After a long cold winter in which we were at least warmed by the splendid Ashes victory in Australia, I am delighted to welcome you to the SMCC website. The forthcoming season will be both exciting and disruptive. The good news is that the ECB have generously provided the shortfall in funding required for the new pavilion and work began early in February. The scheduled completion date is the 1st July 2011 so unfortunately, during the first half of the season the changing facilities will be somewhat primitive. The Club is grateful to Avril and Peter at the Angel who have kindly offered the use of their Poolroom for changing purposes and we hope to acquire a Portakabin for the home teams to use. There is a sense of “déja-vu”, as some of us remember the 1980’s, and recall the difficulties when both teams had to use an old caravan for changing purposes. It also doubled as a tea pavilion, something that the Health and Safety Executive would hardly sanction today! Despite less than ideal conditions, the team spirit in those days was excellent and the Club thrived and flourished. Perhaps we should remember that even the most modern facilities available do not necessarily make for a happy, vibrant, and successful Club. While the new pavilion will offer obvious material benefits, it is still the responsibility of individual members to keep alive that intangible, essential spirit of camaraderie and infectious enthusiasm which has served us so well in the past. Let us all do our utmost to:

“KEEP VILLAGE CRICKET ALIVE!”