In the fourth team, for the first time Mark had selection problems as we had to many players! This has not happened for many years and bodes well for the future maybe we can get 5 sides out in 2025.

Well done to all our captain’s for getting player’s back to the club after the games which has led to a good social vibe for the whole club.

The results for the First team were a little disappointing we started with a win and we looked like we were going in the right direction but further positive results never materialised. We have many talented players who have all shown flashes of brilliance but the aim for next year is to strive for consistency with both bat and ball. With a young side we have be patient so we should continue support and advise as much as we can. I am certain we will be a force in premiere division in the near future.

It was good to see The MDL finally managing to get teams out and starting to introduce our juniors to adult cricket. With some interesting away fixtures, the one at Broad Water Farm would have been a baptism of fire for all of our team! A big thanks to Sohaib, Amitav and Frank for their contributions and thanks to the parents for supporting.

The Smash
Well done to the Pipers for winning The Smash this year which seemed a little bit more competitive than most years! Well deserved praise goes to Rishi and Vamsi for all your hard work. Some photos of the event can be seen here

The Old Boys Match
What a fabulous day, probably the best summers day of the year! Wacker Wilton, Warwick Jordan, Hodges incorporated, Charlie Pucket the Blyghtons to name a few. A Big thank you to Peter Sobojoy for organising the old boys team and to Jon Mather for the flower pot fundraiser. This will now be a regular in our cricket calendar and renamed the David English memorial game. We had a fantastic lunch for the VPs and Life members on that day!

Our new head coach Leigh Woodridge headed up the men’s section and junior coaching this year. Leigh has bought some new ideas to the teams, more structure in the way we train, fitness is now a key component which has already started to show positive results and should continue to help to improve all aspects of our teams performance in 2025.

Fund Raising and Sponsorships
What can I say Jon Mather is the goose that lays the golden eggs! Jon is working very closely with our local council to provide grants for all our junior cricket and is exploring every revenue stream that can support the club. He has been instrumental in getting our socials and fundraising for the club going. The race night, flowerpot competition and quiz evening come to mind.

And big thanks to Romil & Pete and the sponsorship team to tirelessly engaging with circa 10 strategic sponsors and donors for long term partnerships with the Club.

Juniors
We unfortunately fell foul off some awful weather in the early part of the season, with a considerable amount of games and training sessions cancelled. This gave our match mangers a tuff task in trying reschedule some of the washed out games, so a big thank for all their hard work and again to the parents for their support both on match days and arranging to get their children to the matches which is sometimes a scheduling feat in itself.

Please see detailed reports from our age group managers.

The junior’s section is getting stronger every year, the introduction of the Mill Hill Finches girls team, a joint collaboration with Mill Hill Village helping to add to our provision of cricket. Anisha has been very busy this year with engaging local schools, providing coaching, recruiting and promoting FCC . We should be fielding three girls teams this year, well done Anisha and Hannah, outstanding work.

Targets and goals
The committee have worked very hard on completing all of these projects in the 2024 season:-

Hybrid wickets
Mill Hill Finches Girls section formed
Schools coaching
Safety netting EAST END ROAD
Refurbishments pavilion
Digital score box
New signage and sponsors boards
New sponsors signed up
Verti draining outfield including 200 tons of sand to help drainage

The future 2025
We are currently in talks with property developers and the council to see if we can achieve a new pavilion and a four-lane indoor cricket school more details to be announced at the AGM. We are engaging with Middlesex on ECB grant for a bore hole to make the club more sustainable and self-sustaining.

We are working towards an inter schoolgirls competition (12 schools participating) in June 2025 (with lot of special guests to take selfies with!) as well as engaging with Middlesex and Capital Kids to provide taster cricket sessions to circa 25+ primary schools in Barnet / Finchley area and promote grass root cricket for boys and girls.

A special thank you to all our sponsors, donors and members who have been very generous and without there support all of the above would not have been possible.

To the committee who have worked tirelessly to get all these projects over the line and for the support you have given me as your chairman. Here’s to and even better 2025 (weather permitting) keep up the great work everyone.

Graham