Captains roundup
Hello everyone, Welcome to the first edition of our online club newsletter. Inside Edge is something we will now be producing on a monthly basis from now until the end of the upcoming 2026 season. I’ve had time to reflect on last season, it’s clear how disappointing it was for the First XI to be relegated for a second successive year and watching the Second XI struggle with competitiveness and availability. However, even during tough times, green shoots began to appear. We saw match-winning performances from Mark Dyer, Mukesh Sharma, Ajay Yadav, Andrew Lilly, and Derry West, alongside the ever-reliable consistency of Chris Hull and the emergence of Ashray Shetty as a genuine game-changing bowler. Youth development has also been a major positive, with continued progress from Casey Hull and the exciting emergence of Ethan Ware, as well as many other young lads who stepped up to senior cricket with maturity and enthusiasm. These positives give real optimism for the future. A big thank-you to Chris and Rich for their efforts over the past few years in keeping the club afloat and laying the foundations for next season. We’ve begun preparations for the 2026 season early, and there is plenty of work happening behind the scenes. I’ve spoken to the majority of First XI players and retention looks strong, with early signs pointing to much-improved availability. Rich (Second XI captain) will soon be doing the same with his squad. Winter nets are booked and will begin Sunday 18th January at 2pm at Henbury Leisure Centre. We have secured an initial 8-week block. As we move through this period, we will assess the weather to decide whether to extend indoor sessions or transition to the outdoor nets at the club. We have two pre-season games lined up as we look to hit May at full speed! Availability will be out via the teamer app closer to match dates.
Sunday 19th April – Away vs Whitchurch
Saturday 25th April – Away vs Abbotts Leigh
I’m pleased to confirm that player recruitment has gone extremely well so far. Please join me in welcoming several new faces:
- Joe Love – Returning after a long break, Joe is a handy opening bowler who once tore through Patchway with a five-wicket haul for Stoke Gifford. He also enjoys a bat and brings a swashbuckling style to our ranks.
- Dan Wilkinson – Also coming back to the game after some time away, Dan is already attending nets and previously made notable contributions at Bohemians.
- Leigh Portch – Joining from Old Down CC, Leigh brings exceptional pedigree. He has the most victims in the entire league, has played WEPL, and won the B&D Senior League with Golden Hill. He has also represented Bradley Stoke and played a major role in Filton Wayfarers’ promotions in the Somerset League.
- Jamie Williams – My brother Jamie comes out of cricket retirement to join us this season. A highly competitive all-rounder, he can bat, bowl, or keep wicket depending on how injuries hold up! Jamie has several centuries, multiple five-wicket hauls, a hat-trick, and even six sixes in an over to his name.
Please make sure we give each of these players a warm welcome when you see them around the club. And the good news doesn’t stop there — we have a couple more potential new players attending nets, and I look forward to confirming these in January and sharing the details in our next newsletter. As we head into winter nets, we’ll be asking everyone to help share our recruitment and nets posters. Jamie (our social media rep) will be driving this across our social media channels, and we’d love everyone to get involved. We are also keen to have the whole club looking sharp next season with all players in the correct Patchway CC playing shirt and cap, available through the Logoworks website.
I look forward to catching up with everyone at nets. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, a fantastic New Year, and a very happy holiday season.🎄🏏
“Matt Williams”
(1st XI captain)
Patchway Cricket Club Committee – 2026 Season
Our volunteers play a vital role in everything we do — from matchdays and junior development to social events and club welfare — and we’d like to thank everyone who has stepped forward to represent the club this season. Club Officers • Chairman: Chris Hull • Vice Chairman: Paul Thompson • Club Secretary: Tammy Mullan • Club Treasurer: Jono Howie • Membership Secretary: Vacant • Junior Chairwoman: Tania Hull • Social Secretary: Jake Walters • Welfare Officer: Richard Holland • Players Representative: Ryan Orchard • Ground Representatives: Charlie Joyner & Ted Milburn • Social Media Representative: Jamie Wilson • Recruitment Representative: Yogesh Yadav Team Captains • 1st XI Captain: Matt Williams • 1st XI Vice-Captain: Darren Williams • 2nd XI Captain: Richard Holland • 2nd XI Vice-Captain: Ryan Orchard • Midweek XI Captain: Tom Cox • Midweek XI Vice-Captain: Ashray Shetty
Big thanks to Ted , Charlie , mark(fluff) and Jamie Wilson for all their off-season hard work -the unseen overs that keep the club moving forward.
Junior Update
The junior section at Patchway CC is now in the winter off-season following a positive summer of cricket. While outdoor training has finished, we’re pleased to confirm that winter nets have been booked to support continued player development. Winter nets will begin on Sunday 18th December at 2:30pm and will run weekly for 8 weeks, taking place on the same day as senior winter nets, in the session before. Looking ahead to next summer, we’re delighted to confirm the return of All Stars Cricket, alongside Dynamos Cricket, for children aged 5–11 years old. These programmes are a fantastic introduction to the game and a great way to welcome new young players to Patchway CC. We’re also excited to confirm that we will be running two Under 15 teams alongside Under 13s, Under 11s and Under 9s, reflecting the continued growth and strength of the junior section. We held our Junior Presentation Evening in November, celebrating the achievements of our young players throughout the season. Please keep a look out on our social media channels, where photos of the award winners will be shared in due course. Finally, we’d like to wish all our junior players and their families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to seeing everyone back in the new year as we continue building towards another exciting season at Patchway CC.
“Tania Hull”
(junior chair)
Players always welcome
We also remind current and new players that contributing on and off the field will be a massive factor in making this club better.
Click below for a free basic umpires course provided by the ECB. This will be useful for all players that need a refresher or a beginners guide for helping out with umpiring on matchdays.
As the year comes to a close, Patchway Cricket Club would like to thank every player, volunteer, and supporter who keeps our club thriving.
Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and a New Year full of happiness, health, and great cricket.🎄🏏
#UpThePatch
Edited by Jamie Wilson