MAD News & Occasional Blog – Far from the MCC

MAD News & Occasional Blog

“2017 AGM!”

The MAD’s 2017 Annual General Meeting was once again held in the refined quarters of the Blue Room, atop the St. Aldates Tavern in the centre of Oxford. The usual fare ensued whereby the club’s future and prosperity was mapped out diligently over the course of the evening as the team got plastered. Wonderful to see some old faces in attendance.

To read up on the minutes of an extremely well attended meeting, please navigate to the “2017 Match Reports” section of the website (footer), where you will find a link the details along with various photos from the evening.

“2017 – Joyful Return to Minehead!”

After more than a decade, The MAD returned to their old stomping ground in Somerset to get massacred in four matches against some wonderfully generous hosts.

A write up of the games and the obligatory ‘Player Ratings’ can be found in the usual “Match Reports” section of the website. Thanks once again to all that made it yet another wonderful Tour to remember and for Mike Ashley pinning his black and white stripes to the Tour mast.

“2016 AGM!”

The Far from the MCC’s 2016 Annual General Meeting was once again held in the refined quarters of the Blue Room, atop the St. Aldates Tavern in the centre of Oxford. It was the usual fare, whereby the club’s future and prosperity was mapped out diligently over the course of the evening as the team got plastered.

To read up on the minutes of an extremely well attended meeting, please navigate to the “2015 Match Reports” section of the website (footer), where you will find a link the details along with various photos from the evening.

“2016 - FFTMCC Lose Oxfordshire Friendly Cup Final!”

In their first season of entry, after securing a berth in the final of the Oxfordshire Friendly Cup, The MAD failed to go one stage further as they lost out to the winners OCCSCC by 49 runs. A competitive match throughout played in excellent spirit, the team will hope to go one better next year. Please navigate to the “2016 Match Reports” section to find a write up.

“2016 – Hythe and New Forest Tour: The Sequel!”

After last year’s magnificent Tour to the south of Hampshire and a total cock-up in sorting out a variant in 2016, Team MAD once again deployed near the New Forest for another excellent dose of Hything & Dibbing.

A write up of the games and the now obligatory ‘Player Ratings’ can be found in the usual “Match Reports” section of the website. Thanks once again to all that made it yet another wonderful Tour to remember as f______ T______ slips further and further into the subconscious world of never forgetting.

“17/07/16: Records Tumble During Cholsey Massacre!”

Cholsey CC exacted revenge over the Far from the MCC following their exit from the Friendly Cup a month ago. In doing so, their Number 3 batsman, Jay Rahman, plundered a record 218 not out in 35 overs which included 27 fours and 12 sixes, as the home team clobbered a not-so insignificant 303-2. No, The MAD did not go to win this game….

Jay218

“2015 AGM!”

The Far from the MCC’s 2015 Annual General Meeting was once again held in the refined quarters of the Blue Room, atop the St. Aldates Tavern in the centre of Oxford. It was the usual fare, whereby the club’s future and prosperity was mapped out diligently over the course of the evening as the team got plastered.

“2015 Hythe and New Forest Tour!”

After the ill-fated Tour to f______ T______ the previous year, it was with huge relief that the trip to Hampshire was blessed both with gorgeous weather and extremely hospitable opposition. So much so, The MAD actually won a game! In fact, they won two – and because of a tied game also, they actually won their first Tour of Duty since 2004.

A write up of the games and traditional ‘Player Ratings’ can be found in the usual “Match Reports” section of the website. Thanks once again to all that made it one of the best and most successful Tours ever.

“2014 Shrewsbury and f______ T______ Tour!”

The MAD’s 2014 Tour to Shrewsbury and f______ T______ was arguably one of the most forgettable Tours in the club’s history. If something could go wrong, it generally did. Sometimes things just aren’t meant to be….

The weather is always an important factor on any Tour, and Shrewsbury and f______ T______ were given charcoal leaden skies and a sodding hurricane (Bertha). The singular match report and other cynical blurb from a downtrodden trip can be found in the usual “Match Reports” section of the website. Our thoughts go out to Tour organiser Mr P. A. S. Mellor….

jake_Russ

“2013 Weston-super-Mare Tour!”

The MAD’s 2013 Tour to Weston-super-Mare was one of the most enjoyable and well-attended Tours in recent years (many thanks to Jake Hotson for all his efforts in organising).

The weather is always an important factor in any Tour, and Weston-super-Mare was blessed with 5 days of gorgeous sunshine (thanks again, Jake – for sorting the weather). The match reports and other blurb from the trip can be found in the usual place on the website – i.e “Match Reports”.

“2012 - Norfolk Tour!”

The MAD’s 2012 Tour to Norfolk was a spectacular success in terms of weather and bringing back everyone alive (including a cat). There was also some cricket which wasn’t quite so spectacular, but nonetheless highly enjoyable… or at least some of it anyway. Occasionally.

