Above: final preparation in the nets last night.
After a long winter of planning, theorising and practising, the competitive action gets underway tomorrow for our men’s 1s and 2s, weather permitting. Has there ever been an April preview written without that caveat!
Ryan, Michael, Andy and Gatch have The Green in fine shape.
New Recruit Tyron Koen takes charge of the 1stXI this season and it is a huge positive to note that the the 1s are at full strength for the season opener versus Cliftonville Academy at HQ, and the affable South African will be hoping for a strong start.
Fellow Safas Mickey Copeland and Kian Hilton will join him in making their competitive debuts in the famous green and gold colours, while Craig Young will spearhead the attack in the first of what we hope will be a few appearances this season, given the lack of international cricket on the agenda.
Two former skippers form the backbone of the locals returning for another crack at returning the side to trophy-winning form, with seamer Peter ‘Daisy’ Davison and the high-class Ally Shields aiming to be to the fore with a big year.
Tom Crothers has started the season in fine form with the bat and the quiet man of the side will hope to make his mark this year, while fellow teenagers Josh Corbett and Jacob McClure-Dalzell will hope to continue their development and play a vital role in the slow bowling stakes.
Mo Aahil is without doubt one of our most solid acquisitions in recent times and his all-round skill and enthusiasm, both on and off the field will see him continue to evolve as a key Premier League player while Zim Stevie Saul completes the line-up and brings undoubted quality to the side, as well as a boundless energy which if transferred to all those around him is a massive asset to the club.
We wish TK and the guys all the best for the season — with their skill, passion and determination, they have the full backing of the club behind them. Play with belief, and the results will take care of themselves!
The 2s travel to The Lawn with what must be one of the youngest teams to ever take the field for the club in Junior 1, with no less than 8 (eight) teenagers heading into the furnace in Co Armagh.
Great place to play, great place to learn and you just never know – a great place to get 4 points!
Gavin Anderson, Hammy Coulter and Iain Arthur are the ‘grown-ups’ in the side and much will depend on them to get the attitude right, alongside Peter ‘Tony Jacklin’ Shields who travels as non-playing manager (taxi, umpire), whilst awaiting injury assessment.
1stXI: T Koen, K Hilton, M Copeland, S Saul, T Crothers, M Aahil, J Corbett, J McClure- Dalzell, P Davison, A Shields, C Young
2ndXI: G Anderson, H Coulter, I Arthur, D Parker, A Fielding, Josh Parker, Joel Parker, L Crothers, O Hull, J Dines, J Shields
You can follow all the action from The Green, scoring and streaming (fingers crossed Neil) by visiting our NV Play Hub HERE
You can buy your new kit, including special 2025 pieces, by visiting the Club Shop HERE
In-depth features with Messrs. Koen, Copeland and Hilton to follow on the website in the coming days…
