PCU – AGM 2009

PHUKET CRICKET UNION 2009 AGM
Karon Sea Sands Hotel, 8.00pm. Saturday 27th. JUNE 2009

MINUTES
APOLOGIES for absence.
Richard Brown, Brad Tarr, Patrick Cotter, Cat Maher, Ian Lenton, Mark Whetton, Supattra Jarumoon

1) PRESENTATION of MINUTES of 2008 AGM:
Accepted with no comments or objections

2) CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:
The PCU is 5 years old and we can say that our union is now stronger in every area in which we are active – that includes the Island Furniture senior league, now very efficiently run by CASC, youth development and the junior leagues, tours, fundraising, social get-togethers, another successful 6’s tournament – all of these have seen growth and improvement.
None of this could have been done without the involvement of all our members, and particularly the hard work done by the management committee and all their helpers. We thank everybody very much indeed for their efforts.
There will be big changes in the Management Committee at this AGM. Several of the hard working members are standing down – Treasurer S. Jarumoon, Youth Development Officer M. Whetton, General Members’ Rep M. Foster, Tournament Director P. Cotter, Communications Officer M. ‘Cat’ Maher, ACST Rep B. Tarr; but I am sure they will all continue to contribute greatly to our cricket in their own special ways. Two members are changing roles – R. Brown and S. Raju. We will present the new committee in item 10 of this agenda.
I do not want to steal any of the 2008/2009 committee members’ well-deserved thunder, so will leave you to learn from their reports, which follow, just what has been done. All must be heartily congratulated on their achievements. We confidently look forward to continuing to improve our union in every way with the new management committee.

3) HONORARY SECRETARY’S REPORT

Membership
I am pleased to report that the PCU now has approximately 115 members, many of whom are active players in the Island Furniture Senior Cricket League. The increase in numbers has been greatly helped by the newly formed CASC sub-committee which runs the league and is made up of a rep from each competing team. They ensured that all league players are fully paid up members of the PCU and registered as league players. I would like to thank CASC chairman Mark Ashman and his sub-committee for all their hard work over the last year to ensure that the league is now a much better organised and structured operation. We have also introduced PCU Membership cards which will offer benefits to members as we sign up local businesses offering member discounts and incentives. These will be published on the website as and when agreed.

Communication
It became apparent that members wished to be better informed of the back room work and operations of the Union so we now email a summary of the minutes from each Management Committee meeting to all members. We try to keep all member details up to date and to ensure this we ask that they inform the Hon Sec of any changes or errors.

Local Awareness
To increase our local awareness we decided to publish a regular ‘PCU Bulletin’ and we have now printed two editions which have been circulated to bars, restaurants, hotels and clubs around Phuket. This has been funded by selling advertising to local businesses and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their much needed support. We would also like to thank the members for their editorial contribution which we found to be both humorous and informative.

Website
We recently redesigned the website and will be making every effort to ensure that it is kept as informative and current as possible for both members and non-members alike. Any feedback is always welcome. We would like to thank Willy Kerr and his team at Phuket Design for their time and effort with this.
Summary
The PCU has moved forward enormously over the last 12 months and I would personally like to thank all members of the Management Committee for donating so much time and effort to make this happen. I now step down as your Hon Sec and hand over the reins to Dean Noble and wish him well in new position.

4) TREASURER’S REPORT and PRESENTATION OF ACCOUNTS
No further action required. Accounts will in due course be available.

5) APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS AND APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS
Accepted after clarification given concerning member numbers and funds received in this respect. This anomaly was due to membership listings being out of date, which is currently under revision.

6) CLUB AFFAIRS REPORT and ISLAND FURNITURE SENIOR LEAGUE
A very successful year for CASC, and the league in general, with the Island Cricket Club coming out on top. A wonderful Finals day where all that came enjoyed good cricket and a great atmosphere. Recently we have gained write-ups in the Gazette covering finals day and touring teams such as HMS Bulwark. Up coming is the visit of Zaheer Academy from Pakistan. Also planned are many fun days such as 20-20, ten/10s and other matches through out the close-season. A tour is planned on the 8/9 August to KL plus other.
Communication was highlighted as an issue, though this is being address through more regular website updates and the PCU Bulletin.

7) YOUTH DEVELOPMENT REPORT

U-15 tour:
To KL in October 2008 – 2nd year in a row we have sent kids to this event. This is considered a major attraction for the kids who aim to make selection for this tour. This time the lads won one game against a side from Malaysia, so all in all a great result. There should be another tournament this year so we are just waiting for an announcement from the folk in KL.
Numerous visits from CAT personnel regarding coaching during last 12 months including ACC development Officer Roger Binny. Also a coaching clinic during June last year where 10 teachers from local Thai schools attended in an effort to promote the game in there respective school curricula. We have also have increased the number of qualified coaches to 2 x level I coaches & 1 x Level II coach.

