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Dear All,

Last Wednesday night, we had our first regular committee meeting since I became your president.

First can I say again, what an honour it is to be asked to do this job in our Centenary Year.

There are a few things to report to you coming out of the meeting.

Last Wednesday night the Centenary Committee we’ve established also had its first meeting.

I attended and I’ve got to say we’re off to a good start with lots of good people coming up with lots of good ideas.

Still quite a few of the logistics to lock away but at this stage we plan to hold a weekend event in February that will include a major function on the Saturday night followed by some 20/20 cricket on the Sunday at Queens Park.

Venues, times, etc for the main dinner are still to be finalised as we try to get a feel for just how many people we will have attending. As most of you will know, our facilities at Queens Park can’t cope with huge numbers.

One thing the committee is doing is sending out a survey to see how many people will attend. Please fill that in and get it back ASAP.

Also get the message out to as many former N&CCC players as you can about this being the Centenary Year and make it clear they are welcome, along with their partners and other family members.

This is a huge year for our club in so many respects. Hundreds – and the celebrating of them – are one of the core bits of cricket. So let really start thinking Centenary.

Our coach Bryan Thomas came along to the main committee meeting and he and I were able to report that we are working together on some solid recruiting programs. We will have more on that over the next little while. Best just to say we’re on the job and things are looking promising in a lot of areas.

Scott Mullen presented his first treasurer’s report and things look good in that area at the moment. However, we do have the expenses of the new practice facilities to meet, so that is going to require good financial management and lots of new fund-raising ideas.

Phillip Morgan is also working well in terms of getting us the news sponsorships we need. Again, if you know of someone who should be sponsoring our club, then let Morgo know.

And I use the word should because as a club, we provide an enormous community service for six and more months of the year, catering for cricketers from five to 50, even beyond in the case of the new Over 60′s team that uses our facility.

Memberships are another vital revenue source. Col Cunliffe is again off and running in this area and details will go up on our new website soon. There are some small but important changes for you to note but I will leave that to Col to explain in full.

Can I just say, take advantage of the discounts for early payments. That helps you and it also helps the club generate money early in the season.

I don’t know a lot of about websites, but when also during the meeting Scott showed the committee a draft version of our new website, it met with great approval around the table.

It was suggested that when up and running, no other club in Geelong would have a website even close to as good as ours.

That will be a great way to showcase our sponsors, our news stories, our results and in our 100th year – our history.

Of course websites don’t you win you premierships, but they are all part of the process of making sure your whole club is working well – and working together.

I want to reiterate the need to ensure that people like Phillip Morgan, Colin Cunliffe and Scott Mullen are not to be left to work alone.

In that regard, I am pleased to announce that Wednesday three more portfolios were filled: Kevin Simonsen as the Assistant Secretary, James Purcell and Tom Levick as Complex Managers and Brett Loats as Social Committee Leader.

I am again asking people to come forward to be part of all our support teams. They will certainly be out there seeking that support.

We have within our club people of many diverse talents that we should all be using to ensure we’re going forward.

Don’t wait to be asked. We didn’t get to be one of the greatest clubs in Geelong with a century of fine achievement because of people who waited to ask.

As the life members in gold lettering in our rooms attest, we got there because of people who came forward willingly to do all the jobs, big and little, that had to be done.

I would love to see new generations of gold letters up there, drawn from people who came forward in our 100th year.

We are a club going forward, make no mistakes about that. The speed of that progress will only be enhanced by a whole of club approach from within.

We can debate internally, and we do, but once we make a decision to take a certain path, let’s all get behind it.

I’ve been in cricket long enough to know the rewards of unity, of team play.

Neville Crane
President
N&CCC

 At the Annual General Meeting last Tuesday evening, I was elected president of the Newtown and Chilwell Cricket Club.

 I want to thank the club for offering me that opportunity in our Centenary Year.

 I also want to pay tribute to the past president, James Purcell, who I am pleased to say is staying on the committee in a senior role.

 And also thanks to last year’s committee for their unstinting efforts in often difficult times.

 As many of you will already know we have been working long and hard to ensure those difficult times very quickly become history. We have had some success recruiting a number of people who will help us do that.

