The season just gone, as usual full of drama and incident, to me compares with the film 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly'. Let me hasten to add that the complete opposite to the ugly on looking around, are our lady members, whom we are so glad to have with us this evening. As always they do so much for us, and expect so little, although the younger girls have great recompense in having Rambo Bucknall around. Not much on the ugly side, unless you discount the sight of Richard Mousley's bare backside, and certainly now he has lost two of his molars,with them went his title of "Dracula".

Perhaps taking the Number 1 bad spot was the terrible weather we experienced, which interfered with a record 25 games, at all levels. Certainly the glummest face in our club wasthat of Rhys Williams who regards time spent away from the cricket field as a total waste of time, indeed he can rightly blame the weather for his good but ordinary season following the terrific exploits of 1986.

Two other bad blows, which affected our bowling strength, were the retirement of Haydn Ashton through injury and Andy Rasin through a crippling illness, from which we are glad to say he is recovering. Andy gives most of us a lesson in battling uncomplainingly, through his painful disability, losing many months of active cricket, but still 100% committed to Club Business, including the Bar and planning of our new extension which is now in hand. Better times ahead Andy.

To gradually return to the good things, while no major honours were won, great credit is reflected on both the 1st and 2"d XI's finishing runners-up in the Warwickshire Club League. In the James Travel League the 1st XI were 6th and the 2nd XI were 3rd. Knock out games brought our only trophy, the familiar Wishaw Cup while we were finalists in the Marston Green Trophy. But there is one more trophy the whole club has been awarded in fact everyone's shirt, blouse buttons can truly burst with pride, and it is the Alf James Rose Bowl, awarded to the most sporting club of the year. It is the only award of its kind, satisfaction can be felt by the team captains and players and the ladies for the hospitality they afford.

The sporting side of our club is well served now and what is more important the future is assured too. Reg Hart will tell you of the largely unsung heroes of the Falcons and Alpine under 16 XI whom he is proud to lead. Phil Price, Alan Hey, Clive Bishop and Rob Nicholls to name a few, always at very short notice filled vacancies without protest, caused by senior players dropping out for one reason or another. The Committee in their wisdom has decided to make an award to the Falcons Player of the Year. Indeed the quiet and gentlemanlyleadership of the Alpine Xl by Rob Nicholls brought them 9 wins out of 12, his undoubted ability and popularity soon bought him a regular place in our 2nd XI and I know his first 50 v Nether Whitacre gave him great satisfaction.

On our Club Motif we have a Church Spire and a Church Tower. True cricket is a religion to so many of us, so can I mention a few worthy disciples. Our President Les Pearson, Bernie and John Rasin, John Plimmer, Derek Hey, Arthur Bishop & Don Harrison. Our VicePresidents & Benefactors Bill Flavell, Pete Wilson and Reg Trevithick, our popular Barmaid Carol and all those who support the Summer Draw, Sponsored Swim, The Ladies v Gents Cricket Match, plus many names that are quite rightly on the bricks of the Clubhouse. There is David Genge who despite his commendable decision to forsake Birmingham City FC for the Solihull Barons, performed manfully as the Chairman of the much-maligned SelectionCommittee. Peter Freeman, Scorer Supreme and his assistant of many coloured crayons Helen Lawrence.

Now of the many fine individual performances which this year have reached a high standard, pride of place is difficult, for many club records have been broken, but for sheer hard work, accuracy and determination it must go to Dave Hart. As mentioned earlier with Haydn Ashton unavailable and also Roger Smith, the brunt of the 1st XI attack fell on him and the ever-reliable Paul Wakeley who with 55 wickets did so well. David's figures were remarkable, in bowling almost 500 overs he achieved easily a club record 122 wickets with an average of 11.66, his best efforts were 8 for 64 versus Rowland Utd and 7 for 65 versus Lea Marston. These two performances brought him the Evening Mail Player of the Week Award, another honour was his selection for the league team, and above all he was man of the match on no less than 15 occasions. A season to remember Dave.

The records of the 1St XI batting are full of good things. Ansel Pottinger was his usual entertaining self with five innings of 50 plus a century (115) on tour against Babbacombe, 7 times man of the match, his exuberance also brought him 28 wickets and his left leg a record number of no balls. Well done Ansell.

Richard Mousley despite 90 versus Corley and 81 versus Camp Hill O.E. slipped a little from his impressive achievements of 1986 but nevertheless totalled 661 runs.

