Report of Trustees: November 2025
The major highlight of the 2025 season has been the completion of the Pavilion Project and official opening by club legends David Latta (middle) and Richard Lindsey (right) at the President’s v Chairman’s game in July. We were able to replicate the photo of Sir Len Hutton opening the pavilion in 1960. Special thanks are due to Richard Parker for masterminding it all, builders SDE , Sam Collins for getting grants from England Cricket and Tarmac, and everyone who donated through the Aviva Community Fund. The new changing and shower facilities are a huge improvement, plus new windows throughout, new carpet, and improved toilet facilities for visitors, including a baby changing facility for the first time!
On the field, it has been a good season. The 1st and 2nd XIs finished comfortably mid-table again and the Sunday Development XI under Duncan Wyatt’s expert captaincy narrowly missed out on winning their league. The Midweek XI was less successful, but continues to be a fun way of giving people games who may not be able to play at a weekend. Thanks are due to Joe Young and Matt Murray
for their years of great service as 1st and 2nd XI captains – both have stepped down for 2026.
At a packed Awards night in September, Daryl Sleeman won 1st XI Batter of the Year, Josh Fowler won Performance of the Year, and teenage star Henry Warner was not only Bowler of the Year but also overall Player of the Year. For the 2nd XI, Nico Dormant won Batter of the Year (he also took a memorable hattrick), Luke Coppin was Bowler of the Year, Jens Wair won Performance of the Year and Dev Agrawal was Player of the Year. Sunday XI award-winners were Henry Warner (Batter), Josh Eustace in his first season (Bowler), Luke Coppin (Best Performance) and James Woodcock (Player of the Year). Midweek XI winners were Ross Warne (Batter), Dev Agrawal (Bowler), Ethan Frost (Performance) and Praveen Amarasinghe (Players’ Player). It is great for the future of the club to see that so many of these winners are under 25.
Women’s cricket remains a real strength of the club. The hardball team (left) won their winter indoor league but had a slightly less successful summer season than last year, while the softball team won their summer league and enjoyed competing against teams from the whole of Essex at Finals Day at the County Ground in Chelmsford in September. Award-winners were Jack Marsh (Batter), Maxine Harris (Bowler), Debbie Green (Captain’s Award) and Louise Biggins (softball Player of the Year).
We ran Youth teams at U11, U14 and U15 levels and our Kwik Cricketers took part in no fewer than eight tournaments, winning more matches than they lost. At the Awards morning in July we celebrated individual successes and thanked the coaches and parents. A special award was made to U15 star Connor Amos at the memorial game in September when he became the first recipient of the David Merriday Youth Player of the Year award.
Cricket week in July was again a great success. Many thanks to Rachel Watson for masterminding it all, as well as managing the bar and organising fun social events throughout the season. Groundsmen Mick Purser and Craig Scott did a great job again of looking after the square and outfield in such a dry summer. Safeguarding Officer Kathryn Spicer has continued to maintain our reputation as a safe, welcoming and
family-friendly club. She will be stepping down for next year – we are very grateful that our players’ welfare has been in such safe hands for almost 10 years. Treasurer David Stovell continues to manage our finances efficiently. Bar income was up this year but so was expenditure so we will have made about a £2000 operational loss. This is less than last year but obviously not sustainable in the long term. We have remained a valued part of the Eight Ash Green Village community by looking after our part of the heath and taking an active role in the village summer festival – the July music night saw over 200 local people enjoying food, drink and Those Colchester Buskers.
The 2025 season has also included some special moments. In September, we put on a game between past and present players to celebrate the memory of David Merriday and Robin ‘Boo’ Cant , who served the club tirelessly over many years (see the picture of the teams below). Their smart memorial benches have replaced the old ones in front of the pavilion.
At Awards night, Richard Parker was made Club Member of the Year for all his hours behind the scenes seeing the pavilion project to completion. It would not have happened without him. And on the same night we made Matt Murray a Life Member of the club. This was a special award for a special cricketer. As a player, captain and committee member he has been a model of how to play the game and an inspiration to others. His name deservedly belongs on the Honours Board in the lounge alongside other legends of the club.
We are already looking forward to 2026 with eager anticipation. Here are some of the challenges and opportunities ahead of us:
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the dry summer has caused part of the outer pavilion wall to sink – how easy will it be to rectify it and how will the weather affect us next year?
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how can we continue to attract new players?
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how can we spread the load of coaching and running Kwik Cricket and three youth teams?
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how can we build on our reputation as the greenest cricket club in Essex/Suffolk?
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we will have new 1st and 2nd XI captains – how can we support them to achieve promotion?
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what can we do to improve our inadequate net and training facilities?
Finally, thank you to everyone who has supported the club this year as a player, parent, spectator or sponsor, not least the faithful committee members.
Tim Chambers, Steve Nunn, Sam Collins, Richard Parker Trustees
EIGHT ASH GREEN CRIC1 CLiIB INCOIIE AND ExpeNDITiNIE ACCOUNT FOR TrE YEAR EKIEO 30thSEPTEAIBER 2026 2025 2LQ5 INCOME sulp1$. Seniox sut}p¢$. Y(MJth SUW[$. Wcmen Maich Fees. sen1$ EXPENIMTURE 8144 5¢ 54YQ 2LHO Ground M8irtenawe Pavilion & Equip Mwrrt CoaLiry & Mjtth EXFO BalL Nels TrleS 1150163 6566 225 00 108850 1056 438 [6 970 (KJ 574 55 303 893 73 118167 87e6 74 670 210 00 2m 1414 L¥J 11n11 41 46S d1 Fwthorts & FuThknig Mercanthse 481 919) mCdIse & Krt Roni, Ratos & Water Ekclricrty Inrar 875 (KI 1590 (A) 39(KS 395.46 2M21 12mJ)J c815 Grwts Interest Received Misc&leweoLO Crcwttunthng AFFe¥l 21YJ 117678 AP23 19 511 93 585 81 FurtlKn & Fundr•sry 255si.io Legal & PrDtesHon t)wKJatian lao 5738 Xl 31989.14 4nJY 32944 18 20YI842 SuvpluglDell¢bt the Y•ar .955 01 7fOIZ 31989 14 Ji)y LAKE SIIEET AS AT 301h SEPTEMBER 202$ Pavil1h Refurbstheni 21r25 Less GrJit RVed Arnothsotw. IO% not CO w annk C8 50 .2{0 fjl 12CK EqLWPmErtt Relurixshrnwtac. at cr Le55 Gfftils Rff•ved S832 88 .9394 LNJ 42735 88 4703 5Ce 81 .99) 00 3289 14 e(Mo 71 22 22 Ch at Wk Oewi Ac¢ow)t Li4Ludity Acownt Xrn55 Te Net Assqls 54355.28 s53 Gowal R•R4Tr• Ba1ce rLts for Y 55310.J2 .955.0¢ JJ8B744 54355 28 SSYTO I hwe th& thve Ir(Yn ts iDfrym•tKffj xM*'ed Nvj certify the f¥ure8 10 in Roy Girwd . 6th Feb 2028
Independent enIner'S report to the Trustees of Eight Ash Green Cricket Club I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Club for the year ended 30 September 2025. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation ol the accounts in accordance ih the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act,). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable DIrelonS given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect.. l. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act.. or 2. the accounts do not accord wtth those records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection wth the examination lo which attenlion should be drawn in this report in order to Ènable a proper understanding ot the accounls lo be reached. Name: Mr Roy Girard Address: Serenity Lucy Lane North, Stanway, Colchester, C03 OJQ Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies (if any): Signed= Date: