Bournemouth are keen to arrange a home fixture for their second team at Chapel Gate on Saturday 18 April 2026. 
​The junior lions play in Hampshire League Division 1 so Dorset League or Southern Premier Division 3 standard opposition would be ideal.
Jon Clutterbuck on 077271 91665 is the Bournemouth contact.

The Hinton Park Woodland Burial Ground at Walkford, near Christchurch, [BH23 7EJ] is expected to be packed on at noon on Friday lunchtime [2nd January 2026] as local sport celebrates the life of Stuart MacTavish, the retired New Milton all-rounder and, for the past 25 years, a prominent and hugely popular member of the South Coast Panel.
Stuart, who was equally keen on his rugby and a game or two of darts in the local pub, had been umpiring Southern Premier League cricket right up until August when he underwent a major operation from which he appeared to be recovering.   
​Post surgery he was frequently watching cricket and had been eagerly awaiting the 2026 season.   Sadly, in mid-December he became unwell and died, ironically after a darts match the previous evening.
Long time New Milton team-mate and past SPL chairman John Wolfe, a friend for over 40 years, described Stuart’s death as “a great loss to our local cricket community.”
Stuart, universally known simply  as ‘Pez’ to his fellow cricketers, was part of a group of talented young  New Milton players who developed in the 1980s. A solid top order battter and purveyor of gentle left arm swing, most of his Saturday cricket was played at second or third team level.
​On Sundays, however, he rubbed shoulders with arguably more talented players - Neil Taylor, Shaun Lilley, Ian Britton, Peter Wakefield - and took great delight in occasionally outshining them. The performance on the pitch was second only to his reflections on it in the bar afterwards !
A true character on the local sporting scene, Stuart was never afraid to offer an opinion whether it concerned the Government of the day, the England team , or the contributions  of his fellow players. A poor performance was generally described as ‘ Village ‘. No further elaboration was required !
Following his playing days, Stuart took up umpiring and for many years was a respected official for the South Coast Panel. A great contributor, who will be greatly missed. ‘
* Stuart's life will be celebrated after the service at New Milton CC, Fernhill.

Half the Southern League’s top cricket teams will be re-setting their alarm clocks in readiness for breakfast-time home departures for ECB Premier Division matches next summer.
Clubs have decided to start all 18 ‘white ball’ and day long Time pennant matches at 11 o’clock - that’s 90 minutes earlier than was previously in the case of 50-over cricket.
It means far earlier meet ups and departure times for the likes of Alton, Bashley (Rydal), Bournemouth, Portsmouth and South Wilts’ cricketers, who are all based on the periphery of the Premier League region.
The start time change, which only affects the ten top tier clubs, follows the result of a player survey (which attracted 134 responses) and an autumn on-line meeting between the SPL’s management committee and club chairmen.
Only two clubs wanted 120-over Time pennant cricket scrapped, but gone - to the relief of many volunteer catering personnel and club treasurers - is the requirement for home clubs to provide two meals, ie lunch and a ‘cricket tea’.
Instead, there will be a 30-minute break between innings in which home clubs will be required to provide a ‘cricket tea’, as pictured by Roy Honeybone.
There will also be a 10-minute drinks break in the first innings and a five-minute stop for drinks in the second innings, the timing for which can be agreed on the day.
Matches in SPL Divisions 1, 2 and 3 will continue to start at 12.30pm, as before.

​Hampshire teenagers Ben Mayes and Manny Lumsden have been selected to play for the England Young lions in next month's ICC Under-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe.
Both products of the Hampshire Academy, the pair are in a 15-man England squad which has been paired against Pakistan, Scotland and Zimbabwe in the initial group stage of the 16-nation tournament.
Also selected is Winchester College schooled Seb Morgan, now with Middlesex and Ealing, while Hartley Wintney batsman Ethan Ramsay has been picked by Scotland, having scored a maiden 139 v Liphook & Ripsley in his last SPL2 match in August.

​Hampshire pair Fletcha Middleton and Dom Kelly made runs for their respective Australian grade clubs in the final round of pre-Christmas matches - but only Kelly finished on the winning side !
He made 51 (his third half-century in the WACA grades) as Melville  chased down a Claremont Nedlands total of 262 to win (by two wickets) - their first success of the season.  Kelly, who took 3-33 with his medium-pace bowling, has so far scored 345 runs in addition to taking 12 wickets.
Across in New South Wales, Middleton is in a rich vein of form, but his 140 against Newcastle City wasn't quite enough to get Belmont across the line.
Basingstoke's George Metzger top scored with 87 as Newcastle made 334.
Middleton, coming off an unbeaten double century and having earlier scored 113, was the last man out when caught off the bowling ex-Sussex leg-spinner Archie Lenham (4-121) with three balls left. Belmont fell 13 runs short.
Middleton and Fair Oak's Connor Gibson (82) put on 148 for the third  wicket for Belmont.

