Preview on 2003 Season
L to R : Arees Rauf - with new captains Mike Taylor, Bob
Hutt, Bryn Jones and Neville Pritchard.
WITH a new guard at the helm, Buckingham Town are
still looking to strengthen as they look ahead to the 2003 season.
Bryn Jones is the new club captain, with Mike Taylor and Neville Pritchard taking charge
of the Saturday seconds and Sunday firsts, respectively.
Bob Hutt will be the Saturday thirds and Sunday seconds skipper.
With preparations due to begin at Stowe School on Sunday, February 23, Jones is looking
forward to mounting a serious assault on the Cherwell League Division One championship.
After finishing eighth, Town were only relegated from the Home Counties League last season
as Bicester & North Oxford and Finchampstead relegated from Division One were in their
regional zone.
As the matches start at 1.30pm, as opposed to 11.30am, Town are expecting to consistently
field stronger sides than last term.
Jones has spoken with Salisbury-based Will Hearsey and Anthony Romaine who is at Exeter
University.
Hearsey, the former England under 19 wicketkeeper, will play at least 12 games after
missing most of last season through injury, while Romaine will travel back on a regular
basis before being available for the second half of the campaign.
One new addition to date is Arees Rauf, a residential University of Buckingham student.
Rauf, a batsman who also bowls medium away swing, played under 25 provincial and top
league cricket in Canada before leaving Alberta University last autumn to come to
Buckingham.
With more new faces set for Bourton Road, Town are keen to add to the club's playing
strength.
Of the 2002 squad, only Bletchley-bound James Gear appears to have left the club, but
Jones hopes the new additions will persuade Steve Beck to see his future at Bourton Road
after the all-rounder attracted interest from another local club.
Jones told the Advertiser and Review: "The aim for the season is for all three
Saturday league sides to win promotion and we hope by strengthening the first team this
will have a knock-on effect throughout the club.
"Competition for places should be strong this season."
Taylor, one of the highest run-scorers in Cherwell League second-team cricket in recent
years, and stalwart Hutt will reap the benefits from having a stronger first string.
Town's third team will play at Stowe School.
Neville Pritchard, an ECB wicketkeeper coach, will be looking to develop the home-grown
talent in the FG Watts League.
Structured coaching clinics will be held at Stowe School on February 23, March 2, 9, 16
and 30, 7-9pm. A further three sessions will be held at the Northants Indoor School on
March 18, 9-10pm, and April 1 and 8, 8-10pm.
Anybody wishing to join the club should contact Jones on 0777187 8250. The club are
holding a signing-on night on Wednesday, March 12, from 7pm.
Off the field, more investment has gone into the County bar, kitchen and changing
facility, while the ground has already been cut four times to date the earliest trim in
groundsman Norman Wilby's 52-year stint!
Future fundraising events are a quiz tonight, Friday, and a Race Night on Saturday, March
8, 8pm.