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Compared to 2007 the weather was kind to cricket in Oxfordshire - not that it felt like it in August and September. Doubtless you'll be reading this in the bright sunshine of an Indian summer. The club had a good season again going from strength to strength in numbers particularly in the junior section. We only just missed out on promotion for the first XI finishing 3^rd in large part due to washouts in August and September in key games we expected to win. This also seems to be the year where all those plans for junior cricketers feeding into the senior sides has become a reality, not least with Dan White vice captain of the 1^st XI for the early part of the season and then taking over as the captain for August and July while some were off skiving on holiday! This year the 1^st, 2^nd and Sunday XIs all had the players that had come up through the junior ranks as the heart of their sides - not to mention the legs of course in chasing that leather around the field. For the 1^st XI Tom Rothwell and Adam Webb at 16 have now become key members of the team with bat and ball to add to the older hands of Nick Leader, Robin Scotter and Gary Wilson. For the 2^nd XI there have been fantastic performances through the season from the junior camp with Dan Knight promoted to opening the bowling, Tommy Miles with bat and ball and Andy Thomas with the gloves.

So with the young cricketers in the sides we are looking forward to a really successful 2009 based out of the fantastic new club house at the Sports and Social Club.

We hope to have new members come into the village and join us over the cold winter nights. There's indoor cricket matches starting in December and nets will soon be round in March so please do get in contact.

Latest additions Wind-breaks and a new patio. Winter Leagues We are putting forward 4 floodlit teams and 3 weekend teams

Events

Men’s doubles tournament, held on Sunday 14^th September was won by David Tarring and Rai Wahlen.

Junior coaching – Autumn 2008

Junior coaching starts in September and finishes on Saturday 18^th October.

The sessions are as follows:

If you would like more information please telephone Marc Gilkes email: marcgilkes@fsmail.net

Adult Coaching:

The ladies coaching sessions are on Tuesdays from 10.00am-11.30 am; the cost per session is £7.50. Please contact Marc if you would like to attend.

Steve Bone has re-commenced his weekend coaching every third Sunday – contact Sean Callery for more details. Email: sean@caller.demon.co.uk

With the First Team currently occupying second position in the Premier Division of the FTL Futbol Hellenic League, you may be surprised to learn that, with others in the club, I still feel slightly disappointed. Why? Well, having played eight matches all away from home because of the non-availability of The Bourne, due to cricket, and having been beaten only once in those matches, the team then failed to ‘deliver’ in our first home match of the season when Hooky were edged out by Carterton by the odd goal in three in an uninspiring match. This defeat was especially disappointing because it coincided with the opening of the Sports and Social Club’s new clubhouse – what a marvelous facility and many congratulations to all those who have made it possible.

Returning to the First Team’s performances so far, apart from its generally excellent start, the season has been notable for two very contrasting aspects, one good and the other not so good. Firstly, whilst acknowledging that foot ball is a team game, mention must be made of the achievements so far of centre forward Ricky Johnson who has scored no less than ten goals in only nine matches. Please keep it up, Ricky! Secondly, the team has been most unlucky in the number of serious injuries that it has picked up. Already, four players have been side-lined for extended periods with injuries, two of them with broken legs. We wish all four players speedy recoveries.

Meanwhile, the Second Team has only just started its season, playing one match which it drew 0-0 away from home at Launton Sports. It is hoped that the core of this team will be the young local players who made up our Under 16s last season. Apart from their involvement in senior football at this level, it should be mentioned that three of these young players have also figured on the bench for the First Team, thereby giving credibility and justification to our “Academy” system. Well done, lads, keep up the good work.

If you want to read more about our teams and about what is happening in our club, please don’t forget that the following websites are available for your perusal:

Hook Norton Football Club: www.hooknortonfc.com