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“2015 AGM Report”

The St. Aldates Tavern one again catered for The MAD’s 2015 Annual General Meeting, providing a perfectly gentrified experience as with previous years. Located atop the main pub area opposite the Town Hall, “The Blue Room” features its own bar and video projection screen – ideal for screening the club’s photographic work over the year [good or bad] and any amusing Powerpoint presentations. An excellent turnout ensured than the pre-requisite for £500 bar takings was monstered.

The ‘Blue Room’….

Without further ado, herewith the notes from the evening – or at least the ones still legible on the soggy piece of paper found crumpled in the back of my jean pocket….

‘Samuel Buca’

Part I - Notes on attendance

Apologies for absence:

Steve Dobner

Giant Duck

Nick Hill

Paddy Mellor (Joint Fines Chairman)

James Pearson (Joint Fines Chairman)

Matt Reading

The welcome sight of MAD Patron Mr. A. Mander….

Present:

Lee Ainsworth

Matt Bullock (Chairman, Statto)

Geoff Carter

Andrew Darley

Dave Emerson

Duck

Richard Hadfield

James Hoskins (Fantasy Chairman)

Jake Hotson (Joint Fines Chairman)

Ian Howarth (Fixtures Secretary, Website)

Vicki Howarth (Social Secretary)

Anthony Mander (Patron)

Jon Newman-Robson

Mike Reeves (Treasurer)

Chris Roberts

Mark Rundle

Dave Shorten (T20 Captain)

Thornton Smith

Gary Timms (Captain)

Russell Turner (Club Dogsbody)

Martin Westmoreland (Director of Cricket, Merchandising)

Part II - Chairman’s Welcome

This was a unprecedented eighteenth such “welcome” from MAD Chairman Mr. Bullock, but largely because he’s been the onloy Chairman since Year Zero. So well done him. This particular “welcome” was all about self-congratulation and extreme smugness in lieu of many teams being jealous of the FFTMCC’s wonderful spirit and camaraderie. Ethos was again adhered to throughout the season, with special praise going to all those who helped organise things and perform duties on the day. More gushing thanks to the team as a whole – for not only replying to Availability Emails, but actually playing!

Matt’s (centre) overt smugness filled in for an absent Mr. Pearson.

Tour was of course a wonderful success and made all the greater by the wonderful weather throughout. Matt finished by looking forward in earnest to another successful season in 2016.

Part III - Captain’s Report

Despite a decidedly fantastic first season in charge, Skipper Timms chose to focus on the negatives to start with: no tons scored by the batsmen, no 5-fors from the bowlers, and over ten matches lost…. Now the good: a 4-0 ledger against perennial rivals Isis CC and home and away victories against Astons CC. Also, Andrew Darley was nigh on unplayable in nets (he managed 2 games throughout the season).

Highlights for Gary were five different players registering 50s, Mr. Rundle’s wickets at a ridiculous average of 12.07, and er… excellent performances throughout the team, including Mr. Emerson’s 59* to sway the Aston’s game at home.

There were a few milestones reached – and were given the spotlight:

50 wickets – John Newman-Robson

100 wickets – Chris Roberts & Thornton Smith

250 wickets – James Hoskins

6,000 runs – Ian Howarth

1,000 runs – Dave Shorten

0 runs – Danial Emerson

Gary (right) – sees more negative these days than Howarth.

Mr. Timms finished off my announcing a further Trophy to be won for season 2016 – that of the “Booker Prize” – going to the author of the best match report. This was to encourage more hands at work.

Gary left the stage to rapturous applause after handing over to the T20 Skipper, Mr. Shorten. Dave had organised a brilliant speech where he had no detail, agreed with everything Timms had said, and boasted about now knowing where all the positions on the field were – including “nearer” and “go over there”. It had been a great first season in charge – more of the same PLEASE!!!

Part IV - Treasurer’s Report

Mr Reeves decided a PowerPoint presentation would probably garner a much more receptive audience in than in previous years, and he was right. In a spellbinding demonstration of fluid figures and pie charts, ably supported by Tall Bob on mouse clicking duty, Mike captivated all by saying the MAD’s war chest had swelled from a laughable £3 in 2005 to a comfortable £1,352.09 in 2015.

Going forward, Subs are to rise to £35 in 2016, Sponsorship returns as a £20 donation where appropriate, Fines are to be heavier and with greater regularity, Tour is to be self-funding and last, but far from least, JMO needs to win on the horses!

Signing off, Ol’ Big Head underlined the fact he had lost the club money in 2015, would lose the club more money in 2016, and his long term strategy would be to charge players more for the privilege.

Part V - Committee Member Elections

The election of Mad Club officials is as always a popular and integral part of the evening. Herewith the results following a drunken show of hands….

Elected Committee Posts

Chairman

Matt Bullock

- continues as Chairman, unopposed.

Fixtures Secretary

Ian Howarth

- continues as Fixtures Secretary, unopposed.

Treasurer

Mike Reeves

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

Captain

Gary Timms

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

T20 Captain

Dave Shorten

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

Vice Captain(s)

?