They include our new Director of Cricket, Don Royce, new coach, Bryan Thomas, and new assistant coach, Mick Wood.

We are also in the business of recruiting new players, but at the same time, we’re not in the business of simply pushing aside those players who have been with us through the hard times.  Last year’s Coach and First XI captain Ben Neville has been reappointed Captain.  We are aiming to provide him with the quality of players that he deserves.

The plan is to meld the new players into the mix right through the grades ensuring an improvement in not just our performances, but our enjoyment of the game.

At the meeting I said, with half a smile, that there will be a changed attitude this year to absences.

I’ve long had a view that there are only two reasons for missing cricket – death and being in hospital. That applied Tuesday and Thursday as much as it did Saturday.

I know the world has changed since in recent times, but I am sure, as we enjoy our cricket more that we will all renew our commitment to training and being available on Saturday.

It is great to have Don Royce back working for our club.  He is one of the most respected Cricket Mentors in our region and both Don and Bryan have been sharpening their claws down at The Geelong Cricket Club over the last decade as preparation for their next task.  We are attracting quality players to the club already simply because of their presence.  Don and Bryan will be primarily responsible for the training program this season, that hopefully will enthuse many more to participate.  I am expecting quality time between the same starting and finishing time each Tuesday and Thursday.  They will have more to say about what they expect as we get closer to the pre-season.

I just want to say that we have in Bryan and the team we are building around him the sort of structure that looks to share the load.

We’re also looking to share the load off the field a bit more.

We want to triple our sponsorship this year, and in future years.  We can’t do that leaving it to just one person.  We have already expanded the Sponsorship group from one to six.  As well as an increased off ground Coaching staff we have the cost of the relocation and establishment of our new Practice Wickets to address.  We would appreciate hearing from you as to prospective sponsors that we could approach.  We believe that we have designed an appropriate range of Sponsorship packages that will offer sponsors value for their assistance.  Please contact any of Phillip Morgan, Terry Hickey, Brett Bentley, Mark Giles, Gavan Clark or myself in this regard.

What we are doing with the Sponsorship Group we are endeavouring to do in principle with other major portfolios.  In particular we also want to lessen the load on people like Scott and Steph, our new Junior Cordinator, and our Turf Captains.

If you can help us, put your hand up now. There’s no better time to be involved in our club.

I look forward to working with you all as we celebrate 100 wonderful years at our club. 

Neville Crane

President

N&CCC

P.S.

Pre-Season Training Dates and Venues known at this time are as follows:

Geelong Indoor Sports Arena   13 Gravel Pits Rd South Geelong

Sunday          August          1, 8 ,15, 22, 29       September 5, 12. 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

Friday                                                                        September  3, 10, 17.      6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Courtesy of the Geelong Advertiser

Newtown & Chilwell is confident a complete restructure of its coaching team will put the club on course for a rise up the GCA pecking order in 2010-2011.

The Two Blues enter their centenary season on the edge of dropping out of Geelong cricket’s top flight.

However, the club believes it has the right people on board to turn its onfield fortunes around after a recent barren patch that almost resulted in relegation to division two.

Respected junior mentor Bryan Thomas has been appointed head coach and bowling coach for the coming season, while last season’s playing coach Ben Neville will captain the club’s 1st XI.

Experienced administrator Don Royce has returned to the club as director of cricket, while former premiership player Mick Wood will serve as the club’s batting coach.

Neville said the club hoped the new set up would fast track the development of its raw but talented younger players.

“We’re really looking to set things up. A lot of the guys who played ones last year weren’t ready but it was good experience and they know where to improve,” he said.

“But we’ve got to win a lot of games of cricket because if we don’t, I’d say we won’t be looking good to stay up. We also want top do that in the right way and enjoy ourselves.”

Newtown will also welcome an overseas player into the fold, with 18-year-old all rounder Sam Arthurton joining the Two Blues as part of the club’s ongoing agreement with English county club Essex.

The Two Blues also hope to add up to five new faces to their 1st XI

Newtown and Chilwell Cricket Club is thrilled to announced the appointment of Brian Thomas as coach for the 2010/2011 season.

“The recruitment of Brian is part of a complete overhaul of our cricket set up,” said President James Purcell.

“He comes to us with great credentials as a coach.”

