The only way is up for the Seasiders (From Echo)

The only way is up for the Seasiders

4:10pm Wednesday 9th September 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

THE end of the 2009 season could not come quick enough for Southend Cricket Club.

It has been a summer of struggle for the Seasiders as they had to work around a shortage of players and the absence of a clubhouse.

The clubhouse at Southend’s Southchurch Park home was closed before the Shepherd Neame Essex Cricket League started due to concerns over asbestos in the building.

And the lack of cricketers has seen third and fourth team players regularly fielded in the first team.

But after the Seasiders’ first XI finished bottom of Division Three, skipper Wayne Spear is upbeat about the future.

The club are confident the clubhouse will be operational for the 2010 season, meaning they can abandon the portable buildings they were forced to use this year.

And Spear believes the strong team spirit will boost the club before the first ball is bowled in anger next year.

“We now have to build during the winter, keep the players who are with us and start again next year, hopefully with a clubhouse and a few new players,” Spear said.

“Hopefully we can do ourselves justice as teams will turn up thinking we will be the whipping boys.

“We know we can do it because we have been close enough a number of times this year.

“But anything will be an improvement on this year and the only way is up.”

Spear was full of praise for the players who have rallied round for the club this summer.

He cited leading batsman Phil McIntosh, who travels down from Upminster each week, to play. And bowler John Horne frequently gives up his annual leave in order to turn out for the first XI on a Saturday afternoon.

“It’s brilliant that they can do that to support the team and the club,” Spear added.

“But I would like to say well done and thank you to everyone who has played in the ones this year, one which was probably the hardest in the club’s history.

“We have used something like 29 different players in the ones this year and I would like to thank them all for making the effort for us when the chips have been down.”