C.E.C.C.| Shepherds Cot | Crouch End | North London | N8 8JJ
Life of a fixture secretary 1
Friday 3rd September 2010
16.19 Contemplating finishing work to go for a run on a balmy Friday afternoon. All fixtures set for the weekend. Where shall I go, down the Parkland Walk or up round Ally Pally - decisions, decisions.
16.20 Email arrives "I am really sorry but we can't muster the numbers for Sunday. Ironically we had the numbers last month, but the football season seems to have beaten us this time. Please confirm you have got this email, otherwise I will give you a text."
16.20 and 30secs Acknowledge with a terse "Got it, but really late mate." Vow that never again will the Butterlords grace the hallowed Calthorpe ground.
16.21-16.23 Expletives
16.23 Urgently search the fixture list.org (the CCC fixture telephone service closes at 4pm) find four possibles.
16.30-16.35 Conversation with Jim about whether it would be fair to match our weak side against his medium side. "I really can't get below medium mate" he says. "I'm not sure we've got a regular wicket keeper and only four have played league cricket before" I say. "Perhaps that's not a medium side then" he suggests politely. I imagine the Wildcards at medium strength - wow what a side. "I think you'll destroy us" I say. "Maybe" says Jim politely, "our guys like a good game" (In fixture secretary speak this means "we do but we don't like games that are too easy, my lot are a bit precious and will give me hell if I send them to you and they spank your lot in 20 overs." "Ok you think about it and give me a call" I say.
16.37 All four gone (Old Parkonians, Gubbays, Kingfisher, Olympians) - no game at moment for the Wildcards.
16.38 Curse those for not removing filled ads from website
16.40 Post own ad on the fixturelist.org
16.59 Tony from Warwick Castle CC rings. "we're looking for an away game. However (isn't there always a however, or a but) I haven't got a full side yet but I'll ring round to see who I can get together. We're based in Maida Vale so it's not too far for us. I'll get back to you in an hour or so"
17.29 Still waiting..................to be continued
16.19 Contemplating finishing work to go for a run on a balmy Friday afternoon. All fixtures set for the weekend. Where shall I go, down the Parkland Walk or up round Ally Pally - decisions, decisions.
16.20 Email arrives "I am really sorry but we can't muster the numbers for Sunday. Ironically we had the numbers last month, but the football season seems to have beaten us this time. Please confirm you have got this email, otherwise I will give you a text."
16.20 and 30secs Acknowledge with a terse "Got it, but really late mate." Vow that never again will the Butterlords grace the hallowed Calthorpe ground.
16.21-16.23 Expletives
16.23 Urgently search the fixture list.org (the CCC fixture telephone service closes at 4pm) find four possibles.
16.30-16.35 Conversation with Jim about whether it would be fair to match our weak side against his medium side. "I really can't get below medium mate" he says. "I'm not sure we've got a regular wicket keeper and only four have played league cricket before" I say. "Perhaps that's not a medium side then" he suggests politely. I imagine the Wildcards at medium strength - wow what a side. "I think you'll destroy us" I say. "Maybe" says Jim politely, "our guys like a good game" (In fixture secretary speak this means "we do but we don't like games that are too easy, my lot are a bit precious and will give me hell if I send them to you and they spank your lot in 20 overs." "Ok you think about it and give me a call" I say.
16.37 All four gone (Old Parkonians, Gubbays, Kingfisher, Olympians) - no game at moment for the Wildcards.
16.38 Curse those for not removing filled ads from website
16.40 Post own ad on the fixturelist.org
16.59 Tony from Warwick Castle CC rings. "we're looking for an away game. However (isn't there always a however, or a but) I haven't got a full side yet but I'll ring round to see who I can get together. We're based in Maida Vale so it's not too far for us. I'll get back to you in an hour or so"
17.29 Still waiting..................to be continued
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Simon Tanner on -
Continued........
18.30 No response yet from Tony. How do you explain to 11 guys they can't have a game because there's no one to play them?
18.45 Email arrives. "Hi Simon
We were looking for an away fixture and this would have been perfect. But we had one come thru late last night!"
How helpful!
18.46 More expletives.
19.15 Text Tony to find out what's going on. No reply.
19.25 St Albans CC ring yes we have a fixture but would you come to us. "No sorry" I say "we have a home ground to use"
19.30 Jim rings again. "I had a word with my skipper we would like to come to you" he says. "Ok" I say (great a fixture). " But" he says "we'll see what we can do but you can't play at a lower level". Fixture secretary speak for we can't get another fixture so we'll come for a game but we could still murder you. "Ok" I say "but I've got to chase someone who I gave the first option on [Tony] so I'll chase him and come back to you"
19.35 Sensible Steve rings from Crusaders CC. You're a wandering side you say, one sunday team, usually travel to South London, but your skipper lives in North London and would be made up to travel less far this weekend. At the lower end of medium but most of your players play relatively regularly. "You're booked, Sunday at ours 1.30pm start, you bring a ball and tea money"
19.45 Text Tony sorry mate had to go with definite offer. Let Jim know we can't play them as have better match. Fixture secretary speak for "we didn't want to get hammered though it was very generous of you to offer us the opportunity to get spanked"
So three hours plus sorting out a game for you lot plus all the time the match secretary puts in to get the teams together. And you wonder why I hate losing so much!
Mr Calthorpe
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Permalink Reply by Joseph Perera on -
Wow Simon I envy your life, not :p
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Permalink Reply by Robert Youdale on -
Simon, absolute legendary work. The Wildcards are thankful :o)
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Permalink Reply by James Wrighton on -
Don't try and pretend you've got something more important to do.
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Permalink Reply by Simon Tanner on
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The irony is that I got a text from tony on Sunday morning asking if we were still looking for a game, although he was still a "couple short!"
Worth remembering how much difference all the background stuff (fixtures, teams, bar, etc etc makes).
What would you rather have?
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Permalink Reply by Robert Youdale on
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I think you called it perfect ST. Now we have a new, good oppo for next season, in the Crusaders.
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Permalink Reply by Kenneth Bazley on -
Yep, they were a good bunch. Full of banter and played the game in the right spirit. They also spent money in our bar after the game.
Robert Youdale said:I think you called it perfect ST. Now we have a new, good oppo for next season, in the Crusaders.
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