Steve Reynolds maintained his usual consistency with limited appearances, with over 500 at an average of 35 with three innings over 50. We were glad to welcome back after a spell with Moseley Dave Mullard and his few appearances showed his great skill in all places of the game.

A special word of praise here for Neil Plimmer our 1St XI Captain who did this unthankful job so well, his concern to give others a chance of the limelight was surely shown by him having 14 not outs out of 19 innings. We were really pleased to see 1987 realise the full potential of Bryn Jones. Bryn in this form is a sheer delight to watch and I think it was the 1979 season that last saw major honours for him. 915 runs with 6 scores of over 50. Well done Bryn. Before leaving the 1st team a word of praise for Mark Gibney, Mark hasn't reached his full potential yet, but as a support bowler he gained valuable experience and did manfully.

Turning to the 2nd XI, basically they are the lesser lights but even allowing for the opposition individual efforts read like a Christmas cake full of good things. Success comes fromleadership and in this respect the 2nd team are fortunate in having Martin Lawrence of the delightful family, and Derek Hey at the helm. Martin is unique in that he achieves everything he sets out to do, plans his own success as well as that of the team. A perfect example was that in the last match of the season requiring 92 runs for his 1000, he made 93 without bribing the umpire. With 4 other innings of over 50 plus a 100 against Babbacombe on tour, with 27 catches, most of them taken in the best Peter Shilton manner, Martin deserves a big hand.

There is a town in the Thames Valley which is home of the Courage Brewery and several popular Biscuit manufacturers. The town is Reading. Spelt differently, our Stan, his love of Courage is well known, but this year he has certainly taken the biscuits. Established a club record of 1444 runs scored at an average of 37, 9 scores of over 50, 9 man of the matches with a top score of 87 against Bablake, Eddie Hemming type deliveries brought him 32 wickets too. We can not imagine Sheldon Marlborough without Stan Redding.

Popularity breeds nicknames, who is 'Knocker'? Yes Mark Homans. At last he provided us with a feast of top class cricket, another scorer of 1000 runs, 1154 in all. A century maker against Leek Wootton with a further 5 scores over 50. He told everyone that he also got 50 wickets, alas it was only 49.

The mantle of fierce hitting for many seasons has been Ansel Pottinger but 1987 brought the limelight on Les King, scorer of 1128 runs in the season. I had the privilege of seeing him make 118 at Nether Whitacre, 7 sixes and 13 fours, during this, the fielders for the most part were in the adjoining main road dodging traffic, Les held 14 catches and dropped 28forgive me Les it was a great season.

We are delighted to have Ken Maguire back with some good scores, while on the bowling side senior players like the evergreen Derek Hey took 45 wickets, Brian Wilkins' 6 for 27 versus Nether Whitacre was his best effort, Rob Murray took 34 wickets the same as Brian and all made their usual impact. John Green climbed the ladder of tame from the Falcons XI to the 2nd team, but the accent of the past season is certainly on youth. Mention has been made earlier of the Alpine Under 16 XI, a boy came to us from school with a big reputation as a batsman, this he proved to be, but his ability was fostered by Reg Hart into bowling and now Lee Spencer (such quick promotion must be a record), shares the opening attack with the 2nd Xl. At all levels he took 79 wickets,54 of which were 2nd Xl victims. 6 for 37 versus Bablakeand 4 for 19 against Aston O.E. were his best performances, ladies and gentlemen Lee Spencer.

A further product of Reg Hart to whom SMCC should be eternally grateful for his supply of good players and its future, is popular Martyn Bucknall. A good forcing bat is Martyn who also took 60 wickets and has the safest pair of hands in the business. Phil Price and Simon Carlin (62 v Lea Marston) also show steady progress. New faces of 1987, press your buttons now, are Warren Smith, Gary Clark and Peter Aulton. In a short time with us they have proved what valuable assets in every way they are going to be.

In the final summing up our Stevie Bose and Robert Walker are players essential to our success, Steve's season high spot was leading the Juniors to an easy 9 wicket victory over the Senior players. I can say with truth that with Martin Lawrence our Chairman andspearhead, progress will be made with your support in every direction including another tour so successfully organised by him.

If I could finish on a personal nostalgic note, maybe I could be called a cricket fanatic, but I would be proud of that. Over 50 years in the game as a player and an administrator has brought me many happy times to both Ivy and myself. The game like no other provides excitement and serenity during and after the game. These ingredients are essential to lifeitself and will lead to form friendships. Over these 50 years my wife and I have met some great people... some alas no longer with us, but we both would like to sincerely say that 1987 has brought no change, you're still great people.

Thank you for listening.