23rd April 2022. 10.44am. I sit in my living room exactly 95.3 miles away from where the first ball of the 25th Anniversary season is either just about to be bowled or just has been bowled (editor’s note: just about to be bowled – predictably we were late starting). This is not exactly how I anticipated starting my first year as President of Clapham In Cricket Club; nearly 100 miles away from the 2nd ever intra-club test match at the beautiful Leckford Estate. However, what it has forced me to do (and I never take much persuasion to do this anyhow) is reflect. Reflect on what it means as a club to have made it to the heady heights of 25 years of existence. Reflect on what it means to represent this club in my position as President and reflect on what it means to play for this club. So – let the reflection (or navel-gazing) begin.
This is my (I think) 14th season with the club – 2008 being the first time I donned my whites to represent CICC (I got 19 runs I think and I didn’t bowl). The club had been going strong for another 11 seasons prior to this and I was immediately struck by some things that have continued to this day. Firstly, we had a strong antipodean contingent. Secondly, we had some really good cricketers in the side and thirdly, we had 9 players. This is the crux of it for me really. There is no rhyme nor reason as to why this beautiful, nomadic, friendly club has made it to 25 years. We should have folded on numerous occasions and yet, although not necessarily in numbers, we have got stronger and stronger and stronger. I LOVE the fact that we have the same discussions every year at the AGM. I LOVE the fact that if our full committee turned out every match, we would never be short of players. I LOVE the fact (as I don’t have to stress about it – Sorry to those who do…) that it’s almost part of our make-up to be scrabbling around for players on the Friday/Saturday before the match on Sunday. OK, well it would be nice I guess not to have to do this occasionally, but you get what I mean. Most of all though, I LOVE the fact that over the years, I think that our resilience as a club has developed into something akin to the cricket we play. Whoever turns up ALWAYS gets a game. Whatever your experience level, you WILL be treated on a par with your fellow CICC-ers. Winning is not everything.
So, what makes us CICC? The rubbish fielding drills before the matches – when we celebrate a high catch taken just as much as we do during a game. The fact that we have had to look up the name of being out on the first ball of the season (a Palladium Duck if you are interested). The fact that we have had 2 palladium ducks and that not only have these been celebrated, they have gone down in CICC folklore. The fact that we have a ducksuit. The fact that we have a Cock-Soup award. The fact that, occasionally, we do win! The fact that we have an honours board. The fact that we have a champagne moment after each match as, believe it or not, we do value the good on the pitch as well as the muppetry. The fact that young families are growing up within the club and already wanting (I bloody love this fact) to play for it. Ultimately though, it’s the fact that this club means so much to so many and has done throughout its 25 years to date. Simply put, here’s to the next 25. Go well in 2022 CICC.
James Frecknall, President, CICC
