Chairmans welcome
Welcome to the 2024 cricket season. We now enter our ninth year of league cricket and you find us in division 6B.
On Sunday’s we continue to play friendly fixtures. These are mainly 40 over games, although we still enjoy the occasional timed game in the grand tradition of English village cricket.
We also compete in the Herts Village Trophy T20 competition, and were delighted to secure victory for the second year running at the final’s day on 20 August 2023 at Knebworth Park Cricket Club.
Following our promotion to Division 6B of the league, we completed the required upgrade to the pavilion facilities over the winter, which has included installing showers for the first time in the Club’s history as well as an umpire changing room and fitting locks to the changing room doors. Hopefully returning teams will appreciate the improvement to our facilities! The Club is very grateful for the financial support that made this possible, with particular thanks to Aldenham Parish Council which provided £1,000 in the form of a “Small Community Grant” and to Colin and Don & Betty Bickley, who both provided £500.
In 2022 we refreshed the club’s constitution, with new governance documents being unanimously approved by the members at the 2022 AGM. Following this we applied to become a Community Amateur Sports Club (“CASC”) which has been approved by HMRC. This allows us to recover basic rate tax on any future donations to the club. We continue to seek funding to further improve our facilities, so if you would like to make a donation to the Club in a tax efficient manner please contact me to make the necessary arrangements.
On the playing front we look forward to welcoming back not only our regular opposition, but also a number of new teams, although it is always a particular pleasure to see familiar faces. We value your friendly competition and commit to ensuring that the great sporting traditions of our game are maintained.
Welcome back also to our playing members and occasional teammates. We are fortunate to have a thriving club but we are not complacent and we continue to seek out new talent to maintain the lifeblood of the club and to play our part in supporting Aldenham Social Club.
On the captaincy front Chris Munroe continues to lead our Saturday team and Itty Haque our Sunday team. I am sure both captains (and any vice-captains), will receive the full support of the club members and that this is reflected in the collective commitment to timely attendance and assistance with pitch preparation.
The code of conduct introduced in 2021 was reviewed at the 2023 AGM. No changes were considered necessary, and the meeting reconfirmed the importance of treating each other with both respect and inclusivity. Needless to say adherence to the code is a pre-requisite for all members of the Club, and there is a disciplinary procedure to enforce this should the need arise.
After a successful 2023, I was delighted that the enthusiasm of the committee has not diminished although Dave Whitehead relinquished his responsibilities as treasurer and Mike Ward relinquished his responsibilities as team selector. I was delighted though that they both volunteered to remain on the committee as head groundsman and club administrator, respectively. Dan Knight was elected as the new treasurer and Karan Barot was elected as team selector. The committee therefore now comprises myself, the two captains, the fixture secretary, Tim Hale, team selector, Karan Barot, treasurer, Dan Knight, Aldenham Social Club liaison officer, Peter Munroe, secretary, Andy Jackson, welfare officer, Sachin Sanghvi, social media officer, Majid Ahmed Fadra, head groundsman, Dave Whitehead and club administrator, Mike Ward. I’d like to thank all the committee for their continued commitment to the club.
Also many thanks to all those others who provide support to the Club. In particular to Dave Whitehead, Basil Letts, Chris Munroe and Pete Munroe for their hard work on our square, which is a great credit to Aldenham Cricket Club; to Pete Munroe for project managing the pavilion improvements, to Dan Morgan for his work on boundary maintenance, to our vice presidents, who continue to make an important financial contribution to the Club; and to Aldenham Social Club itself, for providing an idyllic setting for village cricket.
Simon Letts
Chairman, Aldenham Cricket Club
Saturday Captain:
Welcome to Aldenham cricket club.
For over 50 years this little village club has bought people together through their love of cricket.
We are open to new members and pride ourselves on our inclusivity.
2024 promises to be a huge year for the club.
We welcome new guests from all over Hertfordshire in Herts cricket league division 6b.
This is the highest up the league structure we have played in our search for our true playing level.
In 2023 we were crowned champions of division 7b and also defended our Herts Village 20 over title.
This year will be exciting as we continue to rely on the commitment of all of our members to get involved with all aspects of our volunteer run family club.
Sunday Captain
In contrast to enjoying competitive league cricket on Saturdays, Aldenham
Cricket Club love returning to the traditional values of village cricket every
Sunday through both timed and limited over formats. I look forward to promoting these values and a welcoming atmosphere to all - be that returning players of all ages, new members at the start of there journey with us or visitors only for the day.
Despite having a team of mixed abilities, due to the ethos that everyone
should have an opportunity to experience the beautiful game, we still look
forward to many closely fought competitive matches with both well known and
respected opposition and those yet to become friends at home and away.
As always Sunday is a family day at Aldenham where spectators are an
important part of the day. Whether they are home supporters or opposition we
welcome them to enjoy a fun, friendly game of cricket