[Saving Cricket @ Jesmond]

Latest News

Real Ale Festival celebrates historic link – cricket and beer!

After the success of its first beer festival, Newcastle Cricket Club has announced a second annual event with a big increase in the number of beers and ciders on offer. The second five day festival, taking place in October, will offer more than forty real ales and ciders.

And the unique setting for the event is to be marked by a new book by on Tyneside’s legendary sports venues. The historic ground, more than a century old, is to host the launch of the book in September.

Festival organiser Rob Creswick said: “The visitors last year were especially impressed at the chance to sample their real ales outdoors on the pavilion terrace as well as inside. There’s a traditional English link between cricket and beer – it’s a very special venue.”

In 2009, one couple even booked their tickets online from Arkansas in the United States, delighted at the chance to visit a cricket ground and try out traditional beers at the same time.

Festival goers will also be offered refreshments, tasting notes for all the festival ales and specially designed commemorative beer glasses. Real ale enthusiasts will also have an opportunity to win 50 bottles of the UK’s best real ales in the raffle.

CAMRA is again advising on the most popular ales from across the UK. "Tyneside & Northumberland CAMRA are delighted that Newcastle Cricket Club has embraced the cause of real ales and ciders so enthusiastically,” said Richard Dollimore, Tyneside & Northumberland CAMRA Branch Chairman.

“The success of the first Festival led the Club to expand its Bar provision to three real ales, and there’s no doubt it helps to introduce many more people to the delights of drinking real ale if it’s in a historic location and convivial atmosphere.”

Newcastle CC Co-Chair Nick Humble said the festival will make a big difference in sports provision in the area. “The club offers a wide range of community events all year round, and funds raised go towards our mission of supporting participation in sports by people of all ages and abilities.”

Newcastle Cricket Club is a recent winner of the national Club Mirror Cricket Club of the Year and has won the North East Premier League Ground of the Year for two years’ running.

The Jesmond ground has seen action by many of the world’s greatest cricketers – the pavilion boasts signed photos from Sir Ian Botham, Michael Holding and many others. Sachin Tendulkar, one of India’s greatest players, gave a legendary performance. Australian bowler Dennis Lillee wrote in support of the ground: “Most cricket grounds are forgettable…Jesmond should live forever.”

Walking the Thames - Sponsored Walk for the Club!

Newcastle Cricket Club is missing some of its spectators this month – all in a good cause.

They’re hoping to raise more than £2000 towards restoration at their historic ground and Pavilion.

Committee member Rob Creswick is walking more than 200 miles from the source of the Thames to beyond the Thames Barrier. Club members will be joining him along parts of the route, and many others are sponsoring the effort.

“The members, volunteers and supporters are rebuilding the Club since the big campaign to save it from closure,” said Rob. “There’s been immense progress since then thanks to the huge amount of community support, and this is just one of many initiatives to keep that momentum going.”

Restoration work has included a new electronic scorebox and investment in coaching, equipment and the Pavilion. Newcastle Cricket Club is a recent winner of the national Club Mirror Cricket Club of the Year and has won the North East Premier League Ground of the Year for two years’ running.

Rob admitted the length of the Walk was a challenge – but he’s trained in recent years by walking the St Cuthbert’s Way in Northumberland and the North East Coastal Path.

He hopes to arrive by August 31...until then you're welcome to sign the sponsorship forms in the Club Bar.

NEWCASTLE CC vs NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY

A huge crowd enjoyed this annual battle - with 2010 honours being taken by Newcastle CC - the exciting cricket was complemented by perfect sunshine, spectacular "fireworks" cloud formations, two barbecues and jugs of Pimms. Already a rematch has been agreed!

TWENTY20: Newcastle CC vs South Shields (Friday 4th June)

The first home Twenty20 match of the season was accompanied by razzamatazz on and off the field.

The large crowd was treated to a high energy game - fours, sixes and the traditional occasional trip into the next door cemetery to retrieve the orange ball specially used for Twenty20.

South Shields battled hard to better Newcastle's challenging score, but by the last over, finished 20 runs short.

Newcastle's top scorer was 18 year old Aussie star Anthony Del Borrello, whose 44 included a daring clip over his head which resulted in two backwards somersaults - and four runs.

Cricketforce and international cricket coaching: three busy days for Newcastle CCC (Friday 26 March - Sunday 28 March?

More than thirty volunteers took part in the pre-season Cricketforce spring clean at Newcastle Cricket Club. And their efforts were appreciated by more than three hundred visitors on an Open Day to see the results.

21 year old England cricketer Danielle Hazell guest starred, taking part in cricket coaching for young people and seeing the improvements around the ground.

Danielle, who’s from Durham, praised the hard work of all the volunteers – coaches and cricketforce workers. “Getting involved in your local cricket club like this is great fun. You meet new friends, you’re out in the sun, you get out of the house. You don’t need to have been involved with cricket before to enjoy it!“

Work carried out included:

• Boundary fence painted white
• Painting dressing room and stair railings
• Painting balcony
• Preservation work on benches right around the ground
• Clearing moss and weeds – a dozen bags collected!
• Springclean of kitchen and storage cellar

The Club’s cricketforce work this year especially benefitted from the Community RePaint scheme, obtaining most of the paint needed from leftovers donated by stores.

While boys and girls took part in coaching, visitors to the Open Day could see for themselves why the Jesmond Ground has won the North East Premier League “Ground of the Year” award two years running.

Junior Co-ordinator Neil Curry said: “The junior section is expanding every year, and we’re especially pleased that more girls are getting involved. No previous experience is needed.”

North East Premier League Ground of the Year again

The beautiful Jesmond ground has won North East Premier League Ground of the Year for the second year running. And that's not all - it also shared the honours for Northumberland Ground of the year. Many thanks to our fantastic groundsmen!

HOT HOT CURRY NIGHT

Thanks to everyone who supported the club and made more than a dozen curries for the Big Vote at our sellout Hot Hot Curry Night on Saturday 20th January. The winners were:

• FIRST: Russell Lee - Lamb Granzak
  Number 13 on voting slip. Average score from ten: 7.96
• SECOND: Manas Khatre - Chicken, south Indian style
  Number 14 on voting slip. Average score from ten: 7.68
• THIRD: Nick and Kath Humble - Chicken Korma
  Number 1 on voting slip. Average score from ten: 7.37

Congratulations to all three, who win prizes and even better, the admiration of all at the Cricket Club! The triumph is especially sweet for Russell who previously came second with another dish whose name was also inspired by his home town - Curry a la Grantham.

The next Curry-off will be in the autumn - if you'd like to register an interest in making a curry, email robert.creswick@blueyonder.co.uk

Forthcoming Events

NEWCASTLE CC REAL ALE AND CIDER FESTIVAL

Thurs 21 Oct - Mon 25 October

Get in touch if you'd like to be involved as a sponsor, volunteer or consumer!

• More details...
• Organiser: robert.creswick@blueyonder.co.uk or 0191 281 0746

SPONSORED WALK

200 mile fundraiser with a target of £1000 for much-needed Pavilion improvements. If you'd like to sponsor us, please phone the Bar on 0191 281 0775 and they'll add your details to the sponsorship sheet.

FRIDAY BARBECUES

Just a few weeks left for this popular new addition for this cricket season - the barbie runs from 6pm every Friday.

Your weekend starts here. Relax on the terrace, let us do the work!