Following the recent untimely passing of Grant Stanley, Prestwick Cricket Club are holding a memorial service for Grant at their clubhouse, Henry Thow Oval, Prestwick on Sunday 21st January 2018 from 12 noon onwards. Grant was a huge character and influence on cricket in the West of Scotland and a warm invitation is extended to all who wish to come along and pay tribute to him.

Grant, who was only 65 at the time of his death, was a big hitting batsman and prolific wicket taker whose coaching methods were revered by youngsters. The popular Australian’s spent 9 years at Prestwick in his two stints as well as spells at both Ayr and Kilmarnock.

Please note the following communication from Gordon Drummond, Cricket Scotland’s Performance Pathway Manager.

“I am writing to you in my role as Cricket Scotland’s Performance Pathway Manager to share information regarding some of the amendments we have made in improving both our Men’s and Women’s Performance Pathway structure for the 2018 season.

With the strategic aim of Cricket Scotland to become the next ICC Full Member, one of our aims is to achieve List ‘A’ status for our regional programme, this being one of many requirements for being elevated to ICC Full Member status from our current status as an Associated Member. As such it was deemed appropriate, from both those within Cricket Scotland and the wider stakeholders in these programmes, that the time was right to evolve the existing structure as we move towards this goal. We also recognise that it is important to share this information with our wider membership and all regional programme stakeholders to help Cricket Scotland be even more transparent in sharing the key objectives for both the Men’s and Women’s National and Regional programmes.

Attached for your information are documents that contain more details about the changes and the key focus for our National and Regional programmes.

We understand that in isolation some of this information may trigger some more detailed questions and we would welcome these. I am more than happy to discuss this further and would ask that in the first instance if you could drop me an email (gordondrummond@cricketscotland.com) with any questions or observations and we can arrange to chat further if required. I would also appreciate if this information could be distributed to all relevant members of your club.

I hope you find the information useful and I look forward to seeing many of you over the coming months.”

Cricket Scotland Mens National Pathway information sheet

Cricket Scotland Womens Regional Pathway Information Sheet

Cricket Scotland Womens National Pathway information sheet

Cricket Scotland Mens Regional Pathway Information Sheet

The West of Scotland Branch of the Cricket Society of Scotland are once again extending an open invitation to all cricket-lovers to their Annual Dinner at Clydesdale on Monday, 12 March 2018. They have been fortunate enough to secure the services of an iconic after-dinner speaker in Derek Randall. Please find attached a flyer giving all the details. The dinner is usually the highlight of the season and attendance is not limited to Cricket Society members only but to all cricket-lovers in the West of Scotland. The cost this year is £33 per head including a three course meal plus coffee.

Cricket Society 2018 dinner, flyer

This exciting role seeks an energetic and experienced individual who can deliver across East Renfrewshire Cricket Club’s key objectives. The ideal candidate needs to have an understanding of sports development and must be able to maintain and build new relationships. A sound knowledge of cricket pathways that allows for integration at all levels is preferred. Closing dates for this post are Friday 19th January 2018 with interviews taking place Monday 22nd January 2018.

For more information on the job and person specification please contact Ammar Ashraf on the details below. To apply, please send a CV and supporting letter to – juniors@eastrencricketclub.com. This role will involve regulated work with minors; therefore all candidates will require PVG Scheme membership to be considered for the position.

Further to the recent communication setting out the WDCU League structure for 2018 we are delighted to be able to issue WDCU League fixtures for 2018. The fixtures will also be available on the WDCU website Document Centre/League & Cup Fixtures tab.

In line with recent seasons and the Cricket Scotland playooffs, the leagues will commence on Saturday the 28th of April and run through eighteen weeks to Saturday the 25th of August. All teams will have a full fixture card scheduled. Teams in the Fourth Division have been randomly allocated games in weeks eight, nine, seventeen and eighteen.

Due to ground unavailability outwith their control over some parts of the season the CMC received requests from some clubs to consider their predicament and allocate fixtures accordingly, The CMC agreed that where possible these requests should be actioned. Some, but not all of those requests have been able to be handled, however it does mean that there are some teams that have a run of home or away games, which is unfortunately but unavoidable. We hope that you are understanding of the reasons.

Please advise the WDCU Administrator ASAP if there are any errors, etc. on the fixtures.

Stenhousemuir Cricket Club are looking for a committed, experienced and enthusiastic Head Coach to join its volunteer coaches who work on a range of programmes over the winter. The programmes take place throughout the year and if a Coach is qualified to Level 2 or higher and has a passion for helping to develop young cricketers then they should forward their CV to: enquiries.stennycc@gmail.com.

Please find below the 2018 structure for the WDCU Saturday Leagues. Online are a brief covering note and a brief summary of the promotion and relegation guidelines.

The full playing conditions and regulations will follow in the New Year once the effects of the ICC’s laws 41 and 42, which are still under discussion, have been considered.

The 2018 league fixtures have been compiled and are going through the final QA checks. These will be issued in the first week of January 2018.

2018 Covering note for league structure

2018 Promotion and relegation

The WDCU will be offering the following cup/league competitions in 2018 for clubs to participate in.

Responses should be made to the WDCU Administrator (admin@wdcu.co.uk) no later than 5pm on Friday the 12th of January 2018 with clubs’ wishes for 2018 competitions. Please note that a null response will result in a club NOT being entered into any competitions in 2018.

If clubs could also please advise the name of the team(s) that they wish to register under each competition.

The 2018 competitions available are:

Sunday League: Open to all clubs. No restriction on number of teams per club.
Midweek League: Open to all clubs. No restriction on number of teams per club.
Rowan Cup: Open to all clubs in Group A below. One team per club.
McCulloch Cup: Open to all clubs in Group A below. One team per club. (Maximum of 16 teams.)
Western Cup: Open to all clubs who have a first XI in Group B below and all 2nd XIs of clubs in Group A below. One team per club. (Maximum of 20 teams.)
Greenwood Trophy: Open to all clubs who have a first XI in Group B below and all 2nd XIs of clubs in Group A below. One team per club.

Group A: All clubs who played in 2017 Premier and First Division, excluding St. Michael’s CC, but including Helensburgh CC.
Group B: All clubs who played in 2017 Divisions 2 and 3 excluding Helensburgh CC, but including St. Michael’s CC

The funeral service for Bobby Hill will be held at 12pm on Tuesday the 5th of December 2017, at St. Andrews and St. Marnock Church, St. Marnock Street, Kilmarnock, KA1 1DZ (next to the Police station), and thereafter, at 1pm, at Holmsford Bridge Crematorium, Dreghorn, KA11 4EF.

Kilmarnock CC and the WDCU are deeply saddened to announce the death of club Life Member, former President, Captain, and Scottish internationalist, Bobby Hill.

Bobby came from a family intimately connected with the club, and he was closely associated with it as a player, President, committee member and supporter for his whole life.  As well as gaining several Scottish caps, he also served as Chairman of Selectors and kept a close interest in the game throughout his life.  His son Alan and nephew Jim remain heavily involved with both the club and WDCU.

WDCU Chair Alex Miller said: “Bobby was such a nice guy – a pleasure to play against, and have a drink with.  It is another sad loss to Scottish Cricket.”

Our sincere condolences go to his wife Liz, Alan, Alison, Jim and the rest of the family.