Purcell a said cricket sub-committee had been working hard to restructure the club.

Next season, we will have Don Royce as head of our cricket department.

“Don is one of Geelong’s most decorated cricket administrators and he brings a wealth of expertise to the club,” Purcell said.

“We believe that these two quality appointments, along with a number of others, will help us recruit many more top cricketers to the club.”

The club was pleased to hear that Essex County Cricket Club will also be sending one of its talented young players to Newtown, following in the footsteps of Jaik Mickleburgh and Michael Comber.

Sam Arthurson is a leg-spinning all-rounder.

“Our club benefited from having Jaik and Michael spend time with us,” Purcell said.

“And they also benefited from their time with us.  Jaik has just scored his maiden first-class century, a massive 174, while Michael Comber has been given a full contract with Essex and was part of their training camp in the West Indies.”

In season 2010/2011, Newtown will celebrate its centenary.

“Cricket was played around Newtown well before that summer,” Purcell said.

“However, this was a formative moment in the history of our club and we intend to properly honour the great history of club.

“We are also issuing an invitation to former players to come back and be part of the celebration, and if they’re still playing, to be part of this years squads.”

Following the NSW blues lead in attracting the sporting worlds attention in the recent 20-20 series our own TWO BLUES outfit made an explosive start to the 20 20 series here in Geelong.

Benny Neville is a cricket enthusiast and has given the new game quite a bit of thought and as a result he was able to implement a workable plan in which each player understood their role, what to expect and how to react if certain circumstances arose. Thankfully for the pro-Newtown crowd in attendance our boys didn’t miss a beat.

Tim Clark made a successful return to the team by top scoring with a neat 50 runs, Benny made 42 and sixteen year old Jai Sheahan made a brisk 28 on our way to an impressive team total of 7/168 off the allotted twenty overs.

With the ball and in the field the team remained disciplined and determined to take the win. Benny’s cool head resulted in him taking timely wickets with his taking the pace off the ball tactics. He took 3/15.
It would seem from cricket played on the International 20-20 stage that bowlers need to be either lightning quick or the complete opposite. Medium pace short of a length bowling can be a batters dream especially when they are prepared to take to the airways in this more fast paced game.

It was evident again when Newcomb managed to scamper back into the game on the back of a couple of these medium paced overs and it took the team mascot Blakey to ensure victory would be ours. He took two quick wickets from full tosses and found himself on a hat trick. Unusual but surprisingly effective in 20-20 because many batsman don’t know what to do with these seemingly bad balls. The potential hat trick ball was pitched on a good length, wrapped the batter on the pads but was given not out. A full toss may have been more effective Blakey!

It was a well earned win and just reward for the group. If you missed this game stay tuned for when we play next. It is a great outing.

This Sunday, Geelong plays its first game in the new Victorian Over Sixties Cricket Association – one of the fastest growing sporting competitions in the State.

Three Newtown stalwarts will be part of the Geelong team including Ian IP McGregor, Trevor Smith and GT.

Geelong will be playing Casey-South Melbourne, which of course also has a connection to our club through Ian Redpath and Lindsay Hassett. After they played for us, they then went to South Melbourne to forge their international careers.

The game starts at midday on Sunday 18th October at Stinton Oval Queens Park and it should be a stack of fun. The bar will be open and a barbeque will be going to ensure it is a good day all round.

So come along and support these great servants of our club and the rest of their Geelong team-mates.

Regards,
James Purcell

Greetings all

I thought it was time for me to do my first presidents update, having been in the job a while now.

First thing I want to comment on is the attendance at pre-season training. The numbers have been excellent. Let’s really keep the enthusiasm up and really work hard to ensure it all rubs off favorable on the field this season.

As I go around to club members there is one consistent theme I am picking up about training. Everyone is more than happy with the efforts of our new coach Ben Neville. Again, playing members owe it to Ben to give him all the support he needs and really get the upcoming season off to a positive start. The more participation we have at training the better showing we will make on the field.

Change over with the Geelong Amateurs Football Club happens this week, which means we are back in the rooms come this Thursday, so we’d love everyone get back there after training and have a meal and a few drinks. Make sure you introduce yourselves to any unfamiliar faces and make any new comers feel right at home.

