HNNL April 2006 page 4
The Hook Norton Village Newsletter
April 2006 Series 31 No 2

Sports


The Hook Norton
Sports & Social Club
…your venue of choice.
A Registered Community Amateur Sports Club

The Playing Field, The Bourne, Hook Norton OX15 5PB
Tel: 01608 737132
E-mail geoff@james8390.fsnet.co.uk (general enquiries)
gry.jacobs@gmail.com (social events)

valerie@stratford4496.fsnet.com (Bookings – MUGA & Clubhouse)

There have been lots of changes at the Sports & Social Club lately, with more to come, and the brand new social committee would like to take this opportunity to make you aware of the new and improved facilities, upcoming events and changes to our membership packages.
The Club has traditionally been the hub of village activity, particularly as an excellent sports venue. We have thriving Tennis, Cricket, Harriers and Football Clubs, with successful Junior and Senior sections.
On the social side, we have restarted the Bingo nights twice a month on a Friday evening from April, which are increasingly popular, thanks to the sterling efforts of Jane Claydon. We've also started up a Youth Club, run by Oliver Barlow and helpers, which aims to provide a safe, supervised place for 11-14 year olds to go on a Wednesday evening from 6-8pm. Monthly darts tournaments start in April, so look out for the posters for further details.
We have also been busy organising one-off social events, such as the Family Easter Bingo on April 7th (in aid of Playgroup), the Race & Chili Night on April 15th, the Family Easter Fun Day on April 16th, the Fashion Show on May 5th (again in aid of Playgroup), the Spring Disco on May 6th and the Indian Summer Ball on September 2nd. We may even squeeze in a Murder Mystery Evening in June…
The Clubhouse is receiving a well-deserved face-lift on the weekend of April 8th/9th, as part of the nation-wide CricketForce campaign, although representatives from all of the clubs will be working hard to make your clubhouse and its environs a more pleasant place to visit.
Finally, we are very pleased to be able to introduce another form of social membership. Family memberships are now available at an excellent rate, in addition to the existing membership options, which are:

Individual £15 p.a.
Junior £10 p.a.
OAP £7.50 p.a.
Family £40 p.a. (up to 2 adults and any children under 18)

Benefits include:
þ   Child and family-friendly environment
þ   Free Entry to regular events
þ   1/3 off the hourly rate when booking the Clubhouse for private hire
þ   Discounted Multi-use Games Area hire
þ   Free entry into a monthly prize draw

So get your form sent in, and start taking advantage of the benefits of being a member of the Hook Norton Sports & Social Club.

HOOK NORTON FOOTBALL CLUB- SENIOR SECTION
Season 2005/2006 continues to be a topsy-turvy one for the First Team but, just at the moment (touch wood!), we seem to be, once more, on an upward spiral and, with games in hand on most other teams, we still have an outside chance of landing a top six place at the end of the season. The fact that the team has been somewhat inconsistent is probably due to the squad being a young one but the experience that these players are now acquiring will undoubtedly stand them in good stead in the years ahead. So, the future prospects, if not for this season, do look rosy, especially if we can manage to retain the nucleus of the present team. As well as being talented, the team is made up of a nice set of young men whose behaviour, both on and off the field of play, is generally a credit to the Club and to the community which the Club represents. Whilst I am always reluctant to single out individuals, I do however feel bound to mention the consistently good performances of Jamie Cramond and Richard Northover, the latter of whom has been with this Club for the last 4 seasons or so and has been continually improving. The youth policy is, without doubt, now paying dividends, with local lads Stuart Deller, Pete Moulder, Kieran McKee, Bill Johnson and Robin Scotter all forcing themselves into contention for First Team places.
All of the above young players, including Richard, have progressed from Reserve Team football where they have learned their trade, albeit sometimes in uphill circumstances. Indeed, as previously reported, the Reserve Team continues to struggle in its division but its worth can be judged by the fact that whenever Ben Spiero has called upon any of its players to perform First Team duty, they have inevitably 'delivered the goods'. Accordingly, we remain indebted to James Pope and Layi Olubaji for the fine work that they are doing in managing the Reserve Team which is our nursery and first port of call for emerging talent from the most senior of our junior teams.
Talking about junior teams reminds me to mention that the Senior Section has been delighted to congratulate Steve 'Dasher' Knight as the newly appointed Chairman of the Junior Section. 'Dasher' is a well known and well respected resident of Hooky and comes from a local family with an acknowledged football pedigree. That aspect apart, he has been most active, since taking up office, in building on the sound foundations laid by his predecessor, Terry McKee, and already there is now a strong link between both the Senior and Junior Sections of this Club which undoubtedly augers well for its future.
Indeed, as mentioned in the previous Newsletter, we are now working positively towards attaining Charter Standard Club and, in this regard, we are targeting 1st August 2006 as the date when the Club, Senior and Junior Sections combined, will apply to be awarded with this recognition of the standard that it has reached. If and when the award is received, both the Club and the community which it represents will have just cause to be proud of this achievement since it will provide a platform, not only for now, but also for the future, for the development of football, especially among young people, hopefully of both sexes, from the village and its surrounding area. Accordingly, we remain most optimistic for the future of football in Hook Norton. Up the Hooky!
Geoff 'Jesse' James


HNCC - CALLING ALL CRICKETERS –
TIME TO GET YOUR WHITES OUT OF THE CUPBOARD !
Yes spring really is on the way and now's the time to start looking forward to summer afternoons and evenings with the sound of leather on willow (if you are inclined to batting !) or leather on stumps (if bowling is more your style).
We are always looking for new recruits young and old, players and umpires. Please contact us at the numbers below. Our indoor net sessions have now started at Chipping Norton Leisure Centre and run through to the end of April on a Sunday evening between 6-8pm (not to mention the chance to get the drinking arm in practice afterwards as well down at the Sun). We will also have a club night every Monday at the ground through the summer from May onwards for seniors. Junior cricket runs throughout the week so contact us for the relevant days for all the different age groups.
There is plenty of cricket for all ages from 6 upward, boy and girls starting from the last weekend in April. So whether you aspire to playing cricket for the county or a social game is what you're after come and join this thriving club.
Please contact:
Tim Lunel for seniors, Paul White for juniors