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Julian

Posted : 29/01/2008 19:18

Subject : Jumping the Gun

With all due respect, what the hell are you going on about Bill. What 'statement' have i issued? And thanks for making it a front page news item (typical press i suppose!). I thought a simple phone call would have sufficed if you felt that strongly about it.

If you are pertaining to the golf day form then I think 'over reaction' is the word. i simply needed to get the ball rolling and, unlike 90% of the club membership, I am actually try to organise things to raise money. Perhaps if people had done more of that over the last 15 years we wouldn't have been in the state we were.

I am getting sick and tired of all this tittle tattle regarding the name if truth be known. A lot of people at Ashford keep going on about the history of the club....

OK Bill - who is the all time leading run scorer for Ashford Cricket Club? Who is the all time leading wicket taker? who has scored the highest score on debut.....
We at Ashford simply do not know, for certain, unlike Old Stacians, Kennington and several otherlocal clubs who really value their history and keep records of it.

Most of the older members / former players do not come up to the club anymore, for varying reasons. Is a name change going to alter that?

I have been at Ashford since birth and apart from one year at Wye have not played competitive cricket for another local club. I was as fierce a rival to OSCC as anyone else, even turning down an invitiation to join them when i left Ashford.

Given the recent expansion of the Kent League and looking at other clubs (such as Dover) who struggle each year to make ends meet, the merger is an opportunity for us at both clubs to put our names firmly on the map.

You previous statement on the message board alienated the majority of OSCC. This new comment has alienated me - congratulations Bill - well done!

I'll forget about the golf day - saves me the aggro of organising it. Perhaps you can take it over.

it's time to move on.....

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Mike Day

Posted : 30/01/2008 19:02

Subject : Re:Jumping the Gun

Bill Day
I am suprised and disapointed in your comments regarding Julian.If it was'nt his efforts in the last 4 years to get the Club back on its feet where would the Club be now.I will tell you bottom of the pack.I come to his defence of what I call an offensive article which has been put on the front page,perhaps this is your first front page artcle but I think you should retract it and put an apology on the Home Page.All the lad was doing was what you all should have done for the last 15 years get the Club going forward instead of stagnating.Is'nt ironic that you were Chairman when we went to ball lane and now as President you see us leave
As to the History of the Club we dont have any tangible history as nothing has ever gone on record except tour minutes All the History is in Old Codgers brains like mine.Please act as a Gentleman and see what Julian is doing is for the good of all the members and place an apology in a prominant place.
Thank You

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Darren Pugh

Posted : 30/01/2008 19:39

Subject : Re:Jumping the Gun

Perhaps you shouldn't be so quick to criticise the efforts of people over the past 15 years at the club, some of whom you still rely on their support today. I'm sure the clubs improvement is not down to just one person.

Much work went on over those 15 years just to keep the club afloat and fulfilling Kent League fixtures, a time when many players and officials had left the club. Thanks to these tireless efforts you are now able to field a talented side, many of them Ashford colts during that time.

I have no doubt Julian you work very hard for the club but, please, do not underestimate the hard work put in by previous members over the years.

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Mike Day

Posted : 30/01/2008 19:48

Subject : Re:Jumping the Gun

Darren
I don't decry all the efforts you members put in to fufill the needs all I am trying to do is to help.I have been a Member for over 40 years and to se us go up in the world again to where we were is all I am interested in.I am sorry if I gave you the Idea i was critising but I was not I know the effort put in but I dispair of some of our senior members that have just closed the book on a Club that gave them much esteem and great benefits.I am in Dorset now but I know if I was still in Ashford we would not have gone to a league game without an Umpire.I hope you wil see how I feel even if I dont know you.

