The Chairmans Message
As I write my first Chairman's report, we are in a new millennium and, probably of more interest to most people, the tenth anniversary of Priory Ruins Cricket Club. Playing home games on the picturesque ground of Roeheath in Chailey, PRCC play Saturday league cricket in the oldest cricket league in Sussex, the Cuckmere Valley League. With some club members, not too much younger than the afore-mentioned league, and others young enough never to have witnessed an England Ashes victory, the club is a broad mix of reprobates and drunkards.
The 'comparative' brainchild of three disillusioned cricketers from a Sussex
club, PRCC was formed to bring enjoyment to, initially, Sunday cricket. The
inaugural test of this enjoyment came on a wet Sunday afternoon in April
1990. The majority of matches in Sussex that afternoon would have been
cancelled, with the likelihood of ducks appearing on the pitch as opposed to
on a scoresheet. In fact the pitch was in such a state, that it wouldn't
have been out of place to bring on a sub. However, due to the good grace of
Henfield CC, the match went ahead, and Priory Ruins clocked up a clutch of
firsts. A match, a victory, an individual half century, an unusable wicket
and a collection of lost balls in the undergrowth surrounding the pitch.
PRCC's first venture into league cricket came in 1996, as our players showed their ability by finishing 3rd in Division 2 of the Cuckmere Valley League. Indifferent performances over the next three seasons, with fine efforts being interspersed by those games where the selection of a team has proved more difficult than the selection of two successful England openers.
Sponsorship on our shirts was witnessed in our first season in the league, and our best source of income over the past four years has seen a variety of companies with their names emblazoned over the various sized chests of the 'athletes' that play for PRCC. Although we have yet to reach the realms of multi-million pound contracts with shirt manufacturers, the sums of money that come to our club, are useful for the upkeep of the ground, clubhouse and alcohol consumption limits. And like all small clubs, shortages of money cause us as many problems as shortages of players, and both are at the forefront of our minds, when we're coherent.
For all of you who have bothered to reach the fifth paragraph. - It's nearly over, but here's a final word. Priory Ruins Cricket Club is in existence for the enjoyment of its members. So, if you play, then enjoy, if you don't, then start, and if you have too much money, then give!
Best Wishes for the coming season
Henry Nairne
Chairman - Priory Ruins CC