Youngster Panayi gets England call

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By Stuart Dunn at the Shrewsbury Chronicle

Skipper Rob Foster insists George Panayi’s first call up to the England under-17 squad has come as no surprise to anyone at Shrewsbury Cricket Club.

Fast bowler Panayi, a student at Shrewsbury School, has been selected for the young England tour to Dubai in February to play against Pakistan’s under-17s.

Foster predicts a bright future for Panayi, who played plenty of second team cricket for Shrewsbury last summer, while he was also given a taste of first team action in the Birmingham League’s premier division.

The captain reckons Panayi, 17, will be pushing for a regular first team place at London Road next summer, particularly as Shrewsbury have lost the services of another promising paceman in Dewi Jones.

Jones has been told he must now play his club cricket in South Wales after signing a contract with Glamorgan, for whom he made his first-class debut against Middlesex in July while he was a Shrewsbury player.

Panayi, also a member of the Warwickshire CCC Academy, hails from Hertfordshire but opted to play his club cricket for Shrewsbury owing to the close relationship the club enjoy with Shrewsbury School.

“He’s a hugely exciting cricketer,” said Foster. “He played a few league games for the first team last year and has also played some knockout games.

“He’s a very quick bowler for his age and he’s got a very good skill set in that he can bowl yorkers and bouncers. He’s also a useful batsman so he’s a very good all round cricketer and nothing really fazes him.

“I would imagine when he’s free of Shrewsbury School commitments next summer that he will be banging down the door to be involved with our first team.”

Foster added Shrewsbury were disappointed to lose Jones after a single season but completely understood the reasons behind his departure and that they wished him well in his pursuit of a successful career in first-class cricket with Glamorgan.

“Obviously, Glamorgan have strong ties with the Welsh clubs and having given Dewi a contract, they want him to be with a club down there,” said Foster.

“It’s a shame to have lost him but it’s for good reasons as Dewi is doing well with Glamorgan.

“He really enjoyed the time he spent at Shrewsbury and took wickets and also contributed with the bat down the order.”

Meanwhile, Andy Barnard, the master in charge of cricket at Shrewsbury School, said Panayi’s international recognition was richly deserved.

“George has worked hard and long for this exciting selection,” said Barnard. “He becomes Shrewsbury School’s fifth national age group selection in the last ten years.”

Current Shrewsbury first teamer Ed Barnard, who also plays for Worcestershire, represented England under-19s in the last two years.

Rhuadri Smith, now with Glamorgan, played for Scotland under-19s in 2012/13.

Going further back, James Taylor, who is still attached to Shrewsbury CC, played for England U17s during his Shrewsbury School days in 2007 and also the under-19s in 2009.

Taylor is currently playing for the senior England One Day International team in Sri Lanka and top scored with 90 in last Sunday’s six-wicket defeat, his first appearance of the tour.

Scott Ellis also represented Shrewsbury School with disctinction when he played for England’s under-19s in 1994.

Barnard added: “Having narrowly missed out on selection for the Bunbury Festival two years ago, George’s outstanding performances at Shrewsbury School, where he was the leading all-rounder last season, and for Warwickshire CCC and Shrewsbury CC have promoted him into national selection.

“The hard work carried out with Paul Pridgeon, the School’s cricket professional, has helped develop George’s game and effectiveness on the pitch.”

Panayi is currently on tour in the United Arab Emirates with Shrewsbury School.

“The trip will be excellent preparation for his upcoming matches against Pakistan under-17s, one of the strongest age group teams in the world,” stressed Barnard.

Adam Shantry

Adam Shantry becomes Shrewsbury’s Head Coach

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By Stuart Dunn at the Shrewsbury Chronicle

Ambitious Shrewsbury have appointed former professional cricketer Adam Shantry as their new head coach as they set their sights on more success.

The London Road club, Birmingham League champions in 2010 and 2013, are delighted to have secured the services of Shantry, who enjoyed a successful career as a left-arm bowler in the first-class game with Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Glamorgan.