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Julian

Posted : 31/01/2008 10:14

Subject : Re:Jumping the Gun

Darren / MJ.

both your comments are very valid and Darren, even though i was away from the club during your tenure, i know that a lot of people worked ceaslessly to keep things going. It just seems that people are so quick to criticise, but very slow in putting theirs heads above the trench and having a go at improving the situation.
As members of my team last year will agree, i can be a bit fiery at times, but that is me. ! say what I feel and will stand up for myself and my clubmates if i feel we are being wronged. What isn't in doubt is the commitment behind the actions. I left Ashford CC (and cricket in general) due to the fact that i wasn't enjoying it and that i couldn't give 100%. I only came back, when asked, when i was sure that i could give that 100% commitment to the cause. Perhaps my passion boils over into frustration too quickly, but i'm 40 now and too old to change!!!
My comment was, perhaps, a bit harsh, but i reacted to a comment that i felt was unjust and completely misplaced.
After last nights historic meeting, which i hasten to add, went very smoothly and was a credit to all those present, it is now time to start planning for the future.
Whatever has happened to ACC and OSCC in the last 20 years has led us to this point, a point that should be grasped with both hands.
We are now the Town side and i have been given the honour of leading the first team in 2008. I am very proud of this fact and, whilst no one should be of the opinion that the first couple of years are going to be plain sailing, we can make it work if we all work together.
I did not get a chance to speak to Bill last night, but will do over the next few days. What was written has been written. The thing that matters now is ASHFORD TOWN CC.

PS Dad - you don't have to fight my battles for me now - LoL

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ARCHIE

Posted : 31/01/2008 11:20

Subject : Re:Jumping the Gun

JULIAN CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR APPOINTMENT AS 1ST TEAM CAPTAIN THE TOWN ARE CERTAINLY IN GOOD HANDS ALSO PASS ON MY GOOD WISHES TO PECKER AND DARREN COOPER
AS CHAIRMAN OF THE EAST KENT LEAGUE I SINCERLY HOPE THAT ASHFORD TOWN ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE IN THE LEAGUE I THINK THAT IT WOULD PRESENT ANOTHER NEW CHALLENGE TO THE CLUB AND PROVIDE A GOOD STANDARD OF COMPETITIVE CRICKET ON A SUNDAY
WILL SPEAK SOON ON GOLF MATCH

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A life long Ashford player

Posted : 31/01/2008 19:01

Subject : Re:Jumping the Gun

I bet this trail has lost you a few members, especially those that have put in a great deal of effort over the past 15 years at ACC. Its good to see ACC still has the ability to send players to other clubs or discourage ex players to return, what a way to start a new era!!

Lets hope the Trustees keep hold of the money generated by this merger / move and dont release any surplus unless the commitee proves itself capable of managing it. As it wont be a bottomless pit as the current situation shows.

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Julian

Posted : 01/02/2008 11:37

Subject : Re:Jumping the Gun

'Life long Ashford player' - let us know who you are. Strange comments, but i sort of see what you're trying to say.

In our defence, there are several new and returning players currently at the club:

Liam & Neil Tegg, Nigel Crannis, Ben Ealham, Gary Sutton, Paul Putland, Darran Wood & Alex Watson, to name but a few. Given the excellent line of colts / ex colts - Neale, Campbell, The Raza brothers, clark, rodway, McCann, the Spencers etc who have stepped up to the plate and will service the club well into the future there is a great feeling of optimism. Now add in all the OSCC players and we have a good base of quality cricketers.

Let's look at the facts - 5 years ago ACC were struggling to put out 2 teams on a saturday and one of those teams was sliding dangerously close to being out of the Kent League. There was no Sunday Cricket at all. The list of players who had left the club would have make a pretty good kent league side!
In the last 5 years we got to the situation where we had 3 teams on a saturday (with the 3rd winning theirleague). We have secured 3 promotions in the Kent League including two titles. We ran a successful sunday side last season and also had many past players turning out for the 'Legends' side in cricket week.
How is that all possible if we are not attracting players, present and past?

As someone once said, you can't please all the people all the time, but if people pull together and play for each other then the sky's the limit.