05-07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18-22

“2014 AGM Report”

The St. Aldates Tavern catered for The MAD’s 2014 “Dave Shorten” sponsored Annual General Meeting, to which it provided a similarly gentrified experience as the previous year. Located atop the main pub area opposite the Town Hall, the Blue (function Room) features its own bar and video projection screen – perfect for screening the club’s photographic work over the year and a PowerPoint presentation from Chairman Mr. Bullock. An excellent turnout ensured than the pre-requisite for £500 bar takings was monstered.

The perfect setting of the ‘Blue Room’….

Without further ado, herewith the notes from the evening – or at least the varied and scattered ones that made it onto a crumpled piece of paper in the back of my jean pocket….

‘M. Inkpen’

Part I - Notes on attendance

Apologies for absence:

Matt Reading

Paddy Mellor (Attending a funeral and subsequent wake / piss up)

Mike Clarke (Muchas disculpas, pero no puedo ser arsed)

Martin’s see-through head captivates all….

Present:

Matt Bullock (Chairman)

Andrew Darley

Steve Dobner

Danial Emerson

Dave Emerson (Director of Cricket)

Duck

Giant Duck

Richard Hadfield

Nick Hill

James Hoskins

Jake Hotson

Ian Howarth (Captain, Fixtures Secretary, Minutes)

Vicki Howarth

Jon Newman

James Pearson

Mike Reeves (Treasurer)

Chris Roberts

Mark Rundle

Dave Shorten

Thornton Smith

Gary Timms (T20 Captain)

Russell Turner

Jan Webster

Part II - Chairman’s Welcome

A shortened Welcome from Chairman Bullock encapsulated the season by saying it had been an extremely enjoyable season, where success was measured by attendance and laughs as opposed to results. He also made special mention that the ‘Ethos’ and camaraderie within the team was upheld – and to which end the club survived the ill-fated Tour to f______ T______.

Matt finished by thanking all those who had helped with the running and organisation of the club during the past year, and looked forward in earnest to 2015.

Matt’s (right) speech was curtailed because he was hungry. Bad move lining up behind Homer mind….

Part III - Captain’s Report

Skipper Howarth began by thanking everyone for making themselves available over the course of the season; for their efforts and contributions, and made sarcastic mention of strike bowlers Andrew Darley (largely absent) and Dave Emerson (largely injured). He thanked Homer in person for his efforts as Vice Skipper – particularly Russ’s run out and lbw of himself when well set (joke). Special mention was made to Dave Shorten and Richard Hadfield for their sterling efforts with contributing many of the home teas – and also to Mr. Reeves for his invaluable and largely “invisible” organisational work behind the scenes.

Can you hear the death knell?

Highlights for Ian, of “which there were far too few”, consisted of defending totals against Isis CC and Enstone CC – and the grand scalp of finally beating Milton CC away in Bloxham after 8 long years. The latter being the Holy Grail of Mad wins on the road for Ian, Martin and other doddery old MAD fuckers anyway.

Howarth resigned as regular Skipper after the debacle in Appleton, and reiterated his support of Mr. Timms who filled the void, by relating he thought the last few games under Gary were a glimpse into the future – and that the Club, as a whole, should lend their support to the younger man.

Part IV - Treasurer’s Report

Mr. Reeves began his speech with nobody really listening, so the notes derived are sketchy at best. In short, the Club started with some money and ended with more money in ~£1600 – and amusingly actually made money (£40) whilst on their Tour to f______ T______. This was due in part to some cock up by the hotel, so thank you anyway.

Other jobs for the Treasurer included trashing the ‘Ade Fisher Performance Trophy’….

Because of the healthy state of Club finances, subs will be staying put at £30 next year, or £15 unwaged. Match fees are to remain at £5. Fines at the weekend are actively encouraged, as is normal, with the Treasury Dept. not giving a hoot if it gets out of hand – the costlier the better.

Mike will be subsidising any home teas to the tune of £70 for willing volunteers. Sponsorship within the Club has been shelved, but if anyone “finds it within their heart” to donate a sum money – please do (Mike turns his head to Homer and Lego with a large grin).

Part V - Fines

Mr. Bullock now chaired contentious ‘Item #5’ on the agenda – Fines – to which he had communicated to the team on email prior to the AGM. During the course of the 2014 Season, the ubiquitous MAD match ‘fines’ were brought under scrutiny – with various moans and grumblings from varying quarters. Despite excellent revenue coming into the club coffers, it was thought they were in need of an overhaul after the 90 second ruling on a player’s fines was filled with erroneous off-field antics and observations at the pub afterwards.

Judge and Jury.

Of those who expressed an opinion or replied to Matt’s circular – 2 players thought they should stay as they are, 2 considered them to be abolished altogether and the rest of the team were somewhere inbetween (continue them with alterations).

A small Fines Committee was thus elected comprising of Matt Bullock himself, Paddy Mellor (remains in the job), James Pearson and Jake Hotson. It is intended to reign in the ‘made up stuff’ and shorten the time it takes – thus alleviating ignoring the opposition at the pub afterwards. 90 seconds is intended as a maximum time per player – not a minimum. BUT – things must remain fun.

Part VI – Umpiring and Scoring

It was thought necessary to remind the players of the lbw laws of the game, and their need to signal to the scorers whilst umpiring. If an lbw decision is contentious whilst upholding the law, then give the batsman the benefit of the doubt (where applicable). Scorers are not mind readers, signal to them!

