New players for 2008 welcome
Are you looking for pastures new?

Do you have itchy feet (though washing them regularly)?

Are you 7' 6" tall with forearms like steam-train pistons?

Are you 5' 10" with a practised wrist action?

Are you 4' 9" and good on the pull?

Consider emailing Chairman of Selectors Paul Nice on paulnice@talktalk.net without delay.

You could be in today's team!

The 2008 Season - It Begins!
The season is underway with wins for 1sts and 2nds and a stunning victory in the 2nd round of the N-Power National Village Cup.

1st XI Vice-Captain Simon Bachelor had a dream start to the season with 100* against St George on the opening day. His patient innings helped the 1st XI record a 13 run victory over the visitors and 25 league points after St George were restricted to 166 with George Humphreys taking 3 wickets up the hill.

The 2nd XI also started well with a comprehensive victory at Pucklechurch, with batting contributions from Babur Khan, Nadeem and Ahmed and three wickets for Tom Ison on his Failand debut. An excellent start - where's the full scorecard, Ijaz? Mark Walker needs it to get it up for us all to see!

The 3rd XI game at Harptree fell foul to the weather but 2 league points were gained from a no-result. Steve Pursey starts another year as North Somerset XI skipper with points on the board.

In the National Village cup Charlie Walker hit a magnificent 103* for our 1st XI against strong opposition from Wellington in the 1st round . Ashbrittle, Stawley & Clayhanger looked favourites as F&P slumped to 15/3, chasing 165 [chasing wide ones, surely? Ed.], against a pacy and accurate attack. 15 year old Charlie however stood firm and timed his innings to perfection leaving partner Ed Humphreys to hit the winning runs in the penultimate over. See http://fpcc.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=10604299 for full scorecard.

Next weekend (10th/11thMay) the 1st XI visit Long Ashton while the 2nd XI entertain their Long Ashton 2nd XI. The North Somerset XI host Bath Exiles. All vital league games!

Outdoor nets are held at the ground every Tuesday at Horse Race Lane as soon after 6.00pm as is possible to make a start. (in other words when more than two players turn up). Be there!

NEW PLAYERS AND INCOMING TOURING/HIRE TEAMS WELCOMED
The season is off to a flying start as a core unit of players has been going through their paces at intense net sessions at the indoor Downs School facility in Wraxall. "Excellent news" observed Failand & Portbury legend Paul Bachelor.

New players are welcome but they need to get in touch with nets co-ordinator Alastair McArthur at alastairmcarthur@hotmail.com without delay.

Requests for fixtures from incoming touring sides and companies seeking to stage hire games are being handled by Fixture Secretary Paul Bachelor at paul@outside-edge.co.uk but again early contact is advisable as space is limited.

NEW PLAYERS WELCOME NOW!

MISSION STATEMENT

Now that the 2008 season is upon us:

We must strive to achieve!

Marvin Straightjacket

Club Supremo 2008

THIS CLUB

Welcome to Failand & Portbury Cricket Club, offering good facilities, an attractive ground and lots of opportunities for both players and supporters.The ground is situated in Horse Race Lane, Lower Failand and our members come from all over North Somerset, Bristol and further afield including London, South Wales and other godforsaken colonial remnants of Empire.

We play all the year round cricket here.

Be seeing you!

Look out over THE BRISTOL CHANNEL : see WALES in the distance!

Vienna 2008 international indoor tournament

NEW 1ST XI CAPTAIN

Following the unavailability of MONTY DESAI, whose arrival has been delayed a number of times, FAILAND & PORTBURY CC have taken steps to fill the gap of first team captain.

The unanimous choice was ED HUMPHREYS, who at 19 years 6 months becomes FAILAND & PORTBURY's youngest ever 1st XI captain in the club's 111 year history. Teenager ED is the youngest of four brothers now playing at HORSE RACE LANE.

His vice-captain is all-rounder PAUL NICE.

Following a long awaited first league win of the season last weekend, it is hoped the confirmation of these two positions will bring some stability to the side in time for the expected influx of players back from university.

5 GAMES THIS WEEKEND
We are aiming to make best use of the good weekend weather by fielding no fewer than 5 teams this Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday the 1st XI play St Mary Redcliffe (H) and the 2nd XI play Bishopston (A), both in the Bristol & District League.

On Sunday the 1st XI again turn out - this time in the National Village Cup area semi-final at Timsbury (A). Meanwhile there are fixtures at home (Cuaco Touring XI) and against Gordano Valley (venue tba).

The good news is that with the influx of new players and the return of the students, pressure for places in these sides is still very keen.

Anyone with any interest in playing is urged to call Selection Co-Ordinator Paul Nice - details on Contacts page - as soon as possible to avoid gut-wrenching disappointment.

Note that the North Somerset XI (3rd XI) has no league game this wekend.

URGENT
All new players MUST be at nets at the ground on Tuesday 17th May for practice, evaluation and selection. If in doubt, contact Paul Nice soonest - see Contacts page.

NEW PLAYERS WELCOME!
It's not too late to get yourself into one of the League squads, even though all teams are in full swing now. Whether you are looking to play at weekends or midweek, it's worth a call to Paul Nice - see Contacts page.

IT'S ALL GO AT FAILAND!
The season started here with a win at Portishead in glorious conditions underfoot and overhead (see 1st XI page for match report). All that winter work and indoor competition seems to be about to pay off (see Statistics page for rolling player performance record).

The current (and just about final form) fixture list is up on the Fixtures page - check it out. "Volume is key" as our leader has said.