St Cross Symondians chairman Matt Haworth (left), Sarisbury Athletic SPL1 winning captain Rob Franklin, Calmore Sports' Matt Taylor, and Parley's Alex Nippard (SPL3 champions) pictured with their trophies.  Dave Vokes photo.

​Andy Murtagh is no stranger to Dorset Cricket Society meetings and at Hurn Bridge on Thursday (1.45pm) he’s going to talk about his seventh - and latest - cricket book entitled Cricket’s Black Dog : the story of depression among cricketers. 
​It’s a publication that’s drawn 5* reviews from the critics and has been short listed for the Cricket Book of the Year.
By way of background, Andy has Hampshire roots.  He was on the Northlands Road staff back in the early 70s and was a member of Hampshire’s last Championship winning squad. He studied English at Southampton University and played for the students in the Southern League.  
Andy played in the Southern League team that beat Middlesex in the final of the CCC Inter-League Cup … taking quite a few wickets !
He spent 10 years with Hampshire before securing a ‘proper job’ - cricket coach and English teacher at Malvern College .. where he spent 30 years !
Since hanging up his teacher’s gown, Andy has become an established writer and is at Hurn Bridge on Thursday today to talk about his book, ‘Cricket’s Black Dog’ …

​Bashley (Rydal) left-hand opening batsman Fin Gordon, who announced his arrival in Australian grade cricket this autumn with a double century for Casey South Melbourne, starred again at the weekend.
He top scored with 79, hitting three sixes and six fours, as South Melbourne rattled up 203-6 in a VCA T20 match against Northcote at the Bill Lawry Oval. Gordon was prominent in a 133-run third wicket stand before taking 1-32 as Northcote replied with 170-7.
Hampshire's Dom Kelly took 3-33 for Melville, who dismissed WACA Premier opponents Claremont Nedlands for 262. 
Basingstoke & North Hants batsman George Metzger made his best score yet of 87 (11 fours) as Newcastle City made 291-7 against Fletcha Middleton's Belmont, for whom Fair Oak spin all-rounder Conor Gibson took two wickets.
South Wilts raised Josh Croom took four wickets in each innings, finishing with match figures of 8-60 as Glenelg thrashed Adelaide rivals Southern Districts.  Among his scalps was former St Cross Symondians fast bowler George O'Connor, who has so far taken 18 wickets this term. 
Croom played for Cornwall champions Penzance last summer and was a losing Lord's finalist in the ECB national club championships.  He may be tempted back to play locally in 2026. 
Bournemouth's Ben Rogers hit a century as winless East Keilor totaled 247 in a basement duel with Pascoe Vale Hadfield.
Totton & Eling tailender Keegan Holzmann was the star as his adopted Geelong based club South Portland pulled off a victory over Casterton in the Hamilton District competition, a four-hour drive south-west of Melbourne.
He took five wickets at a personal cost of 34 runs as Casterton was dismissed for 90, a total South Portland trailed after losing seven cheap wickets.  Enter Holzmann to hit an unbeaten 66 (one six and nine fours) in an unbroken century stand which saw South Portland to a match winning 202-7.
Former Hampshire Academy opener Sam Ashman continues to go well in the Hamilton League, with 493 runs and 16 wickets.

ALVERSTOKE pictured in the 1970s.  
Standing (from left): Jim Goodwin, Jeff Passmore, Ron Breeze, Robin O'Grady, Eddie Taylor, John Watmore, Ray Ranson.  Seated: Roger House, Jim Ramsay, Chris Jenner, George Winkles. A Player.

Stalwart Gosport sportsman Ron Breeze has left the crease at the ripe old age of 98, two years short of a well deserved century.
​A very decent cricketer and footballer at Hampshire League level, his recent death comes at a sad time for the town, with Mike Swain, Roger Cawte, Mick Weston and Mac Nurmohammad all passing on since the summer.
Small in stature but with a big heart, Ron Breeze played centre-forward for Gosport Borough Athletic and Fareham Town back in the sixties, finishing his career at Fleetlands.
He played cricket a lot longer, opening the batting for Alverstoke, Cormorants and Burridge, creating his own headlines back in the 1990s when he scored centuries in consecutive days - while in his 70s !
He played sport with a ready smile on his face. He was great fun to play with or against, always cracking jokes and generally creating a happy on-field environment.
Ron later took up bowls and during the long winter nights enjoyed his jazz evenings at Gosport's Thorngate Halls.
Local sport will bid its farewells to Ron Breeze at the Portchester Crematorium this Wednesday at 3.15pm.
* The funeral of ex-Gosport cricketer and Fareham Town footballer Mick Weston is also at Portchester on Wednesday, 1pm.

