Cheese and pickle, cucumber and tuna fish sandwiches are set to remain on the Hampshire Cricket League tea tables this coming season.
Fair Oak and Trojans tried unsuccessfully to get teas scrapped at the league’s virtual annual meeting and make players responsible for bringing their own food to games.
They needed 51 per cent of the vote to change the long standing rule that requires home clubs to provide tea time refreshments for themselves, their visitors and match officials.
But their proposal failed.  So much for the supermarket’s £3 meal deals … 

Burley’s cricketers have launched a crowdfunding campaign to buy a new set of portable railings they need to protect the wicket on their historic village green from ponies, cattle and donkeys that roam the New Forest.
The 30 existing iron railings that surround the cricket square are very old, unsafe, in poor repair and require multiple people to lift them before and after games. 
Moving the railings, particularly for Under-nine’s junior cricket, is very time consuming and in the present coronavirus pandemic is unhygienic.
Burley want to replace the old railings with new portable fences mounted on wheels, which can be padlocked together and moved as a convoy. 
“This would drastically reduce the number of people needed to move the railings and could be moved by one person pulling them on the club mower,” explained club secretary Steve Moorman.

The cost of a new set of wheeled railings, which will need padlocking together for insurance and painting black to satisfy the Verderers, is around £12,500.
Sport England's Active Together Crowdfunder UK scheme will match pound-for-pound all money raised by the club from players, members, the public and funds secured from other grant applications, which the club are making.
Formed way back in 1875, Burley are closing in on 150 years of cricket at their picturesque ground, situated barely a half-mile outside of one of the New Forest Park’s picture postcard villages.
It is a hugely popular spectating spot for day picnickers who drive through the New Forest Park and catch sight of a game of cricket taking place on a typically English village green.
                                                                                       Positive start
“It’s not usual for cars to be parked all around the boundary on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon,” said Burley vice-captain Kieran Hudson, whose club also fields three junior age group sides in addition to adult teams playing at weekends. 
Burley, who managed to play a full compliment of games last season once the government allowed cricket to recommence, have made a positive start to their fund raising with £1,500 already raised.  
To raise the money, the club has launched a crowdfunding campaign via its website www.burleycricketclub.co.uk and www.crowdfunder.co.uk.  
Donations are being sought by club members and the public, which are being supplemented by grant applications.
This summer the club expects to have three adult teams at the weekend, a midweek adult team and to field three junior teams at U9, U13 and U19 in the New Forest and East Dorset junior leagues. 
“The cricket club is a vital community asset as Burley has a high proportion of second homes and the club is the last remaining sports club in the village, and apart from the cubs is the only community activity available for local children,” Mr Moorman added.

The Hampshire Cricket League will hold a virtual annual general meeting on Thursday evening, February 18 2021.
Decisions made at the meeting will be published on this website, including the outcome of the vote on a proposal by Fair Oak to relieve home clubs of the responsibility of providing teas, and hot/cold drinks only.

A PARLEY cricketer is making the most of the time lost at the crease by raising money and donating laptops, so underprivileged children do not get left behind while schools remain closed.
Rob Franks (above) started donating unwanted laptops to schools after hearing from his teacher wife how schools struggle to provide families with devices for home-learning.
Former AFC-Bournemouth manager and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! winner Harry Redknapp has endorsed his altruistic endeavour by sending Rob a personal message of support, while Call The Midwife actor Stephen McGann donated a £1,000.
Franks played for Middlesex disability county cricket team after having his leg amputated when his femur shattered as he returned to cricket after having two tumours removed from his leg in 2011 and 2013.
Franks, who captains Parley CC’s fourth team, said: “Up and down the country so many schools are struggling to supply underprivileged families with a device to use for home schooling. The pressure on schools at this time is massive, and it will only get harder for teachers to help children catch up when they eventually get back to school, so having a device for home learning is a vital tool.
“A lot of families are unable to afford devices for home schooling due to living below the breadline or losing jobs due to the pandemic. The government have promised laptops, but nothing seems to come of it, unfortunately.
                                                                                    Genuine need
“My wife Carla is a teacher, so I know first-hand how hard it is for schools to supply devices to parents to allow their children to continue education. I’ve made it my mission to try and raise as much money as possible to purchase laptops and tablets to give to as many families as I can and to help those in genuine need.”
His GoFundMe page has raised more than £6,000 so far, and his campaign has seen over 28 laptops donated to schools.
Rob, 42, added: “So far I’ve managed to collect more than 28 laptops that were gathering dust. That means 28 children who previously couldn’t learn at home now can – and that is just fantastic.
“Unfortunately, that’s just the tip of an enormous iceberg. So many children still don’t have a device to continue learning, and I want that to change. I know how hard things are for people during this awful time, but if you can spare a few pounds to help a child learn, then I would be forever grateful.
“As soon as we have enough money, I will start purchasing laptops and tablets to give directly to schools.”
Rob said he was looking at buying reconditioned devices, which cost between £60 to £70 each.
To learn more or donate, visit Rob’s GoFundMe page at bit.ly/3r7ABFy – alternatively, if you have any unused laptops contact Rob at franksie9999@outlook.com
TAGSParleyParley CC

​DEEP tyre tracks have been gouged into a New Forest cricket ground after it was targeted by vandals for the third time in just over a month.
Hyde Cricket Club slammed the “idiots” who drove vehicles over the outfield on Hyde Common, near Fordingbridge, on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Saturday 30th January.
​* Full story in this week's Lymington Times & New Milton Advertiser, published on Friday.