Hello everyone,

I trust that you have all wintered well and are all looking forward to a glorious summer of cricket at Dumbleton!

Just to let you all know the arrangements for nets and pre season games coming up in the next few weeks!

We have nets booked at Prince Henry's Sports Hall, Evesham for Sunday 29th March, Sunday 5th April and Sunday 12th April, all from 6pm till 8pm. Everyone is welcome, so please come and make use of this fantastic facility.

From Thursday 16th April , outdoor nets will start at the club from 6.30 onwards. As well as Ron, we have a new member of coaching staff this year, to help with bowling and fielding practice, namely Mr Kevin Emery. Kev will be at nets to coach the bowlers and to run fielding drills on the outfield, he will improve us in both of these areas, so please make every effort to come regularly to nets.

It's important that the practice we have is worthwhile and productive, also the club invests a lot of money this area, so please make use of the facilities.

Pre season starts on Saturday 18th April at Overbury for the 1st Team, followed by a double fixture on Saturday 25th April v Bourton Vale for 1sts away, and 2nds at home.

There are also Sunday fixtures on the 19th and 26th of April v Stanway and Great Rissington respectively, both at home. Bucket or myself will be in touch in the next few weeks to get your availability for those games so please make yourself available for selection in order to put out the best sides we can for these games.

League fixtures start on Saturday 2nd May v Painswick, with the 1st team at home, 2nds away (nice).

The following day, we travel to Redmarley for the first round of the Village Knockout. The club is very keen to have a run in the knockout this season, it certainly is a great competition, and one which we should aspire to go far in. Don't forget that the ultimate prize is a trip to play at Lords – enough said. Again, please make yourself available for this game if humanly possible, we have enough talent to win the Gloucestershire section and beyond if we all commit to having a real good go at it. I know it can cause grief at home for those of you with families (myself included!), but please try and play, it makes a huge difference to the atmosphere around the club, and has given us some of the most fantastic memories over the years.

Finally, we have secured the services of an Australian fast bowler for this coming season, his name is Colby Grace , he's 18, and jolly quick according to Scotty! He's sure to be a real handful for the oppo.

We are also confident of having 2 other new players in this season, both quality batters who will both be great assets to our club, more on this when I have the contracts signed!!!

Cheers for now, look forward to seeing you all at nets on the 29 th March.

Powelly