Suddenly the season is upon us! Thanks to those who came and helped at our Get Set day last Sunday, helping to get the ground ready for the new season – we got a lot done and the weather was pretty kind to us.

The news around the ground is that we have installed a new rainwater harvesting system, which will collect water from the roof of the whole clubhouse and awning, and should help us keep the ground irrigated. The spoil from the big hole will be used this week to re-seed and top-dress the outfield, so it should be a double-win.

Winter Nets Payments
We still have a large number of outstanding payments for Lord’s nets. If you have attended sessions, please review your account on Pitchero and make any required payments.

Annual Subs
These are now due and are available from the Shop on the Pitchero site. As last year, there is the option to make a donation to the Grenada fund, supporting cricket on the island. Please get yourselves paid up as soon as possible – but, as ever, if you are in genuine financial difficulties please contact me in confidence.

Pre-Season Women’s Schedule
There is a game scheduled for Sunday afternoon, to kick the new season off, at HQ. Please get your availabilities into Pitchero ASAP.

Pre-Season Men’s Schedule
There is plenty of upcoming cricket as we get prepared for the league season, which begins on 11 May for the 1st - 6th XIs. To help us in preparation for fixtures, please look ahead and set your availability in Pitchero for the next month. It would be great to make the most of a lengthy pre-season, as I’m sure our opposition sides certainly will!

Thu 11 April: Final indoor session at Lord’s
Sat 13 April: 1st XI v 2nd XI friendly at HQ: sadly this has been cancelled as weather has prevented the ground being ready
Sun 14 April: Away fixture at Kempton
Tue 16 April: Weekly 1st XI Squad training begins (6pm)
Thu 18 April: Weekly club training begins (6pm)
Sat 20 April: Fixtures for 1st and 2nd XIs plus 3rd XI v 4th XI
Sun 21 April: Home fixture v Hampstead
Sat 27 April: Fixtures for 1st-4th XIs
Sun 28 April: Home fixture v Hampton Hill
Sat 4 May: Fixtures for 1st-5th XI, including our tradition quadruple-header against Actonians

Men's training
To support our ambition of promotion for our top sides, Tuesday training sessions will be invitation-only for the 1st XI Squad and Junior Development Squad. Players invited will already be aware as we have operated our indoor training on the same basis. This is by no means a closed door, and any player wishing to be involved can contact Jamie Price, 1st XI captain.

Fantasy Cricket
It’s back for another season! Fantasy Cricket allows you to select your ideal Chiswick CC XI across all men’s sides (budget dependent, of course) across the 18-week league season. Players and prices have been updated, and new members will be added as they join us.

It’s £10 to join (free for u18s), and you can sign up and select your side here (payment now live in the club shop in Pitchero). There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd too!

You can do unlimited transfers before the first league game on the 11 May, but for full details please check the link above. A huge thank you to Tim Yates for his continued efforts behind the scenes.

Let’s have a great season –
Bernard