Not ‘Glorious’ – FABULOUS!
This was billed as ‘Freuchie’s Glorious Weekend.’ As it turned out, ‘glorious’ didn’t do it justice. If there’s any truth in the old crack that a Scotsman’s highest praise is “no’ bad,” this was indeed – no’ bad!
One of the main features of Saturday’s Family Fun Day was the official opening of the new Sports Court, even if it’s likely to retain its now unofficial title of ‘the MUGA.’
‘Taster Sessions’ were on offer – was that not supposed to be about sampling the sporting activities rather than scran?
Patrick Laughlin, Chairman of Freuchie Community Council, kicks off the MUGA opening ceremony whilst Dave Christie and Cllr Andrew Arbuckle wait nervously for their parts to come…
Dave Christie cuts the ceremonial ribbon ably assisted by Cllr Andrew Arbuckle and Mr 60 Minutes, whilst every kid in Freuchie enthusiastically crowds around.
Freuchie Cricket Club coaches teach key skills to our youngsters during the Kwik Cricket Taster session.
The activity tents with Freuchie Church as a back drop.
The new Player’s Disciplinary Unit? Or the new dressing rooms?
Just Chillin’ in the Freuchie sunshine
Great crowds, great weather and good fun all round.
Sunday was more about cricket, with a T20 game against Falkland and the official launch of our book “Freuchie Cricket Club, 1908 – 2008.” Events were opened by Sir Menzies Campbell, attention initially divided between the cricket and a ceremonial tree-planting in the school playground to commemorate the thirteen players in the Lord’s squad. No less than nine of them were at the ceremony.
Sir Menzies Campbell opens events on the Sunday
….. but what on earth is Coo looking at?
“And dae ye mind yon time ….?
The closing ceremony with Sir Menzies Campbell, our president Ian Paterson, the irreplaceable Dave Christie and Cricket Scotland president Bob ‘Faff’ McFarlane.
We’re betting this blanket has a story or two to tell…
Like so many days of the kind, it’s hard to do justice to all the people who worked to make this weekend what it was, but we have to mention Helen Lawrenson and her team for much of Saturday’s events, Rachel and Dave Tosh for the catering, our bar staff, the players who ran Saturday’s sports for the kids, Falkland Cricket Club for joining us on the Sunday, Liz Smith MSP, Sir Menzies Campbell MP, our local councillors and Bob McFarlane, Scott McCrone for ‘The Book,’ (all but five of our fifty copies already spoken for) Jock and Black Light for the Lord’s video display – the list just goes on and on. And we finished the day with a win over our old rivals, Falkland. What more could a body ask for!
Over the next few days we’ll be adding more blog posts with even more photos and commentary from the weekend.
Technorati Tags: Freuchie, Freuchie Cricket Club, Cricket Scotland, Falkland Cricket Club, Liz Smith, Menzies Campbell, MUGA, Scott McCrone
Three Out Of Three
I like to think that my personal outlook is ‘generally optimistic.’ However, when it comes to matches – of any kind – where I have any sort of interest in the outcome, my hopes for success for a given side or player seem often to be the kiss of death.
But this weekend? Wow! On Saturday, Galzo and his men beat SMRH by three wickets. Kenny and his crew beat Corstorphine and Galzo and his lads beat Breadalbane on Sunday. It would be hard to say which of these results gives most satisfaction, but I’ll have a go at that in a minute.
A ‘five for’ for Steve Rowley – 5 for 20, no less, plus 3 for 16 for Scottie Birrell led to SMRH all out for 114. Stevo was also top scorer with 33 not out, Galzo close behind him with 32. It would have been good to have lost fewer than 7 wickets, but there was a lot of criticism of the pitch. Max points for the lads, though, and Stevo has to be man of he match.
Meantime, at home, Corstorphine had compiled 233 for 6 off 50 overs, a pretty daunting target. However, Jock Wallace got 52, Lee Duncan a magnificent 108 not out (his first century) while Robbie Wright weighed in with 26. We finished with 234 for 6 of 40.2 overs. The only downside was that Alan Duncan – Lee’s dad – retired hurt. Speedy recovery, Duffer.
On Sunday a mixed team visited Breadalbane. We would have had more young lads in the side had there not been a U15 match scheduled for the day (which in the end did not take place). Our aim in seeking entry to the Strathmore Union is to get more competitive cricket for our younger players, and on this showing, it’s going to work out really well. Everyone had a good time (well, almost everyone) while the like of Liam Kelly and Chris Hunt got a chance to show what they are made of. “I didn’t realise how good these guys are!” said Galzo. May be too soon to say that this is a plan that will deliver what we are after, but so far, so good.
Tough to pick what has pleased me most, but my pick is the Third XI outcome – not just the result, but the involvement for our promising juniors.
RESOURCE
Cricket Scotland result service for the SMRH v Freuchie match.
Technorati Tags: Cricket Scotland, Freuchie, Freuchie Cricket Club, cricket, SMRH, Corstorphine, Breadalbane
Odds and Ends
We are working hard to have a couple of overseas players this year and hoping that things are just about settled. A pro has been identified and we’re at the crossing i’s and dotting t’s stage. Scott Galloway took on the job of finding a suitable pro, and crossing eyes has been just what he has been doing. What a job. Anyway, fingers crossed as well as eyes. If all goes well, we’ll have South African fast bowler Mario Saliwa and New Zealand batsman Dan Harper. Just the bureaucratic hurdles to come.
Membership subscriptions are due, so if you haven’t renewed yours …..
Courtesy of our sponsor, Black Light and the labour of our own Jock Wallace, we have shiny new disco kit, so look for sparkling discos from now on. Any apprentice DJs out there?
Cricket Scotland demands that all clubs playing in the senior leagues have a groundsman qualified to Level 1, and while Dave Christie has Level 2, it makes sense to have some back up. So Dave McIntosh is registered for an Institute of Groundsman course this month. Good on both Daves.
Race night this Saturday. Get up there and back a winner!
Technorati Tags: Freuchie, Freuchie Cricket Club, Cricket Scotland, Black Light, Dan Harper, Dave Christie, Dave McIntosh, Mario Saliwa, Scott Galloway