The trip allowed the Club to reacquaint themselves with our good friends from the Saxlingham Gents, and also to make new friends in the shape of Happisburgh CC and Marlingford CC.

“Where it all started….”

It was over 14 years ago, and above, original team member Antony Mann (third from left, with pen – he’s a novelist in case you didn’t know) poses with a clutch of FFTMCC cricketers in front of the Oxford pub where the cricket team was born. Ant thoroughly enjoyed his 21,000 mile round trip from Sydney, Australia – managing 1 not out in the only game to survive the weather from the 4 or 5 he was down to play. Welcome back, buddy – we hope you enjoyed your stay.

“Broad Gets Batting Tips!”

Fresh faced England all-rounder Stuart Broad was only too happy to take on words of encouragement and expertise from MAD rabbit, Gareth Timms, in a chance encounter at an American Football match (Wembley). Said Broad, “…even if I held the bat the wrong way up I couldn’t possibly be as crap as this fellow!!! Eight ducks in a season – and two of them in one game!?”

“2011 - Southsea Tour!”

The MAD’s 2011 Tour to Southsea, Portsmouth and surrounding areas of Hampshire was a roaring success. All 3 matches went to the final over – and the team almost won a game….

Many thanks once again to James bla-bla Hoskins for organising the bla-bla trip and to all those guys who participated in making it so enjoyable for all those concerned. For details and photos relating to the tour, please navigate to the usual place in the “Match Reports” section of the website.

“2010 - Lyme Regis Tour!”

The Mad’s 2010 Tour to Sidmouth and surrounding areas in Devon was a great success, especially if you discount any of the cricket results. Ironically, the team never played Sidmouth CC, whose ground was but 100 metres down the road from the clutch of B&B’s we stayed at… well done, JMO….

(Ahem)… many thanks once again to James Hoskins for organising the trip and to all those guys who participated in making it so enjoyable for all those concerned. For details and photos relating to the tour, please navigate to the usual “Match Reports” section of the website where you’ll also find various Inspectorates.

“At the Wembley Stadium!”

A Steve Dobner inspired trip to Wembley in 2010 to see his beloved Saracens hammer the Harlequins in a rugby final, was so inspiring he couldn’t even be arsed to make the trip himself. Instead, Steve left his brother in law, Gary Littlechild, to hang about for a small eternity awaiting a pissed troupe from Oxford. It was a fun day out from what people can remember – thought I doubt Gary’s memories are so golden….

A diary of the day can be found in the usual place in the “Miscellaneous” > “Social Events” section of the website.

Dave Emerson is attacked by water fountains.

“Far from the Wembley Stadium!”

Not content with embarrassing themselves at cricket most Sunday’s, The Far from the MCC staked a claim in an Oxfordshire 5-a-side football league during the winter of 2009/10. The tournament proved an unmitigated disaster, but much like the Tetsworth CC cricket thumping of late summer, many amusing memories will be retained.

For a fuller review of the tournament and statistics thereof, they can be found in the usual place in the “Miscellaneous” > “Social Events” section of the website.

Crock of shit.

“2009 - Louth Tour!”

The Far from the MCC 2009 tour to Louth, Lincolnshire proved a massive success, and the team even registered a win. The weather was great, the hosts were delightful and the booze never stopped flowing. Many thanks to Steve Parkinson for organising the trip, and even more thanks in avoiding playing for us for the most part. Match reports, scorecards and fines can be found in the usual place among the “Match Reports” section. And yes, that is Claire Taylor of England’s all conquering women’s cricket team above – the proud recipient of one of our own bestselling books.

“2008 - Mumbles Tour!”

Despite the truly shocking August weather, The MAD’s 2008 Tour of the Mumbles in South Wales was a great success. It goes without saying that we never won a game, but at least we played a few games! Many thanks to Nick Hebbes for organising the trip, and commiserations to Matt Bullock who missed out as he was sat on the toilet all weekend! Reports and other particulars from the trip can be found in the usual place among the “Match Report” section.

“2008 - MAD Book Launch!”

The Far from the MCC officially launched their own book at the Club’s 10 year celebration (Decadilly Day) on Saturday, August 9. It goes without saying that the day itself passed without a ball being bowled, despite the fact four teams were slated to compete in a Twelve12 knockout tournament at Jesus College. It started raining from 11:00 onwards and got steadily worse as the day progressed. Players subsequently decamped to the Marsh Harrier pub (below) instead. At least copies of ‘Not at This Level’ remained dry!

Many thanks to James Hoskins for his tireless work in organising the day – sorry it didn’t quite work out, dude! Please note that the Club Poet was on hand to scribble his musings of the day, and of course these can be found in the “Miscellaneous” section of the website – “Morler’s Poetic Corner”.