As most would be aware round one kicks off this weekend against Grovedale. The ones will likely be playing on Sunday out at Grovedale. Let’s all get there as a club and support them and really show that we mean business this year!

Membership remains a vital income source for us. As in incentive for you, if you pay by round three, the 17th October, you get a discount of $50 on your membership. Take advantage of that, and also the fact that you can now pay on the website. speak to our membership officer Col Cunliffe if you have any queries in regards to this. Even if you can’t pay the whole lot up front, make sure you contact Colin to make an arrangement to ensure you can be part of what is shaping up to be a great season.

You’ve heard it said before by the last committee, and the new committee is just as firm on this. Unfinancial members will not be selected to play until membership is paid. Remember we report long term unfinancial players to the VCA and the Cricket Australia websites, which means they cannot play anywhere in Australia.

Insurance, public liability and other formalities are included in your membership fee; this is why it is crucial to the club to be a financial member. No pay no play will only be done as a last resort … But we will do it.

Junior registration day is on this Sunday, October 4th, at 10am. If you can get along to help, please do. It goes without saying how important our juniors are to the club. Mark Turnley and Wayne Eason have both been working hard to ensure our junior program is as strong as ever and we’re looking forward to a great season for them again this year.

Our new website (www.two-blues.com.au) is now up and running and on behalf of the club, a HUGE thank you to Steff Shaw for her work so far. We’ve still got some things to do to get it to where we want it to be … But gee, like everything else around our club at the moment … It’s getting there.

We’re pressing on with the new training nets and expect to have a meeting with councilors from the City of Greater Geelong soon. I will let you all know what kind of progress we’re making as it happens.

Stinton Oval is looking absolutely magnificent at the moment! Unfortunately we wont get a wicket up this Saturday, but GT is working hard to get it ready for the season.

Don’t forget, the GCA is also staging a 20/20 competition this year, starting in October. We’ve drawn Newcomb, Leopold and Lara.
We play Newcomb at home first up, so once again, take the opportunity to get down the club, enjoy the facilities and the view and support your club mates. More information to follow on this, but all you talented long hitters should be getting down to training and make your presence felt for selection in this side.

To everyone involved this weekend, all the best in your matches.

And let’s bring back as many championships points as we can.

Best Regards,
James Purcell
President
Newtown & Chilwell Cricket Club Inc

Junior Registration day will be held Sunday 4th October, 10:00am at Queens Park

Welcome to another exciting Junior cricket season with the Newtown & Chilwell Cricket Club, at the fantastic Queens Park sporting complex. We will be having a registration day but we encourage return mail or on line registration as soon as practical so teams can be drafted.

Junior Membership benefits 2009/2010

Once again this season, we have been able to include the junior training/playing top & cap as part of our membership fee. The shirt & cap will be issued upon receipt of payment & details at registration day.

Membership Details

The membership fee of $110 per player includes affiliation with GCA, Cricket Victoria, mandatory insurance coverage & membership to the famous N&CCC. Families with 2 players will be $200

Registration & Payment

EFTPOS and MasterCard/Visa facility available via return mail or on registration day, Sunday 4th October. Payment will also be able to be made via our website at www.two-blues.com.au.
Early registrations are encouraged to help with team allocations & can be forwarded to Junior coordinator Mark Turnley, 53 Buckley Falls Rd, Highton, 3216

Junior Teams

We will enter an under 15 team to play Sunday fixtures, for those with Saturday school commitments.
We will make every endeavour to keep school & friendship groups together in teams, particularly in lower age groups. Grading can occur in top age teams entered at division one standard, but players’ welfare and enjoyment will always be considered when drafting teams. As a club we endeavour to cater for all levels whilst striving to attain the highest standard achievable for all players.

More Information

Fixtures and other local information will be available through the club website, which is currently being updated. Links to MyCricket websites will provide results for all matches; collate data & statistics throughout the season. Association fixtures & details may not be posted until October.
Parents are actively encouraged to become involved in our junior program not just at coaching, managerial or scoring levels. We promote father/son participation from under 15 levels, as an introduction for juniors graduating into senior cricket.

We also encourage, parents’ friends & siblings to meet at our clubrooms on Thursday & Saturday evenings to socialise & get up to date with all the latest selection, team & social information.