Certainly no mind readers in this lineup.

Whilst on the subject of scoring, a system with triangles for byes and leg byes was introduced by Jake Hotson this year, which is considered good. This system is helpful for the Club Statto Mr Bullock when relying on the scorebook’s accuracy. The team are much better at scoring, but there have still been games where 20+ balls are absent in the batsmen’s column….

Ian Howarth has tasked himself with reproducing an illustrated guide of the ‘lbw’ laws (from a book) to circulate to the team prior to the coming season.

Part VII - Committee Member Elections

The election of Mad Club officials is as always a popular and integral part of the evening. Herewith the results following any necessary voting….

Elected Committee Posts

Chairman

Matt Bullock

- continues as Chairman, opposed by Thornton Smith (2 votes).

Fixtures Secretary

Ian Howarth

- continues as Fixtures Secretary, unopposed.

Treasurer

Mike Reeves

- continue in his role and is duly elected, unopposed.

Captain

Gary Timms

- is elected regular Mad Skipper, unopposed.

Vice Captain

Russell Turner

- is nominated and elected by Skipper Gary Timms.

T20 Captain

Dave Shorten

- is elected to the post, unopposed.

Director of Cricket

Martin Westmoreland

- is elected to the role, beating off Vicki Howarth (8 votes) and Stevie D (3).

*

Non-Committee Posts

Tour Organiser(s) 2016

Steve Dobner and Gary Littlechild

- win the posts, beating James Hoskins, Jon Newman and Jake Hotson.

Fines Chairman(s)

Patrick Mellor

- continues, supported by James Pearson, Matt Bullock and Jake Hotson.

Social Secretary

Vicki Howarth

- is elected to the post, warding off interest from Stevie D, Giant Duck and Paddy Mellor.

Part VIII - Season 2015

Ground / Pub

The team are happy at Brasenose and thank the groundsman, Dan, for all his efforts – but the club will be spreading a few of next season’s matches with Jordan Hill. At a push, they will make use of Jesus College if there are problems with bookings. A home pub is now considered superfluous to requirements as the club is self-sufficient monetarily [that said, if an offer of sponsorship came their way they would listen to it].

Nets

Details of nets and coaching will be worked out by Andy Darley. Oxford School [off Glanville Road, Cowley Road] have already failed to honour previous year’s bookings, so Del will look to Gosford in Kiddlington to pick up the slack [as in some previous years]. It has been decided to bin a pre-season session at Dummer [Basingstoke] due to a waning interest and increase in costs.

Andrew Darley balances his head on a pint glass whilst admiring a skinhead.

Kit

Martin will most likely be ordering another round of merchandise in the New Year. Numerous items were suggested, some sensible and some farcical. Unfortunately the minutes of these suggestions were smudged out by a spilt pint of cider….

Players

The club will welcome a few new faces in the New Year – but hopefully ones who have seen a bat and a ball before. Nets may prove to be a happy hunting ground as per usual, as will corporate giant Centrica (Cowley) – where half the team have recently emigrated from.

Fixtures

Fixtures are mostly complete, with 33 of 36 games inked into 2015 roster, encompassing Sundays from mid-April to September and numerous midweek T20s. The number of matches will be increased with the addition of Tour games – where there are expectations of two 40 over matches and a further T20.

Teas

Are to be supported by team players and to be administered where necessary by the Club Captain.

Part IX - Tour 2015

The Club’s 2015 Tour was announced by Ian Howarth on behalf of an absent Paddy Mellor. It was revealed as being a trip to Lymington – a Georgian market town on the southern edge of the New Forest, between Southampton and Bournemouth. The Tour will hopefully encompass three matches including one T20. This is seen as a return to traditional Mad values [following the woeful f______ T______ experience], where one can smell copious amounts of local sea air and avail themselves of some pirate golf.

Steve was unaware of Paddy’s Tour plans – and wants to pan his face in.

Due to an apparent lack of communication, Mr. Dobner was blissfully unaware of the Lymington plans, and as such had put “other” plans in place for a Tour to Weymouth with the assistance of former Mad batting star, Gary Littlechild. Whilst Steve’s efforts were warmly appreciated, Lymington is seen as a chance of redemption for Paddy, following on from the lamentable issues with f______ T______. Still, Mr. Dobner’s Tour is a great backup plan and was subsequently inked in as being the destination for Tour 2016.

Part X - FFTMCC Awards

After numerous delays for toilet visits and extra beer, the following MAD awards and trophies were voted upon and the dubious winners announced as follows….

Mr. Shorten epitomizes everything about smugness.

Roll of MAD Honours

Player of The Season

Dave Shorten

Most Improved Player

Dave Shorten

Clubman of the Year

Ian Howarth

Champagne Moment

Dave Shorten

- six to bring up his maiden ton (103* v Islip CC #338)

MAD Fantasy Cricket

Dave Shorten

Team ‘The Invisible Bat’

Adrian Fisher Performance Trophy

James Pearson

- maiden unbeaten ton (113* v Isis CC #320)

Postman Timms looks for a voting slip without the words “Dave” and “Shorten” written on them….

Part XI - Any Other Business

The evening as a whole was declared a most splendid if drunken success, and that AOB shouldn’t really be discussed at length seeing there was food on the table and a bar open.

Here is to an enjoyable 2015!!!