Members of the club’s Management Committee have been working very hard during the winter to upgrade the ground facilities for the benefit of both cricketers and village hall users. New steps have been installed to enable easier access to the cricket pitch, providing a better link between the scoring and spectating activities on the balcony – and the game on the pitch. It also reduces the need for players and supporters to encroach on activities taking place in the village hall at the same time as cricket is being played. The club is very grateful to the Roth family who have provided the funding for these new steps in memory of John Roth, The Club President who passed away in 2025. A ceremony to mark this event will take place with the Roth family on Sunday 2nd August this summer.
EMWCC is also very grateful to Michael Gray for his support with improving access to the neighbouring field and revamping the grass mowings storage area at the South East end of the ground. Other work planned includes replacing the netting for the practise nets and an electrical supply being connected to the club garages to provide light and re-charging for the electrical tools that the groundsman is now using.
As usual, the 2026 outdoor cricket season will begin in mid-April and will be busy from the start, as activities move from indoor preparation to outdoor training and playing. The juniors’ section continues to thrive under the dynamic leadership of Laura Skilton. There will be a cricket camp for U9s, U11s and U13s during the Easter holidays and volunteers from across the club have been undertaking winter training courses in preparation to become the next set of juniors’ coaches.
Training and matches are scheduled throughout the week for different sections of the junior club and for its different age groups. Friday evenings will continue to be the popular social evening with the bar and BBQ open from 6.00 pm starting on Friday April 24th. On the Friday the U7’s Hoppers, U9’s and U11’s will all be training. Everyone is welcome to come along and watch all the junior activity, while having a drink or burger.
The senior section of the club will again be running three teams: the 1st XI and 2nd XI will play home matches at the David Roth cricket ground each Saturday (starting on 11th April – weather allowing) with a 1.00 pm start. The 3rd XI will play at North Walls Recreation Ground, where Winchester City Council have built a new sports pavilion and pitch improvement work is still in progress. Senior nets training is on Thursday evenings (6-8pm); please do come along if you are interested in playing cricket this summer at any level. Friendly warm-up matches have been arranged for Saturdays in April with the first League matches scheduled for May 2nd. The ladies’ squad will train on Tuesday evenings and play their matches on Sunday afternoons.
2026 is a significant year for EMWCC; it is the Club’s 80th Anniversary. A celebration will take place on Sunday August 2nd in conjunction with the EMWCC V MCC fixture – and the “naming ceremony” for the new John Roth steps. Please put this date in your diary and further news will be released on the plans for the day.
The annual Easton Sixes Tournament will be held on Friday July 24th.
Club Chairman: Adrian Lee adriancjlee@outlook.com
Club Captain: Seb Stannard seb.stannard@btinternet.com
Ladies’ Captain: Charlie Gloyn charliegloyn@icloud.com
Juniors’ Organiser: Laura Skilton juniors@emwcc.com
Press Officer: Lynda Gray ldaten453@aol.com