CLUB IN FOCUS – Shenley Fields SYS CC

As we look forward to the 2021 season, we will shine the spotlight on a club each week and how they have coped through the pandemic and how they are preparing for the return of cricket. This week it’s the turn of Shenley Fields SYS CC.

I joined the club at 13 years old in 1997 – the club then named South Yardley Sports CC. We played parks league cricket at Billesley Common until 2012 when we joined the Warwickshire Cricket league. This coincided with a change in club name and a move to our current home ground in Northfield.

I have been a player, 1^st team captain and am currently now the chairman.

I have completed 24 seasons as a player and am looking forward to the next as wicket keeper batsman.

Preparations have come along reasonably well. There have been some obvious challenges around winter nets – something we are hoping to start once rules allow.

Off season pitch preparations have been a struggle but are now well under way

To continue our success and continue our climb up the Warwickshire leagues. We are also looking to give more opportunities to our younger players in our second team set up, hoping that they have a positive season too!

To continue our ‘All Stars’ and start the ‘Dynamos’ program is our primary focus. We are hoping to start up an under 9’s team following the completion of Dynamos.

We are looking to raise funds for essential ground equipment and have many drives and ideas to do so this year.

We are looking to continue our recruitment drive to increase the squad size in an attempt to field more teams across each weekend of the summer

Maintaining our club unity without the ability to meet eat other socially has been a challenge.

Welcoming new players has also proved to be tough

Finding ways to support the community association, who are our landlords, through this tough time for them.

As a young club, we currently are striving to create links with local schools, organisations and other areas of the community

On the pitch we are looking to improve our standing within the Warwickshire league for both teams in that structure.

We are looking to create a thriving youth set up, which can create a passionate cricketing section for the local young community

Continue to work with our landlords and sponsors to improve the cricket and practice facilities at our home venue

Finding enough volunteers willing to commit enough time to keeping everything running smoothly both during the season and in the off season. Finding people with the right amount of passion and drive for the administration side of the club can be tough.

Our club strives to make cricket available to all, ensuring playing costs are kept to a minimum and making our club welcoming and accessible to all.

Paul Williams. He scores the first team’s book every week, happy to organise social events, negotiate rental fees and anything in between. He is the font of all cricketing knowledge, especially if it involves his beloved Warwickshire Bears!