Shantry, 32, will work closely with both the club’s senior players and also the host of exciting young talent within Shrewsbury’s junior programme.

There is also the prospect that he might play the occasional match for the first team although he will have to take into account his fitness having been forced to retire from the professional game owing to a knee injury.

“Shrewsbury’s a great club and I’m really excited to be involved,” said Shantry, these days a cricket coach at Shrewsbury School who also works for the Glamorgan Academy.

“I can still play just about, but I’m joining the club primarily as a coach. What Shrewsbury have achieved already is fantastic and I just want to help add to that.

“There’s plans to improve the youth system and I’m looking forward to improving training for the seniors and making it as fun and as interesting as possible.

“I spent five winters playing for clubs in Australia and they would often have more than 40 people training twice a week in the evening for two hours.

“I want to get more people wanting to attend senior training, get the numbers up, stay for a drink afterwards and really build the team spirit.”

Shrewsbury’s free-scoring opening batsman Ed Foster insisted the county town club were excited to have Shantry on board.

“We’re hoping he can take us to another level,” said Foster. “We’re really pleased that Adam’s coming in. It’s a big step for the club and it’s not something we’ve done since Ross Stephen used to come over from Australia.

“We’re looking for our junior programme to really develop under Adam while he will also work with the club’s senior players.

“Adam will deliver and implement a coaching programme for our junior members so he can really put his stamp on the sessions.

“We also plan to hold training camps for both junior members and non-club members during the summer holidays to give more youngsters the chance to play cricket and potentially get involved with the club.

“Adam’s very excited about it and looking forward to it.

“It’s great for us to have secured the services of a reputable coach and he may even play for us in some games when he’s free of other commitments with Shrewsbury School.”

Shantry comes from a big cricketing family as his dad Brian used to play professionally for Gloucestershire.

His younger brother Jack, 26, a former Shrewsbury player, opens the bowling for Worcestershire and played a key role in their recent promotion to the first division of the County Championship.

Shantry started his cricket career locally with Perkins (now Reman Services) and also represented Shropshire before breaking through to the first-class game with Northants.

He then moved to Edgbaston to play for Warwickshire before a successful spell at Glamorgan where he hit his maiden first-class century.

2015 Pre-season net dates confirmed

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Dates for the club’s senior pre-season nets have now been confirmed.

The club is actively seeking new senior playing members and anyone interesting in joining is encouraged to attend or get in touch with either of the club’s captains here.

In total five sessions have been booked so far at Shrewsbury School’s indoor centre. These sessions will take place on Monday evenings between 8.30pm and 10pm with a cost of £3 per player.

Monday 26th January  – 8.30pm – 10pm
Monday 9th February – 8.30pm – 10pm
Monday 23rd February – 8.30pm – 10pm
Monday 9th March – 8.30pm – 10pm
Monday 23rd March – 8.30pm – 10pm

Please note: Sessions are open to all current and prospective members who will be playing senior cricket in 2015.

Earn a commission for Shrewsbury Cricket Club when you shop online… and it won’t cost you anything!

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Easyfundraising.org.uk allows you to shop online at your favourite stores and it pays a commission to Shrewsbury Cricket Club when you make a purchase.

Please help us raise money for the club.

Register quickly and for free here – http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/shrewsburycc

Then download the donation reminder which let’s you know when you can raise money – http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/donation-reminder/

Find out more here – http://www.shrewsburycricketclub.co.uk/fundraising/

Club scores highly in end of season marks

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Shrewsbury faired well when the umpires pitch, ground and fair play marks were totalled at the end of the Birmingham League Premier Division season.

The club’s London Road pitches were ranked the top in the Birmingham Premier League with the condition of the outfield coming second out of the twelve teams who compete in the division.

Rob Foster’s first eleven side finished a creditable third in the fair play marking.

All marks are awarded by the umpires of each match.

Club Chairman Richard Chapman commented “These are excellent results for the club and for all those who endeavoured to ensure we have this standard of facility.”

Shrewsbury CC AGM 2014

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Shrewsbury Cricket Club gives notice of the forthcoming 2014 AGM to be held at the club on Wednesday 12th November 2014 at 7.30pm.