Hardball league:
This was started this year in conjunction with the Sawadee League for the lads who are more interested in playing the real thing. Only being played amongst 2 schools at the moment but should increase in the near future. This is the place from where players are selected to go to the U-15 tournament in KL each year. Some good talent is coming through which is also the stepping-stone for the lads to play in the IF senior League which saw 4 or 5 junior players participate in the senior league during the latest season.  The C.A.T is currently planning regular regional junior competitions around the country, which will further maintain these lads interest in the game.

Sawasdee league:
Without doubt most probably one of the highlights of the last 12 months in the YDP. Despite a few hiccups the competition was completed and considered a major success. Consisted of teams from 6 schools where each school played the other ones once. Top two play off in a final. Cherng Talay were this years winners in a final that was a draw so extra overs had to be bowled to determine a winner. The kids had a great time & were asking for more after the final. Main aim of the Sawasdee league is to increase the base number of kids playing the game from which the hardball league & senior league can also expand.

Another highlight for the juniors this year was when a selection of the lads played in a demo match as the curtain raiser at this year’s Phuket Sixes T20 match under lights at Karon Stadium. Players who flew in for this event saw for the first time some of the local Thai kids playing real cricket under match conditions & walked away suitably impressed.
All-in-all a pretty successful year for Youth Development. With the introduction of the Sawadee league we now have a defined path for the kids to follow. From Sawadee it is hoped the kids will quickly move on to the Junior Hardball version of the game & from there into the Senior Island Furniture League. Although still in the planning phases, it is our understanding that 3 players selected to represent Phuket in the upcoming CAT Inter-Regional tournament will have to be of Thai ethnicity. So 3 of the more promising lads will be in that side.

TOURING SIDES REPORT
First tour of the season was the PCU Tour to KL. Due to lack of players and the closure of the airport there was only a handful of players who went on the tour. Apart from being half a team with loaned players the team performed very well and carried the PCU banner in style both on and off the pitch. Well done guys.

November saw the visit of the Malacca side from Malaysia. These guys came with a full squad and played 2 games one against the PCU Socialites which they lost and another against the PCU “A” Team which they won. A great weekend of cricket where the guys really enjoyed the Phuket hospitality. We have been invited down to play them on their turf sometime & I am sure they will welcome us with typical hospitality.

In April we welcomed the Worcester Police Force Who were scheduled to play 3 games against us but due to bad weather ended up only playing 2 games the first against the PCU Socialites which ended up being a very entertaining draw….Thanks Mark…. and the second against the ICC last years champions which they won after a tight match.

June we played a navy team from HMS Bulwark and after a tight contest just lost by 4 wickets.
The Zaheer Abbas Cricket Academy are proposing to tour here in July to play 4 games subject to them getting visas etc. This tour is set to commence on the 10th July.

Proposed tour to KL in August over the 8th & 9th is still on the cards but as of yet we have only had a handful of players who have put their names forward.

Many thanks to the umpires & scorers who officiated in any of those games along with Raju for all his help in getting venues, drinks, lunches etc sorted and providing a great venue for after match functions and to all the lads who turned out for the games and played their hearts out.

Conclusion
Along with a very successful Island Furniture league the games against the touring sides provided some highlights and fun to the season. This gives us something to build on for the future and with the hospitality shown to all the teams they have gone away with a positive view on Phuket cricket and will no doubt spread the word.

9) SOCIAL EVENTS REPORT:
Please refer to website or mailing as and when new events are planned.

10) PRESENTATION OF OFFICERS

Chairman:	Bill Brown
Immediate Past Chairman:	Howard Digby-Johns
Honorary Secretary:	Dean Noble
Honorary Treasurer:	Seemant Raju
Club Affairs Representative:	Mark Ashman
Youth Development Officer:	Michael Way
Communications Officer:	Ian Lenton
Social Secretary:	Rick Tudor
Tournament Director:	Richard Brown
General Members’ Representative:	Raja Rattisethi

This information, with a picture and outline of the individuals will be available on the PCU website in due course.

10) ELECTION OF GENERAL MEMBERS REPRESENTATIVE
Mr Raja Rattisethi was proposed and elected unopposed.

11) AOB
None raised. Meeting closed.

Village Cricket Team Bowled Over By A Maiden

Cricket fans witnessed a major landmark in Phuket last Sunday as Jiraporn “Took” Rodkaew became the first ever woman to play competitive cricket on the island. Jiraporn was representing Patong CC in an Island Furniture League match against the Village Cricket Team.

Took teaches cricket at the Sapam High School and she demonstrated that she is more than capable of mixing it with the men when she took a wicket with her very first delivery. She finished with superb figures of 4-10 from three overs as the Village Cricket Team capitulated and were bowled out for just 35.

Sensing victory was all but assured Patong captain Martin Foster chose to reverse the batting order, a decision which almost backfired spectacularly. Took was unable to repeat her bowling heroics with the bat and was caught at slip without troubling the scorer. Patong made hard work of it before finally reaching their target.

However the match will always be remembered as the one in which a Thai lady, making her debut, almost single-handedly demolished the Village Cricket Team batting line up.

Picture – Took presents one of of her star players with a trophy at the Sawadee Cricket Finals.