BACK TO LEAD THE SIDE
IAN HODGSON ON GRAEME HURLBATT
The Zimbabwean-born, former Broad Oak professional has returned to captain the side!
Some people believe in second spells at clubs, where others see it as a romance waiting to fail. However, with Graeme Hurlbatt returning, it can only be good news for Broad Oak. In his spell at the club as a player in the late 1980s, he was a bowling all-rounder and a very aggressive middle-order batsmen.
Graeme played a year at Primrose Hill before arriving at Broad Oak, they had their most successful period with him on their books. He left Broad Oak for Skelmanthorpe, he was very successful, picking up trophies and playing in a cup final. Skelmanthorpe at the time had an embarrassing amount of talent at their disposal, with Ronnie Irani, the former Essex captain and England international, teaming up with the former Broad Oak player.
During his spell at Skelmanthorpe, the bowling all-rounder had a stint at the captaincy. The fact that he won trophies there is surely evidence that he has the leadership skills required to do a successful job at Broad Oak this year.
In 2005, Graeme initially decided to call it a day at Skelmanthorpe after an extremely successful period, but went back on his word to skipper Shelley. He led by example, taking wickets and scoring runs, a trait that Broad Oak hope he can repeat. Shelley went through that season with just two defeats, against Marsden and Kirkheaton. There wasn't a game that went by where he didn't take wickets and he was the first player in the Conference to reach the 50-wicket mark for the season and win a prize of £50. His batting was also highly influential at important times with a highest score of 85 not out. Graeme had a brief career in South Africa, playing for Natal in 1983/4. Despite struggling with the bat, he had a superb bowling average of 20.91, taking twelve wickets in four matches. He also played for Scotland nine times between June 1994 and May 1997. Batting middle to lower order, he top scored with 28 against Northamptonshire with a batting average of 10. With the ball he took five wickets for the Scots with best figures of 1-18.
It wasn't a matter of Broad Oak choosing Graeme Hurlbatt; it was a matter of Graeme choosing Broad Oak. As a well known and respected player across the Drakes Huddersfield League, Graeme would have had no shortage of offers, but the fact that he has returned to captain his former club is testament to the quality of the club and the bright it possesses. Groundsman Craig McCreadie is confident Graeme can "help provide the leadership to guide the first team back up to the Premiership". He goes on: "He chose Broad Oak, he knows the club, and we're pleased to give him the chance"
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Sponsorship Packages
Broad Oak Cricket Club is a unique family orientated Cricket Club
with a long history in local league cricket.
The ethos of the Club pays particular attention to the development of the next generation of young cricketers, which has become evermore essential with the demise of cricket as a game in many of our mainline secondary schools.
In order for the Club to survive and prosper it is essential that we obtain subscription to mutually beneficial sponsorship packages, detailed below.
We encourage any business or individual with an interest in the local community but particularly from a sporting point of view, to take an active part in supporting local sport in general and youth development in particular.
I commend the Club and its members to you, and hope that you will be able to support us in this and forthcoming seasons.
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GROUND ADVERTISING BOARDS
£150 - Advertising Board at the ground in prominent position.
This includes cost of board and sign writing for first year,
thereafter £100 per year.
SHIRT ADVERTISING
£250 – Advertise on shirt breast pocket or sleeve, for first year.
£125 per year thereafter.
The initial price includes cost of jacquard and embroidery.
STUMP SPONSORS
£75 - Sponsorship of match stumps for all home games.
Price includes production of sponsors name and logo on each of six stumps.
MATCH BALL SPONSORS
£50 – 1st XI
£30 – 2nd XI
£15 - Juniors
WEB SITE ADVERT
£30 a year
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For more information or if you would like to become one of our much valued Sponsors or Advertisers, then please contact:
Andy Roebuck Tel: 01484 841361
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NEW FUND RAISING INITIATIVE
If you shop online there’s now a simple, easy and free way for you to support Broad Oak Cricket Club. Best of all you can even save money!
We’ve teamed up with easyfundraising who provide a shopping directory listing some of your favourite online stores. Over 350 popular retailers are participating including AMAZON, PLAY.com, Toys‘R’Us, DELL, John Lewis, Woolworths, HMV, Comet and Vodafone.
All you need to do is use the links provided on the easyfundraising site whenever you shop online, and at no extra cost we’ll receive up to 15% of every purchase you make – it’s that simple!
It doesn’t cost a penny extra to shop and raise funds in this way, and you can even SAVE MONEY as many retailers give exclusive discounts and savings when you shop using the easyfundraising site.
If you shop online ANYWAY why not help raise extra funds for us by using this completely FREE service. Visit www.easyfundraising.org.uk and when you register select Broad Oak Cricket Club as the organisation you wish to support.
HELP US RAISE FUNDS
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