All Members whether they are Players, Life members, Honorary members, Social members and Parents of Juniors are urged to attend as the clubs future regarding the playing, development and social aspects of the club will be discussed in depth and determined by the participants at the meeting.

Parents/Guardians of club juniors are reminded they are valued members of this club and are entitled to one vote at the AGM.

Notes:
a) Only present 2014, paid up, members will be permitted into the clubhouse for the AGM.
b) Junior Members and Honorary Members are reminded they are not eligible to vote.

Club Constitution
At the AGM the existing Committee will be recommending two important changes to the clubs Constitution these being:

  • A more simplified club membership categorisation.
  • A major change to the clubs Committee structure.

In addition to the proposals above the AGM also determines the membership subscriptions for the following year. The existing Committee will be recommending the levels of subscription based on the proposed revised membership categories. You are therefore urged to attend and have your say on the clubs future.

Shrewsbury travel to Himley in opening Williamson Trophy clash

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Holders Shrewsbury travel to Himley in the 2015 season’s opening match – the first round of the Graham Williamson Trophy which will take place on Saturday 11th April.

If victorious, Shrewsbury will host either Wolverhampton or West Bromwich Dartmouth in the second round.

1st Round – To be played on Saturday 11th April, 2015 (12.30pm start)
Match 1 – Berkswell v Knowle & Dorridge
Match 2 – Leamington Spa v Kenilworth Wardens
Match 3 – Walsall v Sutton Coldfield
Match 4 – Walmley v Dorridge
Match 5 – Himley v Shrewsbury
Match 6 – Wolverhampton v W.B. Dartmouth
Match 7 – Barnt Green v Kidderminster Victoria
Match 8 – Brockhampton v Ombersley

2nd Round – To be played on Saturday 18th April, 2015 (12.30pm start)
Match 9 – Winners 1 v Winners 2
Match 10 – Winners 3 v Winners 4
Match 11 – Winners 5 v Winners 6
Match 12 –  Winners 7 v Winners 8

1st Round Plate – To be played on Saturday 18th April, 2015 (12.30pm start)
Match 13-  Losers 1 v Losers 2
Match 14 –  Losers 3 v Losers 4
Match 15 –  Losers 5 v Losers 6
Match 16 – Losers 7 v Losers 8

The Plate Competition will not continue after the 1st Round.

Semi – Finals – To be played on Sunday 3rd May, 2015 (12.30pm start)
Match 17 – Winners 9 v Winners 10
Match 18 – Winners 11 v Winners 12

Final – To be played on Sunday 24th May, 2015 (12.30pm start)
Replay – Monday 25th May 2015 (12.30pm start)
Match 19 – Winners 17 v Winners 18

Sam Griffiths

Sam Griffiths scoops top award

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By Stuart Dunn at the Shrewsbury Chronicle

Sam Griffiths, the former Shelton bowler who has become such a popular figure at London Road, has been named Shrewsbury Cricket Club’s player of the year.

Griffiths, who celebrated his 24th birthday last week, has flourished since taking the decision to step up to the Birmingham League three years ago.

He is now a regular member of the successful Shrewsbury side and his impressive performances as a consistent wicket taker has also seen him break into the Shropshire team.

Ed Foster, the long-serving Shrewsbury opening batsman, insisted Griffiths was a very worthy winner of the prestigious award.

“It just goes to show what players in the Shropshire Cricket League are capable of if they are prepared to make the step up,” said Foster.

“Sam didn’t go straight into the first team when he joined the club but knuckled down and did the hard work.

“He’s a credit to his family, his club and also the cricket education he received at Shelton.”

Griffiths took 45 first team wickets in all competitions for Shrewsbury during the 2014 season, 29 of them in the Birmingham League’s premier division at 19.93 apiece as he helped the London Roaders finish fourth after a strong second half of the campaign.

“Sam’s always at training and is an excellent clubman,” added Foster. “He’s the nicest lad you’ll ever meet and has become a leading player in our side over the last couple of years, also breaking into the Shropshire team.”

