Portsmouth Cricket Club - 2024

As the weekend approaches the weather is set fair and we look forward to another hectic weekend, although it is worth remembering that it is not only the weekends the club is active.

Throughout the week the club is busy, with colt’s games on Sunday mornings and weekday evenings, the academy running Monday through to Thursday Daytime, Bookable nets at late afternoon and age group training in the evenings.

Every Saturday there will be either 1^st XI and 2^nd XI home match and who has not enjoyed the Sunday afternoon fixtures with either 3^rd XI or Sunday XI.

The eagle eyed amongst you will have noticed that Friday does not appear to be covered but that is busy as well - during the day the club has kept Friday free to provide training and pitches for representational cricket - District or County.

Portsmouth Cricket Club is a social sports club and there is a healthy social element focused on Thank Cricket It’s Friday (#TCIF), in addition the bar is open throughout the weekend and at most Colts matches.

If you survey the senior teams you will note they consist of many players who came through the Portsmouth Cricket Club colts system - in fact over 80% of the current 1^st and 2^nd XI squads played colts cricket for Portsmouth.

It is important for the club that the current colts aspire to play for the senior teams and recognise that it is possible. However, not all players develop at the same rate, there will be players who are good prospects at U9 and there will also be the ‘late bloomers’ but that is not an issue as the colts system goes through to U17 and even enter competitions at U19.

At whatever age a player comes to the fore they need to continue to develop skills and practice them lots and lots, continuously improve physical fitness and keep an eye on what they eat and drink.

The key message is that do not worry if you are not selected for a game - turn up to training, work hard at those skills (especially fielding), exercise regularly and maybe when you fancy a snack avoid the crisps and sweets, instead grab a piece of fruit.

This weekend it looks like a hot one and in the big outdoor space it is easy to forget that we are in a midst of deadly pandemic and to drop our guard - Please do not!

Respect others, keep your distance (2m or 1m+ mitigation - mask etc) and frequently wash your hands.

In addition, I know this appears odd but supporters cannot touch the match ball, if it goes over the ropes let the players collect. 

Fixtures

You can access all upcoming fixtures on the website at

https://portsmouth.hitscricket.com/

If you would like more detailed fixture information - for a particular team for instance, these are also available on the website at

https://portsmouth.hitscricket.com/fixtures/default.aspx

On Saturday, Sunday and other selected home fixtures

The Clubhouse at St Helen's will be open

Can we give a big Thank you to Darren Wilkins and his son Van who spent time clearing and planting the flowerbeds located near the 10th hole restaurant and the entrance to the ground.