“The Cradle of Cricket”

As the outdoor season comes to a close - with more cricket having been played than looked likely at one stage - it's now the time when the indoor cricket season should be starting.

However, due to the latest COVID-19 restrictions, the South-East Hampshire (Fareham) Indoor League has been put on hold. The official line is that all fixtures up to Christmas have been cancelled, with a view to commencing a shortened season (4/5 matches per team, no promotion/relegation) on 3rd January, subject to the current restrictions being lifted.

So, we shall simply have to wait and see what indoor cricket we might get this winter...

If you’re reading this, then you’ve probably noticed that things have changed a bit around here!

About 5 years ago, the site moved from its previous home on HitSports to a new site based on the website I’d developed for my previous club (but which was even then several years old). That site has served well, but it was difficult to develop new features for, as I no longer worked with the content management system it was built on.

So, a couple of years ago (!) I started work on a complete rewrite, built on the system I work with and develop every day at work. But it’s only thanks to lockdown this year that I’ve been able to spend the required time to get the site finished. And here it is...

The most obvious change is the design; the majority of the functionality mirrors that of the old site, but there are a few new features already, and I’ll now easily be able to add more features over the coming months.

Another significant change is the main site URL. The site is now on the snappier hambledon.cc (but don't worry, any links to the old hambledoncricketclub.co.uk will be redirected...).

Most of the changes come on the player stats pages. We now have profile pictures of players, with more information to be added in the future:

It’s now possible to filter the stats more precisely - so you can show stats for multiple seasons, teams or fixture types, and even see whether you do better at home or away:

And there are also some nice charts to give a visual representation of a player’s performances. There are currently 2 graphs: one shows how your average changes over time (all linked in to the filters you’ve set), and the other shows how many scores have been made in each 10-run band:

Finally, there are now individual pages to show centuries and five-fors - again, all able to be filtered on the same criteria:

I’ve got a list of features I want to add in the future, but if you have any ideas, please get in touch (and also if you have any problems with the site...).

Sunday sees the annual colts/parents day at Hambledon! Please note the timings below...

10:00 to 11:30 - Under 7s and 9s

The Under 7s and 9s will play 3 games – one on the artificial, one on the strip in the grass up by the sheds, and one on a strip down by the clubhouse. These games will all happen at the same time.

11:30 to 2:00 - Under 11s and 13s

The Under 11s and Under 13s will play a game on the artificial. At the same time, the girls Squad will play a game on the strip up by the sheds.

2:30 onwards - Senior Colts

Senior Colts (Year 9 upwards) versus Parents – 25 or 30 overs a side.

For the matches, please can the colts wear their Hambledon Blue kit, but for the adults, please wear cricket whites if you have them, otherwise we will give you the sponsored adult blue kit from the store at Ridge Meadow. Please make sure you give it back at the end!!

From 11:00 onwards, the BBQ will be going for burgers, sausages, etc, courtesy of the Restells and Adrian McGrath (Macca) – the BBQ will still be hot when you get there, but do please arrive before 1pm if you want food before we start, it will all have been eaten by the end of the match!

As always this season, please note and adhere to all the COVID-19 precautions that are in place.

Now we have started up cricket training for our youngsters, we are delighted to announce that we are also starting a girls section at Hambledon Cricket Club. This will be led by Jenna McFadzean, a qualified cricket coach and Sports Teacher at PGS. This will be a great opportunity for the girls to play cricket amongst themselves, without the boys in the way! So, if you have a daughter, sister, aunt, cousin or niece who is in School Year 5 through to School Year 8, you will be very welcome to join in. So will their friends! The arrangements are as follows:

• Friday 10 July – Year 5 to Year 8: 6:00-7:30pm
  Led by Jenna McFadzean 

Numbers have to be limited because of the rules over Covid 19, so please email i.t.pratt@uwclub.net to book a space. The coaches will be making every endeavour to ensure everyone gets a fair share of the slots over the next weeks. Here are a few points for guidance:

• Please do not turn up on the evening without booking a space
• All girls should come changed ready in training kit, tee shirts and tracksuit bottoms or similar. The changing rooms will not be in use
• Each girl should bring their own cricket ball with them, and use only that ball. Cricket balls can be borrowed from the clubhouse, should you not have one
• Please can parents be prepared to assist the coaches to run the sessions safely
• Toilets are available, there will be a one way system through the clubhouse
• Suitable cleaning arrangements have been put in place, but please bring some hand sanitiser with you
• Simple bar arrangements are in place and the Hambledon Blue kit will be on sale most evenings as well

Many of you have very kindly made a donation to the club to help us through this most unusual of summers. There will be no charges for these training sessions, but if you attend, it would be much appreciated if you can make a donation to the club, if you haven’t already. 

So, please book a slot for a training session, please be patient if you can’t attend every week, and we look forward to seeing you soon, starting this Friday.

Theresa Pratt
Colts Co-ordinator

Dear Hambledon Under 7 and Under 9 Colts

We have had a difficult summer, because of COVID-19, and we hope you are all well and safe. We are now in a position to start some colts training next week and following weeks, starting on Sunday 12 July for the Under 7s and Under 9s. New arrangements are as follows:

• Sunday – U7 and U9: 10:00-11.30am
  Led by Andrew Sharpe – andrew.j.sharpe@gmail.com

Numbers have to be limited because of the rules over COVID-19, so please email Andrew to book a space. Andrew and the other coaches will be making every endeavour to ensure everyone gets a fair share of the slots over the next weeks. Here are a few points for guidance:

• Please do not turn up on Sunday mornings without booking a space
• All colts should come changed ready in training kit, The changing rooms will not be in use
• Please can parents be prepared to assist the coaches to run the sessions safely – we can’t do it without you!
• Toilets are available, there will be a one way system through the clubhouse
• Suitable cleaning arrangements have been put in place, but please bring some hand sanitiser with you
• Simple bar arrangements are in place and the Hambledon Blue kit will be on sale most evenings as well

Many of you have very kindly made a donation to the club to help us through this most unusual of summers. There will be no charges for these training sessions, but if you attend, it would be much appreciated if you can make a donation to the club, if you haven’t already 

So, please:

• book a slot for a training session
• please say when you book if you can assist running the session
• please say what year your child is in and whether he/she has done any cricket before
• please be patient if you can’t attend every week

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Theresa Pratt
Colts Co-ordinator