Strathmore Cricket Union Handbook 2002

4 PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS Season 2002 and you have a second consecutive JR as your president. Indeed it is an honour for me to take over this role from John Ralph Laing, who served the Union well over the last two years both off, on and around the field and particularly in his championing of the league select team in competition. It was, therefore, very sad to hear of Ralph suffering a stroke, just before Christmas, so soon after relinquishing this post. I am delighted to report, however, that he maintains his repartee and sense of humour and he is looking forward to better times this summer. Having been heavily involved for a number of years in the development of youth cricket across Tayside through the Impact initiative and at my club, it should come as no surprise that, during my time in office, I intend to promote youth cricket across the Strathmore Union both in terms of participation and support required to generate that participation. Cricket is not part of the curriculum in schools these days and indeed hasn’t been for the last 20 years or so. Cricket clubs have suffered as a consequence of this and will continue to do so wherever this problem is not addressed. On a wider scale than currently practised, we need cricket to be taken to the schools and we require clubs to have links with those schools and to be the centres for organised participation and development of skills. These are essential for clubs to maintain playing numbers and thereby maintain their very existence. It is only from this process that we shall have those players able and prepared to develop their skills to higher levels. I appreciate that a number of our clubs already apply this principle to a greater or lesser degree. However, as with all clubs, it requires commitment and dedication of volunteer