An inter-university 20 :20 tournament is taking place at the ground all day tomorrow (see News page). Be there to watch and help out!

There is a buzz about the club as players old and new are fighting for places in the teams the selectors are putting together (see Selection page for postings of team sheets or not as the case may be).

Look out for Failand & Portbury CC in 2005! And keep checking this site for news.

Nets start Tuesday 1st February 2005
8.00 pm to 9.30 pm from February right through till 5th April nets take place at The Downs School, Wraxall (off the Clevedon Road) in their purpose built sports hall with its 4-net cricket facility and viewing area above.

Cost is £3.50 cash per session and there is a requirement to wear non-marking soles.

They're open to all club members and those expecting to be selected for the 1st and 2nd XIs are required to attend.

Non-members aiming to play some cricket at whatever level during the summer (i.e. from 16th April against Portishead (A) till 18th September against Lynton and Lynmouth (A)) will also be very welcome.

Members of The Alan Mullally Appreciation XI (against whom our Midweek XI fire off on Wednesday 27th April (H) 6.15 pm) are especially welcome.

Whoever you are, please contact either your team skipper (contact details on the Contacts page) or alternatively Selector and Winter Indoor Nets Co-Ordinator ("SWINCOO") Paul Nice on (07720) 054 638 or paulnice@talktalk.net .

It's particularly important that you give one of these advance warning of your arrival as this year each session will be limited to a maximum of 40 players.

Remember the words of our leader: "Volume is key."

Be seeing you!

Marvin Straightjacket
Club Supremo

INDIAN OCEAN CATASTROPHE
Our feelings go out to all those, locals and visitors, cricketers no doubt among them, who are really up against it right now because of this catastrophe, as well as to the relatives of those who have died.

It all gives events on the cricket field a degree of perspective.

One kind of immediate help that we can give is through putting funds into one of the organised agencies that is geared up to convert money donations into things that the people in the affected areas need immediately: like water purifying tablets, waterproof bags to sleep in and medical supplies.

One such agency is Oxfam, though there are many others. You can go direct to Oxfam's catastrophe appeal fund at http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_you_can_do/give_to_oxfam/donate/asiaquake1204.htm
and make a credit card donation to help them in what they are doing.

Another one is the Red Cross and their online earthquake and flood appeal page is at: www.redcross.org.uk/donate . They have a Red Cross logistics team in Sri Lanka doing the best it can to help with tarpaulins, blankets, cooking utensils and rehabilitation during the months ahead.

£10.00 for you and me is the cost of a few pints of beer in the pub tonight.

For somebody in one of the affected parts of Asia, our £10.00 could be the difference between his/her life and death in the coming weeks.

Marvin 29.12.04

A merry Christmas and a happy New Year 2005 to everyone!

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
Eleanor Roosevelt

"Vorsprung durch Technik"
Marvin Straightjacket

"Que tous vos voeux se realisent en 2005"
Charlie Cheesewire

"Volume is key"
Monty Desai

FIXTURES NEEDED

A complete list of the 2005 fixtures will appear here shortly after Christmas 2004 but in the meantime, fixture secretaries from other clubs may wish to know that we have the following available dates only on which our 3rd XI is seeking games against similar strength opposition away from home:

Sunday 8th May 2005 (A) 2.00pm start [now filled 20.12.04]

Sunday 29th May 2005 (A) 2.00pm start [now filled 13.12.04, Charlie]

Our 3rd XI (otherwise known as the North Somerset XI) was recently described as: "A very pleasant bunch of people* made up of some who used to be able to play, some who think they used to be able to play, some who manifestly never really cut the mustard at any level, some very promising youngsters and a couple of players recruited on the way to the match."
*Some mistake here, surely? Ed.

Note that we now have no more availabilities for Sunday or Saturday fixtures in 2005.

However, we still have the following spaces for incoming midweek touring teams looking for a game in pleasant village surroundings, on a good batting wicket, at a ground easily accessible from the M5 Gordano services junction and against a good or if needed appropriate standard of opposition:

Monday 20th June (H) 2.00pm
Thursday 30th June (H) 2.00pm
Monday 11th July (H) 2.00pm
Thursday 14th July (H) 2.00pm
Monday 18th July (H) 2.00pm
Thursday 25th August (H) 2.oopm

Our ground is also available for hire on some evenings (particularly Wednesdays, Thursdays and some Mondays but never Tuesdays). If you are looking for an ideal venue for an evening social game, let us know.

We should be pleased to hear from you - email the secretary on vispavonis@googlemail.com .

Be seeing you!

Marvin Straightjacket
10.12.04

SITE UNDERGOING REPAIRS!

New year 2005 will see a complete revamp of this site ahead of what is expected to be a pulsating new cricket season. I've fallen down a bit on the job of running this website since 2003. Hmmm!

Bookmark this site and return in a month's time for eye-popping material about the 2004 winter indoor success stories of our Bristol and Taunton teams and for the almost completed full fixture list for the summer.

Remember indoor nets start on Tuesday 1st February 2005 8.00 pm to 9.30 pm at The Downs School, Wraxall, and will run EVERY TUESDAY until 5th April.

12th April 2005 outdoor nets start and run EVERY TUESDAY till September.

Then the indoor seasons start - for one team at Taunton and another at Bristol.

Then it's this time next year and the whole thing starts again.

Failand & Portbury CC offers ALL THE YEAR ROUND CRICKET!

Be seeing you!

Marvin Straightjacket 10.12.05