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Annual Meal & Club Presentation Night 2002

The annual meal and Club presentation night took place at the Westminster Hotel, 312 Mansfield Road, Nottingham on Saturday 12 January 2002.

The Hon. Chairman, Geoffrey Pook gave the after-dinner speech (a summary follows):

1. This was the 13th year that Geoff had done this. He reminded us that the lease on the ground is due for renewal this year.
2. Thanks were given (no names) to those that helped organise the meal, fund-raising (including running half-marathons), representing Club on leagues/ground committees, producing statistics, ground maintenance, sponsorship, scorebox, umpires, playing, other events (6-a-side), admin, finances (own & joint ground committee), information, catering (food and bar), sightscreens, getting teams on field, captaining and last but not least supporters. A toast was given to "Wilsons Cricket Club".
3. Geoff then lightened the evening's proceedings by quoting several misquotes from the SAGA magazine. (Very appropriate for several club members!)
4. Summary of season 2001 - not quite there! When SNCL started we felt we were placed too low. 1st XI had successive promotions but finished just outside automatic promotion places (4th) last season in 1E. Lost in semi-final of Cup to Risley (who we had beaten at the same stage the previous season.) 2nd XI underachieved and lost several games perhaps should (could) have won. Evening League had a bad start (lost 4) before winning 5 in a row, then losing last game.
5. 62 players represented Wilsons last season (including one Gladstone Small!)
6. There were several personal milestones reached last season.
   Batting: Steve Leahy (12,000 runs for Club), Jeff Moore (8000), Dave Nattrass (7000), Stefan Boss (5000 with 1200 last season), Richard Odell (2000) and Les Hardy, Tim Caldwell, Ray Smithson and Justin Burton all passing 1000 runs.
   Bowling: 300 wickets for Justin Burton and Steve Maxey, and 200 for the returning John Curzon.
   Appearances: Mark Wallbank (400) - new record, 200 for Justin Burton, Geoff Pook and Tim Taylor. 100 for Eric Dalby, Les Hardy, John Curzon and John Savill.
   Catches: Stefan Boss (100).
   
7. There had been 21 different best batting performances and 23 bowling.
8. Stefan Boss dominated the batting, hitting 2 centuries (just 1 behind Rod Knights in centuries scored now.) Stefan had 12 scores more than 50, 8 over 25 (and took 16 catches as well.)
9. Imran Khan was the leading wicket taker with 59. He had four 5-wicket hauls.
10. The part-timers Les Hardy and Richard Odell shared the wicket keeping honours with 7 dismissals each. (Nobody achieved more than 1 stumping in the season!)
11. Other notable batting performances included: Sean Bush 79 vs East Leake. Les Hardy 30* vs Underwood. Just 10 more in last wicket partnership [Ed: with Alan Odell] and we would have won. Les also scored 29* in return game. Tom Savill had 3 memorable Evening League innings. New boy Paul Hammond had 2 40's but also 2 consecutive golden ducks. Richard Howiss returned to the Club and scored 34*. Zak Briggs scored 75* vs Chilwell then 62 the following week. Jeff Moore performed particularly well in the cup games against Cotgrave and Risley. Stefan Boss and Sean Bush had an unbeaten partnership of 181 vs Pelican and an unbeaten 1st wicket partnership of 142 vs Forest Fields in the Evening League. [Ed: No mention of Allan Jones 97* on debut vs West Bridgford Legion.]
12. Bowling highlights included Nasser Hussain's 6-13 vs Chilwell. Jeff Moore 4-30 vs Thurgarton. Justin Burton 3-5 vs Notts Amateurs, Dave Rose 4-15 vs Farndon and Chris Nattrass with his match winning 4-6 vs Basford Mill. The Burton juniors both played their part. Adam took 3 wickets and bowled 52 overs whilst Mark picked up his first wicket.
13. Batting award - qualification 10 matches, weekend matches only:
    - 6 players scoring more than 300 runs. Stefan Boss, Sean Bush, Zak Briggs, Richard Odell, Les Hardy and Imran Khan.
    - 4 players averaged over 20. Richard Odell, Steve Leahy in the 20's, Zak Briggs on 35
    

    but the batting award (Harry Weekes trophy) goes to the player with the best average. This went for the 2nd season running to Stefan Boss with an average of 42.96 (30.59 last season). Stefan was the only player to score a century in the season (twice) and was also presented with a tankard to mark this achievement.

14. Bowling award (Phil Freeman trophy) - qualification 10 wickets:
    - Imran Khan was the leading wicket taker, followed by Justin Burton 43 (in 248 overs) with 20+ wickets for Stefan Boss, Mark Wallbank, Tim Caldwell and Tim Taylor.
    - Imran's average of 11.91 was not good enough as
    the bowling award for the season went (again) to Nasser Hussain whose 21 wickets at 10.45 included the season's best 6 for 13 vs Chilwell. (Unfortunately, Nasser was not present to accept his award which was accepted on his behalf by 2nd XI skipper Justin Burton.)
15. Well what were the highlights of the season:
    At 100: Losing to Stoke Bardolph
    At 99: Losing to Stoke Bardolph (again)
    At 5: Beating Notts Amateurs
    At 4: Beating Awsworth
    At 3: Beating Awsworth (again)
    At 2: Appearing on Radio 5 live with Gladstone Small
    But this year's number one is Notts Amateurs' skipper defending the indefensible by trying to dry a pitch after a torrential downpour.
    
16. In between various bludgeoning moments from Stefan Boss and Tom Savill, there were various graceful ones as well from Stefan and others. Stefan's quickness of hand when celebrating catches was also mentioned. There was the pleasing return to catching form by Nigel Smith.
17. Some moments also spring to mind - the notices in the Basford Mill changing room at City Hospital of "their vision", Les Hardy being dazzled by the "glaring blossom" in September and the wisdom of returning to 2nd XI cricket for Jeff Moore when covering his head in Deep Heat!
18. Two new awards (from the club captains) were then presented:
    1st XI player of the season: Mark Wallbank.
    Underused bowler but very effective when used (e.g. Cup semi-final). Contributes much to the club and has been positive despite limited bowling opportunities. His much derided batting has improved (e.g. Cup quarter-final when part of last wicket partnership that took the total from 70 to over 100 - a winning total.)
    2nd XI player of the season: (Bob Fleming trophy presented by his wife Linda) Vasim Choudhary
    For all round performances and for arriving each week at 1 minute to 2 with Nasser!
19. 
    

    Clubman of the year - was presented to Alan Odell for his sheer infectious enthusiasm, whatever role required on and off field (even when injured). Above all, taking the Mercury mantle of the Club to new, world-wide brethren. [Even though he failed to return last year's speech notes until just before this year's speech!]

20. There have been recent League changes with club mergers, and because of this, the 1st XI have been promoted to division 1D for 2002. This also means playing in the Popkess (Senior) Cup where we have a bye in the first round. Further details about this and other matters will be revealed at the Annual General Meeting on Friday, 1 February 2002.