Foster also had plenty of kind words to say about Jack Garmson, 16, after the young all-rounder, who recently completed his studies at Meole Brace School, was selected as Shrewsbury’s young player of the year.

“He’s a swing bowler and very skilful for a young lad,” said Foster. “He’s also a quite capable and destructive batsman.

“Everyone at the club has been impressed with his attitude and work ethic. He’s certainly a first team player of the future.”

The winner of Shrewsbury’s club person of the year was Les Nichols, the popular assistant to London Road groundsman Bill Davies, while the chairman’s award went to second team captain Jon Anders for all his hard work with the club’s junior section and the second XI.

Meanwhile, three Shrewsbury players are spending the winter playing in Australia.

Charlie Morris is in Sydney while both the club’s Worcestershire all-rounder Joe Leach and England under-19 all-rounder Ed Barnard have flown out to Canberra.

They recently faced each other in a club game with Barnard’s Queanbeyan District side beating Leach’s North Canberra Gungahlia in an Australian Capital Territory first grade encounter.

October half term academy and sporting programme

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Welcome to the Shrewsbury School Academy and Sporting programme taking place over the holidays 2014.

Click here to download more information

For more information on any of the courses, please contact the Sports Facilities department on 01743 280 625 or sport@shrewsbury.org.uk.

To book a place on one of the courses simply complete the attached registration form and return to the Sports Facilities department.

Full payment and a completed registration form is required two weeks prior to the start of each course, payment can be made via cash, cheque
or card.

All of our coaches and instructors are DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checked and have gone through significant training to bring your
children the best coaching and support possible.

Elliot Green

Quick win at Walmley completes season

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By Stuart Dunn at the Shrewsbury Chronicle

Shrewsbury were in no mood to hang around as they eased to their second emphatic victory over Walmley in as many weeks to end their Birmingham League premier division season in style – but skipper Rob Foster admitted it had not been the season he was hoping for.

He was optimistic Shrewsbury could made a decent fist of retaining the title they won so impressively last season, but a slow start put paid to those ambitions.

The county towners started to show what they could do in the second half of the season, impressively rallying to eventually finish fourth in the top-flight, but Foster insisted it had been a frustrating campaign.

“It’s been disappointing in my eyes,” said Foster. “Having won the league so comfortably last year, I was hopeful we could do well again.

“We lost a few close games early on without playing well and some of our performances earlier in the season were pretty ordinary so it’s frustrating when you look back.

“Apart from winning the Graham Williamson Trophy again, we’ve not had too much to shout about so it’s not been a hugely successful season.”

At least Shrewsbury managed to end on a positive note as, having coasted to a 113 run victory in the Graham Williamson Trophy final at London Road six days earlier, Shrewsbury once more proved too strong for Walmley to seal a convincing eight-wicket away win.

Shrewsbury needed less than 16 overs to reach their victory target of 145-2, completing their chase in little more than an hour.

Ed Foster led the way with a sparkling 57 from 31 balls, hitting seven fours and three sixes, as he shared in an opening stand of 74 in just 8.1 overs with Steve Leach (36).

England under-19 regular Ed Barnard missed out on the fun and games with the bat, making just four, but Alex Blofield most certainly didn’t as he once more showed his liking for the Walmley bowling.

Blofield smashed a quickfire 39 not out from just 17 deliveries – two sixes and six fours – as Shrewsbury chalked up one of their easiest wins of the season.

Spinner Elliot Green had earlier claimed an eye-catching 5-17 and Blofield helped himself to 2-18 as Walmley, despite 61 from James Brocklebank, were dismissed for 143.

“We played well, especially the way we batted, to get it done so quickly,” added skipper Foster. “There was some pretty good hitting.”

Meanwhile, already relegated Shrewsbury II closed their Birmingham League premier reserve division campaign with a welcome win, beating Walmley II by four wickets at London Road.

Having dismissed the visitors for 190, Shrewsbury’s second string made assured progress to 193-6 thanks to an unbeaten century from Charlie Farquhar.