Horley cricketers start training after easing of Covid-19 restrictions

Men, women and children have all been brushing up their skills at Horley Cricket Club’s ground in Horley Row, ready for the resumption of matches in the coming weeks.

The first proper colts training evening of the year will be on Friday, 16 April from 5pm to 7pm. Horley runs teams from under-8s (school year 3) up to under-18s, and new players – boys or girls – are always welcome to come along and give cricket a go.

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You can turn up on 16 April (5pm for under-8s to under-10s, 6pm for under-11s upwards) or contact Sarah Robinson, the colts section manager, at [email protected] for more information.

The adult section also has teams for all abilities and both genders.

The two men’s Saturday teams are both playing in their respective Premier divisions of the Fullers Surrey County League this season, after gaining promotion. They also have a team in the T20 Sussex Slam, which takes place a little later in the summer, while the Sunday Strollers play friendly/social cricket every weekend.

The women’s team, which was set up in 2019, will be playing league cricket for the first time in Surrey Division 2 and the T20 Surrey Slam. They welcome new players, whether they are complete beginners or good cricketers.

Bridging the gap between the club’s colts teams and the adult game is the Development XI, which plays in the Surrey Trust League and includes a combination of teenagers and younger adults from the first XI.

Last season, Covid restrictions meant cricket couldn’t start until mid-summer but the Horley teams played as many matches as they were able in July, August and September and the support of the main sponsor, Keymex, helped the club to continue to thrive. The first XI won the Surrey Championship Challenge Cup Group Seven title – a one-off competition set up to replace the leagues in the shortened season. Having welcomed some former Horley players back to the club to strengthen their numbers, the firsts and seconds are both hoping to build on their successes of 2019 and 2020 and do well in their leagues this season.

For more information about joining the club, contact Nick Waddington, cricket club captain, on 07860 259547 or email [email protected].

Search for Horley Cricket Club TV on YouTube to watch highlights of matches from last season on the club’s very own YouTube channel.