Hope you all wintered well! It's great to be at the start of a new league cricket season which we enter with high expectations. It goes without saying that, win, lose or draw, we respect the game, umpires, opposition and spectators at all times. We want ECC to be a welcoming club for all.

The friendlies, on the whole, went well with valuable time in the middle gained. One benefit of using the friendlies to re-establish links with local clubs was an agreement to collaborate at senior Colts levels with North Enfield, which will prove invaluable this season.

The recent events (Painting party & Quiz night ) at the club were very well supported - many thanks to everyone who helped organise. A special thank you to my wife, Caroline, Chris and Lyn Gill, Grahame and Hilary Wick and Dickie Baldwin for their sterling - often unrecognised - efforts on behalf of the club. Since I became Chairman, I really appreciate how much clubs like ours depends on unpaid volunteers to ensure that the club is run well.

One area we are trying to improve is the Colts section. Please try and attend the Colts games if you can and engage with the players. It's a great boost to them when they can meet and chat with senior players. I attended a recent U'11 game and I was greatly encouraged by the boys and their parents. A big thank you to everyone involved with the Colts especially Nigel Chapman and Tim Burles whose unfailing enthusiasm is a great antidote to (hopefully) some short-term issues with availability in the older age groups. The girls cricket sessions, well run by Abbie, are well attended and we hope to organise some games at the club this season.

Enjoy the coming season everyone.

COME ON ENFIELD!