LE FORD WEDDING ARRANGEMENTS PUT WCC SEASON ON HOLD [07/02/09 14:26:28]
Confusion reigned after the 2009 Whalebone CC AGM last night following the annoucement that overseas star all-rounder Paul Le Ford is set to marry during the season. Fixture arrangements were placed on hold pending the possibility of a Hungarian tour and Ryanair braced themselves for a glut of bookings on the Stansted - Budapest route.
Earlier in a tear-drenched evening, Paul Da Vino touched the hearts of many (well, thirteen actually) with an emotional farewell speech following his decision to stand down as supremo of the Whalebone side. This was in the light of a mediocre season when a vote of 'no confidence' was at one time muted.
Da Vino fought unsuccessfully to hide his personal grief as he addressed the Whalebone rank and file, some of whom subjected him to a tirade of abuse.
The business of the meeting saw existing vice captain Kevin Pegrum-Cock (pictured left) promoted to the senior position with Porky Chamberlain taking over as second in command with the players preferring a 'home grown' natural athlete for the role ahead of Zulu all rounder Steve Snell who joined the meeting via a satellite connection.
Mad Jock MacLockyer decided to stand down after just one season as Fixture Secretary which was a relief to all concerned as he had managed to balls things up pretty badly in 2008. He was replaced by Neil Gordon who just about managed to convince the voters that his fitness record would not be a problem.
Despite some fairly dismal perforances in the white coat, Brian Le Blanc was re-appointed as the club's official umpire, mainly because there was no real alternative. He will, however, need to do much better in 2009, especially with regard to stumpings!
But there was little doubt as to the main topic of discussion during the evening and the prospect of a tour to Hungary to coincide with the nuptials of the prematurely-greying Le Ford (right) and his young bride-to-be Katalin excited the playing staff.
Le Ford, recently elected to the main ADCC Committee, has pledged to improve poor bar stock management as part of his mandate although he technically does little to reduce the average age of a fairly ancient body of officials.
His own playing performances during the 2008 season suffered a severe dip and there was only one who managed a btting average less than his none-too-impressive 2.70.
