Match Secretary Report
July 2025

 This year we have fifteen matches, the Spring and Autumn meetings, the Captain’s Day and Tour, a Mixed Invitation and a Past Captains, Committee Members and Match Managers competition giving us twenty one events in all that need to be organised and managed. 

So far this year we have managed to field full teams apart from the London Match where, because of a late withdrawal, we had to pull in a Vice Captain who is joining us next year.  This is due to the fact that I have managed to compile a list of members who are willing to be emailed at the last minute to see if they can fill gaps.  A good example of this is the Cambridge Match where with two weeks to go we were four players short.  Within twenty four hours of sending out the “Last Minute” email we had a full team plus two reserves.  The list is made up of members who ticked the box on the match selection form saying that they  were happy to be called upon at the last minute.  Ticking this box does not create a commitment but means that you get the opportunity to play at short notice.  If you would like to be part of the ‘Last Minute’ list please let me know and I will add your name.

This year we have managed to increase the number of members acting as Match Managers from six to twelve and this has worked extremely well.  Next year I would like to increase this to fifteen Match Managers and will be asking some more members to take on the Match Manager role.  If you are interest in doing this I can send you a detailed description of what needs to be done.  It involves about three/four hours work in the six weeks prior to the match and will give you a great insight to the way our systems work and help you get more involved with the other members and the other Counties.  Another benefit of the Match Manager role is that you will get an invite to participate in the Past Captains match which takes place in September.

Of the twenty one events taking place this year, invites have gone out for sixteen with only five more invites to go out.  At the end of August I will be sending out the invite to all of our members for the Autumn Meeting which this year is taking place at Dunstable Downs GC. When you receive the invite can you please reply either yes or no so that I can take you off the list and not bother you with a reminder.

I would like to that everyone who has played in the matches this year and supported me in my role.

Rod Jones
Match Secretary