Second XI

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The Second XI play in Division 12 of the Northamptonshire County League

Captains 2023 Season Summary and 2024 Season Preview

I have to say when I watched Ben Stokes lead England to victory in the World Cup final in 2019 and decided to dust off my 9 year old Woodworm and come down to Stoke Bruerne to get back into the game I didn’t think I’d be nominated the 2nd XI captain 5 years later! I just wanted to start by saying thank you to those who have put their faith in me and for the privilege of being in such a position at such a great club. A huge thank you to Al Morgan for stepping in and leading the 2nd XI in 2023

2023 was an indifferent season for the 2nd XI, it was a struggle to get a consistent team out and a huge thank you to those in the 3rd XI who stepped up and played their part as a number of players were called up to the 1s from the 2nd XI, and a massive shout out to those youth players who stood their ground and showed up week in week out for the club. A huge credit to the youth programme at the club and the commitments of their parents who bring them down week in week out.

The indifferent season on the pitch aside we luckily stayed in the league despite our relegation position which means it is one less rung to climb up the league ladder. That aside there was a notable feeling of comradery throughout the teams that turned out week in week out and the atmosphere was on a different level to that which I have experienced in my 5 years at the club, I personally think it puts us in a great place going into the 2024 season as it really felt that everybody involved enjoyed being on the pitch despite the results. Also despite the season we had there were a number of great individual displays and near misses, Andy Coles dusted off the deep heat to turn up with his consistent line and length each week and Al Morgan tried his best to rack up the runs in absence of his opening batting partner getting runs week in week out, not sure who that was… The team came together perfectly against Thrapston at home on the 16th September when we found our form….in the last game of the season….how typical! There were a few notable performances that day including Ali Imam who joined the 2ndXI mid season and has gone from strength to strength, his first appearance on the board looked dead cert as a short ball went straight up to our own Mark Tranter… a great 4-25 off Ali’s 10 overs and I look forward to a few board entries from him this season.

On the subject of the Trantular – I would like to thank Mark and Dave Weston for accepting my request to help me this season in the roles of Vice Captains, as two steadfast members of the club it will be great to have them steering me in the right direction on and off the pitch, however I will refuse to accept that every track we come across is not a batting track and that 4 slips and a Gulley for Colesy is a bad field choice

To close I’m really looking forward to the coming season and I think if we can get going early in the season then we can turn up against any team in the league, I look forward to re-writing this next season going into Div 11. On the pitch aside hopefully 2024 is another year in which this club grows as the growth of the club as community hub in 2023 has been a privilege to be part of and those who give their time to the clubs social aspects are an absolute pleasure to work alongside as we grow the club.

#UTB