Newsletter 1st May 2025
View from the Chair
Welcome to our brand new newsletter and massive thanks to Justine Robinson for volunteering to be our editor!
The new season is now well underway and things have got off to a great start. The open age sides have all come through a full pre-season, with 4 league matches happening this coming Saturday while the 5th team have a pre-season friendly. The 1st team won their first game of the season on Saturday following a narrow loss the week before. Friday evening training has also kicked off, with a great turn out of players, coaches and parents in lovely spring weather (even if it did cool down by the end!).
You will also see several new events that we have planned during the season, with our first try at having some different food options on Friday 16th May. Please also put the 8th June into your diaries – that is our President’s Day and we’ve timed it to coincide with the last day of the Thornbridge Brewery Tap Takeover, so there may be plenty of beer to finish up!
It’s also great to be able to announce our first ever Charity of the Year. We hope to be able to raise a lot of money for Maggie’s this season – if anyone has ideas for fundraising, please let me know.
Finally, good luck to all the junior teams who have there first games this week.
Cheers
Jon
PS. Please note that the clubhouse is being used as a polling station for the local elections on Thursday 1st May so the car park might be busy and there will be no access to the building throughout the day, including after senior training.
Results
There weren’t any junior games last week – matches start this week with 7 fixtures and here is the link to see who is playing.
The 1st team secured their first win of the season against Gedling & Sherwood, with Dan Hill scoring a brilliant 86* as we posted 229-7 from 50 overs. Joe Holding then bowled scintillating spell and finished with figures of 10-2-32-3 as G&S came up 28 runs short.
The women’s softball team had a tough encounter against a strong Kibworth side and came 2nd and didn’t end up playing against Keyworth, who were forced to concede the fixture.
Maggie’s – our charity of the year 
This season, we have decided to have our first ever ‘charity of the year’. We asked our immediate past chairman and past president to choose, and for very personal reasons, they wanted to choose a local cancer charity. Therefore, Maggie’s was the obvious choice. Maggie Jencks used her own experience of having cancer to create a new type of cancer care and the Nottingham Maggie’s opened at City Hospital in 2011. Their aim is to make the experience of cancer more manageable for everyone – they are there for anyone with cancer and their family and friends, whatever kind of cancer, and whatever stage they’re at.
This season, we plan to support Maggie’s in a number of different ways, with more details of each of these coming over the next few weeks, although here are a few teasers,
• A Friday night when all bar prices will be increased and the additional money raised will be donated
• A quiz night when all entry fees will be donated
• Our annual President’s Day on 8th June will have a raffle and other money raising activities
• Whenever a player scores a hundred or takes 5 wickets, the club will donate
• All proceeds from the ‘Preloved’ clothing sales will be donated
• QR codes will be displayed around the clubhouse for donations
If anyone would like to support these and have ideas for other initiatives they can support, please send an email to info@westbridgfordianscc.co.uk
3rd XI Umpire Needed
Our 3rd XI are in need of umpires for the season ahead.
This is due to the league they are playing in (SNCL Division E) having an umpire bonus point system in place. Therefore, for every game where we have an umpire we will gain an additional point which could give us an extra 18 points throughout the season.
For each game umpired, you will receive £40, as well as a free tea if the game is at home.
If you are interested in umpiring at some point this season, even if it’s just for 1 game, please get in touch with our 3rd team captain Dom Evans on either 07837 966799 or domevans04@gmail.com.
Join the 100 Club and win big
Our 100 Club needs new members! Currently the first prize is £160 and there’s a draw every month. Entry is £5 a month and the more entries we have, the higher the prize pot. We have set ourselves a target of 20 new members this season, so we will give a countdown every week in this newsletter!
Help us to name the newsletter
Do you have a knack for witty wordplay? A talent for titles that truly captures the essence of cricket? Then this is your moment to shine!
Our new newsletter needs a catchy and memorable name! We want a name that reflects the spirit of West Bridgfordians, the thrill of the game, and the camaraderie we share.
The brilliant mind behind the winning name won’t just earn bragging rights (though those are certainly valuable!) but we’ll also give the winner any item of clothing they choose from the WBCC shop up to a value of £40.
Simply submit your suggestions by 14 May. You can submit as many entries as you like, so let your creativity flow! We’ll be looking for names that are original, engaging, and relevant to the club.
Let’s give our newsletter a name that’s as memorable as a six over the boundary!
Donate pre-loved cricket gear 
Do you have cricket gear that you no longer use? If so, please consider donating it to the club for the ‘pre-loved’ shop. All donations of club branded clothing, cricket whites and cricket equipment (not helmets or boxes) will be accepted as long as the item is in good condition so that someone else will want to use it.
Please bring your pre-loved gear down to the club on a Friday night.
Food and drink diary dates
We’ve secured some exciting food vans for selected Friday nights including:
16th May Falafel Baffle (Flafel and Chicken Shawarma Wraps and Salads) 
6th June Syiok_Lah (Malaysian Street Food)
27th June Antica Woodfired Pizza
25th July Rasoi (Indian veggie and vegan)
We also have the Thornbridge Brewery Tap Takeover starting on June 5th through to June 8th, plus Presidents Day on June 8th. Any donated raffle prizes will be much appreciated!
Menu for Friday 2nd May
Hotdog (onions optional) £2.50 with chips £4.50
Chicken Balti with Chips or Rice £7.50
Vegetable Balti with Chips or Rice £7.50
Tray of chips £2.50
Cheesy Chips £3.00
Book your nets
Club members can book a one hour slot all week round at available times.
Buy new WBCC branded kit
For new branded kit, from shirts to pads and everything in between, visit the online club shop
Buy new clothes from the club shop
