JONNY Shales will again captain Lullington Park as they re-group for the new season in a determined effort to regain the Derbyshire Premier League title they won for the first time in 2010.
His unanimous re-election makes him the longest-serving captain playing in the county’s top flight.
He took over the reins in 2006 — the season in which Park won the Derbyshire County League’s top division and secured promotion to the Premier League — and he has been at the helm ever since.
Shales, who will again have talented allrounder Richard Green as his deputy, will be able to call on the squad which secured Premier League glory and will be boosted by the decision to employ a player-coach for the coming season, with Park having signed a Midlands-based seamer Gagan Singh to join their ranks.
Singh took 70 wickets last season for Studley in the Birmingham League and had previously played for Redditch.
“I’m confident that this decision will pay handsome rewards across the whole club as the role is not just about playing and coaching in the first team, but also involves coaching our numerous junior players whom we see as the future of the club,” said Park secretary Dave Fern.
“We have shown a pathway to the top for aspiring youngsters.
“Take for instance Derbyshire’s Tom Poynton whose career began in Kwikcricket with us, while eight of our current title-winning first team learned their craft in our junior ranks.” Park did not employ a player-coach last season, but instead used the money to help fund improving practice facilities.
“It was a proposal from Jonny, backed by the players, at our 2010 AGM that we should not have a professional but instead look to upgrade our ageing practice nets,” said Fern.
That has been achieved with the completion of a new two-bay, full-length and fully enclosed non-turf practice facility in the Park, together with the reworking and resurfacing of the full length non-turf match pitch on the second ground in the Park.
“We have to thank the England and Wales Cricket Board for their generous and much-appreciated grant aid towards the cost of the two-bay practice nets and we will be welcoming their officials to the Park for the opening of the facility just ahead of the new season when they will be able to see first hand our work with developing the skills of boys and girls from across the local community,” said Fern.
Park will again have eight teams playing at all age levels, from Kwik-cricket through to under-17, with competition in both the Burton Youth League and the South Derbyshire Development Group’s competition giving plenty of opportunities for youngsters who join the club.
The continued growth of the junior section, co-ordinated by John Goodwin, Sheri Allsop and Richard Jones, is a key part of Park’s long-term strategy to bring on players as they continue to field four senior teams in Saturday league action.
In the coming season, their seconds will be aiming to bounce back from relegation into the County League’s Division 4S at the first attempt under the captaincy of Steve Rothwell, who takes over from Adam Johnson.
Andy Tiso, a long serving member who made occasional appearances last season, will skipper the third team in place of Alex Thompson, while the club’s treasurer, Ian Cooper, continues to captain the fourth team.
Sam Eaton, currently playing in Australia, will be back to skipper the Sunday team in the Lichfield League, while Tom Oliver will be captain of the Sunday seconds.
