it was the last my father, the President had at Ditchling. I will never forget the celebrations that combined his birthday and the RNVR BBQ. It was apt that a fixture 54 years old continues with such enjoyment and revelry with Lawrence at the heart of it. As his final resting place has an excellent view of the square and pavilion I think he would ask that the spirit with which he served and which he instilled in this Club continue with as much passion, partying, personality and pride.
Mark Pepler

Ditchling Junior Section

Last season saw the re-introduction of junior cricket to Ditchling.
We were looking to see whether there is sufficient enthusiasm in the village to support a junior section. There clearly is! We had about 30 regular attenders at our Saturday morning sessions. They ranged in age from 6 to 14. Everyone had fun and we are indebted to the commitment of James Balcombe, the professional coach that we engaged to lead the sessions.
So this year will see pre-season sessions at Hurstpierpoint College (10-11 am Sunday mornings through till 08 May) and then through the season on Saturday mornings from 9am - 11am (from 14 May until 31 July). James Balcombe or other professional coaches that James recommends are going to be leading the sessions.
If you were born before 01 June 1998 and you want to have some fun playing junior cricket - come along. Boys and girls are equally welcome.
The cost of the outdoor sessions will be £2.50 or £20 will cover all 12 sessions.
We would also welcome any adults from the Club or the village who are interested in helping out and getting a coaching qualification (that the Club will pay for).
We are aiming to ensure that everyone has the opportunity this season to play some competitive cricket.
Through the ECB we are working towards gaining Sport England's Clubmark status as a safe, effective and child-friendly club. So, for example, all juniors are provided with the Junior Section Rules and the Code of Conduct for Parents/Carers. We're looking to do this properly!
That's not to say that the principal objective of the Junior Section is anything other than teaching youngsters how much fun can be had on a cricket pitch.
We very much hope that the Junior Section will see the Club further integrated into the village and, of course, in years to come provide some keen, new recruits who learnt their cricket with us and so are imbued with the sense of Ditchling cricket.