It has been a fantastic season for everyone connected with Caister Cricket Club, as both the Saturday and Sunday teams have won their respective leagues.

The Saturday team won the Norfolk League Division 2E title while remaining unbeaten while the Sunday XI lost just once.

Club captain Michael Church has heralded the season as the “most successful ever” in almost 60 years of cricket at the Allendale Road HQ.

“All the players should feel proud of their achievements, the commitment and enthusiasm shown by everybody has been rewarded with deserved success,” he said.

The captain is keen to point out that there has been tremendous support from a dedicated team of non-players, often family members. Michael’s father does the pitch, his wife, Emma looks after fund-raising and much else besides while the players’ partners, mums and dads contribute with teas and kit washing.

However the person who should take most of the credit for the recent upturn in fortunes the captain himself.

“Churchy” has an infectious love of cricket and his boundless energy has galvanised players young and old.

The club knows that the future of cricket in the village will hinge on a supply of new blood into the ranks. As such a coaching scheme for youngsters began this year. It is called ‘All Stars’ and has been well received. Shawn Goodby has worked hard to attain coaching certificates and is now putting them to good use.

The captain would be keen to emphasise team performances rather than individual ones from the Saturday side but stand-out bowling efforts came from Martin Hewitt, Tim Oxborough and Shawn Goodby who amassed 89 wickets between them. As for the batting, special mention should go to Paul Brown, Shawn Goodby and Paul French who all returned strong averages. The younger team members also played their part; all-rounder Ryan Goodby and bowler James Oxborough both developed as the season progressed. However, all players contributed and everybody is looking forward to a similarly successful season in Division One.

The captain and team would like to thank all of sponsors for kind support, with special thanks to The Grange, Ormesby for accommodating the team after games.