- (to be) verified by the Skippers in the coming season.

Director of Cricket

Martin Westmoreland

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

*

Non-Committee Posts

Tour Organiser(s) 2017

Dave Shorten

- wins the post, beating off JMO (4) and Vicki (4) with a promise to take the team to Scotland.

Fines Chairman(s)

Lee Ainsworth and Dave Emerson

- are duly elected, beating off interest from Moo (4 votes).

Social Secretary

Vicki Howarth

- continues in her role and is duly elected, unopposed.

Part VI - Fixtures

Following in the same corporate vein as Mr. Reeves, after a sizeable intermission for beer, smoking and toilet requirements, Fixture Secretary, Mr. I. Howarth, amused a now progressively pissed congregation with another PowerPoint presentation. After bringing the axe down on Hanney CC, Milton CC and the Nomads of Swindon, Ian unveiled an exciting new venture for 2016 – a Cup competition….

Spam eventually concluded matters by introducing new opposition Wolvercote CC – and the reintroduction of The MAD’s once popular Club Day. This Saturday event is intended to bring the curtain down on season 2016 in a more social and befitting manner, whereby all participants can enjoy a piss up and curry thereafter.

Thus far, the new season will see approximately 41 matches if the weather is in agreement.

Part VII - Fantasy

Mr. J. D. Hoskins flew in the face of modern technology and corporate streamlining by announcing the winner of the 2015 Fantasy Cricket using some scrawled notes on some paper. You wouldn’t have guessed this guy has worked in IT for over 20 years, then again, if you were to witness his bungled computations using his Mac….

With no-one the wiser about how JMO arrived at his final standings, Tall Bob’s ‘Cheese and Pineapple’ was announced as the winner and the aforementioned giant awarded the trophy. Herewith the cash prizes….

Pos / Cash	Team	Manager	Winnings
1st (50%)	Cheese and Pineapple	Chris Roberts	£112.50
2nd (30%)	The Jive Turkeys	Lee Ainsworth	£67.50
3rd (15%)	Cap Tain Black Udder	James Pearson	£33.75
4th (5%)	I’ll be bat	Chris Roberts	£11.25
	Total Prize Money		£225.00

Part VIII - Season 2016

Ground / Pub

The team are happy at Brasenose and thank the groundsman, Dan, for all his efforts. Opportunities to play at Jordan Hill are now thought limited due to an Oxford CC contractual agreement with the ground, but Jesus College is still a decent alternative.

Nets

Details were unveiled by MAD dogsbody Russ Turner. They are to be hosted at Gosford Community Centre in Kiddlington as per the previous year. Four consecutive Sundays from March 13 – noon until 13:30.

Kit

As per usual, Mr. M. T. Westmoreland will be ordering another raft of merchandise in the New Year. Numerous items were suggested, some sensible and some farcical. Martin will email the team in due course to establish who wants what.

Martin Trotter (centre) declares his own clothing range in 2016….

Players

The club are more than happy with their current squad size, which has been boosted by the return of some former faces and energised by more commitment all round.

Teas

Are once again to be supported by team players and to be administered where necessary by the Club Captain. Mike Reeves is thanked for his sterling work in 2015.

Part IX - Tour 2016

The Club’s 2016 Tour was announced by Club Dogsbody, Russ Turner, after a flurry of recent activity behind the scenes. The MAD will once again be making the trip down to Hythe near the New Forest, Hampshire, after the stellar success of the trip made this year. The Fountain Court Hotel again throws open its welcoming doors, however the four fixtures pencilled in over that weekend may well vary slightly. Hopefully the weather doesn’t follow suit.

In Russ we trust.

This swiftly organised Tour came about after a total communication breakdown with former MAD all-rounder Gary Littlechild. Blissfully unaware of Paddy’s Lymington plans for 2015, Gary had in fact organised a Tour to Weymouth with his brother-in-law, Steve Dobner. This obviously never came to fruition, and thus the intention was to make good with their plans for 2016….

Part X - FFTMCC Awards

After yet another sizeable delay whilst votes were tallied and summed, the winners of the various The MAD trophies and awards were announced in order….

Mr. Shorten defends his POTS Trophy with aplomb.

Roll of MAD Honours

Player of The Season

Dave Shorten

Most Improved Player

Chris Roberts

Clubman of the Year

Ian Howarth

Champagne Moment

Jake Hotson

- amazing one-handed, diving catch at square point (v Bodleian #361)

MAD Fantasy Cricket

Chris Roberts

Team ‘Cheese and Pineapple’

Adrian Fisher Performance Trophy

Dave Emerson

- a swashbuckling 47 off 26 balls opening up (v Islip CC #368)

Reeves (right) starts bitching on about being cruelly overlooked once more….

Part XI - Any Other Business

With the evening being declared a wonderful success, things quickly degenerated into a Sambuca fuelled orgy of arm-wrestling, idle cricketing boasts and incredulous pep talks for 2016….

Here is to a tremendous MAD season in 2016!!!