Further awards given at the annual Swardeston CC awards dinner at Wensum Valley Golf and Country Club were as follows.
Players of the year were also honoured, see separate report.
The trophy for the most outstanding performance of the year was awarded to Michael Eccles for his spell of taking 5-60 against Great Witchingham late in the season.
Club captain Peter Thomas said: “Following the defeat by Blackheath in the national club knockout the stuffing seemed to be knocked out of the team. The team’s form had suffered and we were limping towards the title. We visited Great Witchingham on 5 September and posted a modest score of 159, mainly in thanks to a great knock of 63 by Stephen Gray and 36 by Callum Taylor.
“Things looked tough but one bowler, who would always be in my team, came out to field with fire in his belly. Michael produced 18 overs of great bowling, claiming 5-60 and with the help of good spells by Tom Oxley and Callum we managed to sneak the win by 16 runs.”
Club captain Peter Thomas presents Michael Eccles with the John Betts Cup for the most outstanding performance of the year.
Alfie Cooper was the winner of the Neville Herathge Trophy for the outstanding youth player of the year. Club captain Peter Thomas said that Alfie had a 2015 season to remember, playing in a huge number of the club’s teams. From the Under-15s and the Under-19s and a regular place in the A XI in the Norfolk Alliance to making his East Anglian Premier League debut and of course playing in the national club knockout and finally appearing in the Bob Carter Cup final.
Alfie Cooper is presented with the Neville Herathge Trophy by Sapumal Herathge and club captain Peter Thomas.
John Betts Cup – Outstanding performance of the year: Michael Eccles
Neville Herathge Trophy – Most outstanding youth player: Alfie Cooper
Three further presentations were made at the dinner.
Groundsman Pat Hall was honoured as he celebrates his 70th birthday and his 59th year with the club. Pat started playing as an 11-year-old and began working on the ground in 1965 when the club moved its playing base to Swardeston Common.
Chairman Mark Taylor told Pat that the club owed him a huge debt of gratitude. His hard work had made the wickets at Swardeston, particularly The Common, the envy of many, not just in Norfolk or the eastern region but throughout club cricket in the UK.
Groundsman Pat Hall receives a gift from chairman Mark Taylor from all at the club to mark his 70th birthday and 51 years work on the ground.
A further presentation was made to Christine Thomas who has decided to step down from lunch and tea making duties after more than 40 years. Mark Taylor said the role in preparing the meal breaks had been greatly appreciated by all players and was an important part of the East Anglian Premier League match day in particular. Unfortunately Christine had gone when the pictures were taken.
Finally Mark made a presentation to Swardeston ladies manager Katie Treutler for her success in getting our women and girls section so successfully off the ground. From a low base three years ago Katie had transformed it so that we now had teams in this year’s women indoor and outdoor competitions. Girls were also now attending our summer coaching sessions in significant numbers.
Chairman Mark Taylor presents Katie Treutler with a bouquet in recognition of her efforts with the women and girls section.
