Shenley Village Chairman’s review 2025
As Christmas approaches, SVCC’s financial year draws towards its 31st Dec end, the Summer season disappears in the rear view mirror, and the indoor practice programme is well underway, it is time for another ‘helicopter’ view of our Club.
SVCC touches the lives of hundreds. We can take great pride and heart in being involved with a wonderful Community club which provides lots of fun, memorable times, lasting friendships, healthy exercise, important relaxation and character building for hundreds of youngsters and adults.
As you read this summary please allow me to distort JFK’s famous appeal to his ‘clubmates’…..ask not what your Club can do for you, but what you can do for your Club. Please keep in mind that we rely heavily on the voluntary contribution of time, help and funds, and need more.
Thriving Junior section
I am extremely proud of what our Club offers local youngsters to give them healthy exercise and wonderful friendship opportunities, and keep them away from screens. I admire and thank Kris Nissen and his fellow coaches and band of age group team managers and helpers for the time and care they devote.
Our junior teams ranging from Under 9s to Under 15s with several year groups also fielding a ‘B’ team played 117 league games in 2025 winning 72 (62%) of them, as well as a number of friendly games and a Summer league in August.
The indoor programme runs from October to March and provides a great time for a wide range of groups from 6 year olds to a practice group for 16-19 year olds.
We work hard to retain their enthusiasm for cricket through into adulthood and it is very pleasing to see a number of teenagers featuring in our Saturday adult teams.
Wonderful facilities
We are fortunate to have some of the best playing and practice facilities in Hertfordshire. And this has been recognised by the ratings submitted by visiting umpires and captains that are collected by The Herts League each year, and which rank us very highly. Our thanks go to Ray McLennan for his generous support and commitment to improving the quality of our squares and outfield which continues throughout the year.
The Club has invested heavily in the ground and practice facilities this year including buying two nearly new grass mowers, extensive servicing of other groundsman equipment, refurbishment of the four lanes of outdoor nets, while also of course paying our annual rent to the Cricket Centre and the salary of the groundsman Arthur. Maintaining the ground and practice facilities costs around £40k a year and is one of the two main sections of our cost budget alongside coaching and hiring indoor net facilities.
We hope to be able to invest more into the Nursery ground in 2026, among the projects being considered if we can get sufficient funding are to install a score hut with integrated digital scoreboard, improvements to the perimeter fencing, and better pitch coverings.
Mixed fortunes on pitch
After a very successful season in 2024 we had more modest results in 2025. The 1st XI finished 4th in The Championship, the 2nd XI were relegated, the 3rd XI battled to mid table respectability, 4th XI provide vital development opportunities for youngsters making the move to adult cricket where finishing position is less relevant.
It was great to see youngsters develop their skills and confidence in adult cricket including; Ali Naqvi, Matt Evans, Nakul Trevedi, Ben Werter, Gabriel Bohm and Adhrit Dey.
Among the more notable individual performances which will be contenders for the Rahul Gajjar trophies were;
Arkash Pandey who took 5 wickets for 1 run in 2.2 overs against Watford Town in an U15 match to help secure a 10 wkt win.
Noah Lorie who in just 2 overs took 4 for 7 against St Albans in an U11 match.
Gabriel Bohm who scored 597 runs in the season averaging 35.
5+ wicket hauls for Ali Naqvi, Droo Pathak, Ciaran Woodcock and Sailesh Vekaria, and a century for Will Thomson which saw them onto the season’s Honours Board.
Ali Naqvi taking 30 wickets in his breakthrough season with the 1st XI
And Alex Thomson our very own ‘Freddie Flintoff’ with 551 runs and 22 wkts
Social programme
We want to see more opportunities for Club members to get together. In April 2025 we had a very successful Club Dinner which included the rebirth of the Adult awards and the launch of the Rahul Gajjar award for the outstanding performance for the junior section won by Aidan Chuah, and the Adult section won by Will Poynton.
In late July we had an enjoyable quiz night with a full house in the upstairs bar and 12 teams battling it out for the brainiest in the Club, won by the Thomson clan.
Umpires and scorers urgently needed
The Herts League requires us to provide a Panel umpire for at least 9 games in the Premier divisions, along with non-playing umpires for 2nd and 3rd XIs. Dave Shelley umpires the 2s but we need help with the 1s and 3s. I am pleased to say that we have recruited a scorer for the 2s with Adam Harnetty offering to do most of their games in 2026 but we would welcome other volunteer scorers. The Club can organise any required training or qualifications.
Financial challenge
The need to cover our cost base of over £100k remains our biggest and most persistent challenge. We derive £65-70k from Membership income leaving us to secure around £40-50k of non-membership income each year to stay operating and perhaps add a little to our reserves.
With the coordinating help from Miral Nandani we are putting more effort into a number of revenue-generating areas including seeking more sponsorship, encouraging more entrants to play the monthly ‘Give&Win’ draw, inviting more donations and thereby growing Gift Aid income, and exploring more grant opportunities. We have a team leader in each area. If you have any ideas or want to help can I encourage you to contact Miral at miral.nandani@gmail.com
I am looking for some help
For a while I have been looking for a co-chairman or deputy to help share the workload, but without luck. So, I am changing my approach and instead have identified a number of task areas which hopefully others will be prepared to take on. I shall be sending out a separate message about this.
Thanks to those who help keep us going
As an amateur recreational club we rely heavily on willing help, and there are many people who keep us going, so our thanks go to;
- Kris Nissen and his band of coaches including Graham Seymour and Mark Stear
- The Junior age group managers and their support teams
- The adult team Captains….Morgan, Alex, Will and Danny
- Our Sponsors who provide vital financial support….Southall Travel, CEX or Computer Exchange, and Frontline Health.
- Several individuals who donate money to our Club
- Regular helpers on match days like Katy & Ian Thomson
- The Club Committee who devote time, energy and expertise in managing the Club
I wish you a very happy Christmas, and healthy and enjoyable 2026, which will hopefully include seeing you at The Club dinner on Friday 17th April.
Best wishes…..Chris Stanley