Club reveal plans for more growth

Newham Cricket Club are hoping to maintain their progress by fielding a fourth adult side for the first time in 2017, which signals their 10th anniversary season.

The Flanders Field club held their AGM recently, when president Richard Henchley welcomed members to a packed Bobby Moore Pavilion.

He said: “We are reaching maturity with a powerful board of John Heppel, chair with deep experience of Essex cricket governance and our managers, Tariq Aslam (adults), Nishant Mittal (young adults), Paul Dawson (colts), James McCollum (communications) and Amitabh Lall (finance and administration).

“Our colts’ team managers can be reassured that there is a full backup for them when they have other responsibilities.”

Newham played 12 fixtures in their first competitive season in 2010, but played 120 last year and hope to increase that number with the use of a second grass square next year.

As well as four adult teams, Newham hope to field colts teams at under-nine, under-13, under-13, under-15, under-16 and under-19 and will host another cricket festival on August Bank Holiday, looking to repeat the success of the match between an East London XI and Essex Development XI earlier this year.

Tariq Aslam added: “When I was at Langdon School I played in the Essex Youth team with Nasser Hussain at Flanders Field. I had a vision of a community club here competing at top level in East London, now the most vibrant cricket community in the UK.

“We now have the maturity and facilities to achieve that.”

Nishant Mittal was the first coach to qualify with the club when he was still at college, before leaving to study at university, and said: “It is great to be back. The new 3rd XI that I captained last year had a shaky start with our many young players competing against more hardened campaigners. By the end of the season we were up with the competition.

“Our senior colts’ teams next year will be both hardened and competitive and we will be welcoming players from Newham’s schools and further education establishments to spotlight our talent in the Borough.”

Paul Dawson commented on the club’s most active colts’ season yet, saying: “We fielded teams at under-nine, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16, reaching the quarter finals in two of the major competitions.

“There were some outstanding performances and great contributions from the Jack Petchey award-winners. My thanks to the many volunteers who supported us; we welcome anyone who would like to help and share in our success.”

When presenting the season’s achievement and Jack Petchey Foundation Community Awards, Henchley thanked Bonny Downs Community Association who host the club at Flanders Field, Newham Council, the Mayor and all his committed colleagues, Essex CCC and the many locally-based businesses and their employees who have supported the club.

Colts’ spring term training starts at Newham Leisure Centre, Prince Regent Lane on January 8 at 9.30am.