AGM News

Life Membership for Mike Baker and some minor changes at the top.

Sunday’s AGM was well attended as always – pleasingly a larger than normal number of playing members were there. President Phil Jansen oversaw proceedings; Chairman Drew Patrick and Treasurer Mike Furze reviewed matters on & off the field, and Andy Page outlined the revised clubhouse development plans. Our brilliant Club Secretary Jo Patrick was on hand to open up the bar and take minutes.

On the playing side, Matt Gottschalk remains Club Captain, but his role for 2012 will change as we continue to grow. Matt will oversee the selection meetings for all the senior sides; working with new Saturday 1st XI team captain Jack Raimondo, re-elected Saturday 2nd XI and Sunday XI captains John Crisp and Steve Finch. A former product of our colts system, Matt will also represent the Club at colts events, and work with our Director of Colts Andrew Trower to integrate the juniors into the Surrey Trust League and other senior sides.

Jack’s need to focus on the 1st XI’s promotion push leaves a vacancy as Surrey Trust League Captain. Will Gudgeon will take over that role. The Stoke Molesey Ladies side will also play Trust League cricket again in 2012, Amy Page will captain the side.

Pleasingly all the colts managers will continue, (see the ‘Colts’ sections of our site), and the other major committee positions are unchanged with two exceptions. Polly Cooke has stood down as Welfare Officer, and the Club are keen for someone to come forward and take on that role. Ralph Coleman returns to the Committee as Team & Fixtures secretary, and will remain the point of contact for media issues.

Mike Baker may well have stood down as Fixtures Secretary, but was deservedly elected as a Life Member. Mike joined the Club in 1993 and has fulfilled a number of roles in his time. He served as Club Secretary when membership and volunteer numbers were as a critical stage, providing tremendous support to the captains the help them raise sides to ensure Stoke continued to play Fuller’s League cricket despite not being an automatic selection himself. Latterly, in addition to his work as Fixture Secretary, he was our 1st XI umpire until his elevation to the Surrey Championship panel for the 2010 season. The bar was always fully stocked when entrusted with the Cash & Carry card. An example to all.

So with the first match of the season just a month away, planning is going well. Record numbers have attended pre-season nets and fixtures are inked in. Roll on April 14th!