For further information, contact:

• Mark Turnley (Junior Co-ordinator) : 0407 047 480

• Wayne Eason (Scores & communications) 0418 526 984

• Gary Simpson (U 17) : Phone 5272 2661 or Mobile 0425 820700

Download -  JUNIOR REGISTRATION FORM

NEWTOWN and Chilwell Cricket Club has been boosted by the return of favourite son Ben Neville as its captain-coach for next season.

Neville, who has been travelling the world studying alternative healing processes, has returned to set up a new business locally and committed himself to lifting the Towners back up the GCA division one ladder.

There are a host of young players coming through the ranks who are ready to fulfil their potential as senior players, Neville said.

When you look at the quality of the administration off the field, the things that have been achieved in that area in recent times, and couple that with the young talent coming through, well it’s a good time to be playing for the Towners again.

Five-time premiership player Gavin Castle is also returning to the club in an assistant coaching role, while opening batsman John Reece is back after a stint at East Belmont.

Neville, 28, said the club was also hoping to attract an English overseas player, while young gun Jackson Davis has spent the winter sharpening up his game playing cricket in Essex.

At this stage, we have got the skill so it will be about improving the game day application and understanding the game a little bit more,” Neville said. I suppose it is improving those cricket smarts, understanding the ebbs and flows and how to gain momentum.

I think we have to take some aggression and work a lot harder than the opposition and then the results will follow

Neville has played at a district level with North Melbourne and also played overseas in Vancouver, Canada.

Neville, a hard-hitting batsman and handy off-spin bowler, has played in two first XI premierships and turned in many a blazing innings for the club, including a highest score of 154 not out in the firsts.

Ben’s appointment is a particularly pleasing one for us club president James Purcell said.

To be able to bring him home at a time when our talented youngsters are really getting ready to hit their straps at senior level is very exciting indeed.

by Jason Shields, courtesy of the Geelong Advertiser

It is with great pleasure and immense pride that the NCCC committee announces the appointment of one of its favourite sons, Ben Neville as the Captain Coach of NCCC for season 2009/10.

Ben is a product of the NCCC junior system and a dual NCCC First X1 Premiership player.
He departed NCCC in season 2002/03 to further his career at VCA Premier club North Melbourne for a number of seasons, before Coaching Melbourne club Keilor. Ben also played “International” cricket in Canada during one of his numerous off-season travels.

Ben’s professional qualifications are in Physical Education and coupled with his extensive experience in coaching and playing cricket at the high levels, his enthusiastic and infectious attitude, his life experiences and his love for the NCCC, Ben is indeed a fortunate and well qualified appointment for the club. The committee is confident that we have made an appointment that will be very beneficial for not only this season and but importantly for the further development of the club’s promising youth.

Ben has maintained his contact at the club over time and prior to last season played the odd game, before returning to the club last season in a part time role, which was unfortunately hampered by injury. Ben has recently started his own business Pranic Performance (Melbourne and Ocean Grove bases), which is a natural therapy that heals the body. Ben will explain in greater detail how it works, but it is imperative that we as members and as club give Ben our utmost support in helping promote his new business and utilising his talents for our own benefit.
Ben and I are currently working on a few more recruits for the current season and we are confident that the new signing’s will also be beneficial for the club and its progressive development. The full coaching and training staff as well as captains for the 2009/10 season will be announced in the coming weeks. Needless to stay, we are trying to focus on utilising the available experienced people to full capacity and it is immensely pleasing to see a number of club stalwarts putting their hand up and also being receptive when approached to be involved in some capacity. Many hands makes light work and the more that get involved, the more dynamic our season can be.

Season 2009/10 is shaping as an exciting year. The club is continuing to put solid structures in place to provide pathways and support for our developing list. It is imperative that players young and old give all that they are capable of in terms of training attendance, playing availability but most importantly show enthusiasm & intensity as well as displaying genuine club unity and support for those giving their time for the benefit of the club and its members.

Now is the time to band together and enjoy each other’s company and work hard in the knowledge that in the near future we will be enjoying the jubilation and satisfaction of success.

Its been said before, and it will be said again.
Go Hard or Go Home……