St Cross Symondians teenager Kamran Dhariwal has been named ECB Southern Premier League 'Young Cricketer of the year' after making over 1,000 runs in competitive matches for the Winchester based champions this past summer.
His 707 Premier Division tally included centuries against Bashley (Rydal), Bournemouth and Basingstoke & North Hants, alongside hundreds in ECB national club championship at Bristol and a scintillating 124 against Lymington in the T20 Cup final.  
Having signed a contract with Gloucestershire to coincide with his medical studies at Bristol University, the 19-year old's century against Lymington may have been his St Cross Symondians' swansong.  He is expected to play in the powerful ECB West of England Premier League in 2026. 

South Wilts have been drawn away to West of England Premier League powermen Bath in the opening round of the 2026 ECB Rothsay Club Championships at North Parade on Sunday April 26.
They are among three Southern Premier League clubs paired against WEPL opposition, with St Cross Symondians travelling into mid-Somerset to play newly promoted Midsomer Norton and OTs & Romsey to entertain Jack Mynott's Potterne.
Alton, who enjoyed their best SPL season this summer, receive either Watford Town or Valley End, while SPL1 outfit Havant are home to Guildford.   Neighbours Waterlooville entertain Normandy, with Portsmouth awaiting the outcome of Windsor and Old Elizabethans.  

Visiting captains have been relieved of the responsibility of marking Southern Premier League pitches and outfields with effect from the start of the 2026 cricket seasons.
Instead, the onus will be on the panel umpires to do the post match markings, without any input from the clubs.  The new regulation, endorsed at last month's AGM, applies across all four divisions.

Former Essex & England captain Graham Gooch is the guest speaker at the Hampshire Cricket Society's sell-out lunch at the Romsey Golf Club on Wednesday.
It is anticipated he will talk about his career on the Test circuit, matches against Hampshire at Northlands Road, including a treble century and may touch on the current Ashes series in Australia ..
​This is a close doors function which is not open to the public.
Former Tasmania batsman Jamie Cox, now Somerset's chief executive, speaks to the Dorset Society at Hurn Bridge on Thursday.   No restrictions apply : it promises to be an excellent afternoon.  Why not pop along ?
* Two thoroughly enjoyable lunches.

Hampshire's Dom Kelly [above] struck his second WACA Premier half-century but was unable to spare Melville from a heavy defeat by Willetton.
The left-hander hit a maiden 64 against Midland Guildford and 62 this weekend but wickets have been hard to come by, just eight so far. 
Lymington all-rounder Moham Abbas and Portsmouth's Henry Woolf are enjoying successful second winter seasons in Melbourne club cricket.
Abbas is within touching distance of 1,000 runs on Australian soil, having initially scored 622 for Ivanhoe in the VCA sub-districts and over 350 for Port Fairy this time.  His left-arm spin has yielded 35 wickets.
Woolf, who took all six South Wilts wickets amid a 417-run onslaught at St Helen's in July, is playing for Richmond City, just down the road from the MCG. He's taken 16 wickets to date, including 4-52 this past weekend.
Bashley (Rydal) spin all-rounder Zack Basey took five wickets for seven runs and Oliver Cordery two wickets for a fourth time as North Tamworth crushed TDCA rivals Gunnedah by an innings and 25 runs.
Sam Ashman, who skippered the Academy last summer, is in good nick, scoring 431 runs, including 108 in a T20, for Portland, near Geelong.

​GOSPORT BOROUGH 
Standing (from left): Geoff Wheeler, John Wassell, Tony Stares, Phil Newport, Paul Langley, Terry Lewis. Seated: Ray Porter, Jim Stares, Mick Swain, Roger Cawte, Alan Wassell. 

All-rounder Roger Cawte, who played for Gosport Borough in the 1980 John Haig Trophy final at Lord's before joining Burridge, has died aged 71 years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August.
Educated at Price's Grammar School in Fareham, Roger played his early sport at Locks Heath before moving to Gosport. He later played for and skippered Burridge in their inaugural Southern Premier League season, remaining at the club for the remainder of his playing years. He was regarded by the players as the best captain they ever played under.
Long time teammate Peter Tugwell recalls: "I first saw Cawtey play when I was 15/16 years of age. He was playing for Gosport at the weekends and Burridge midweek. 
"Roger was a very fine medium fast bowler with the ability to move the ball way from the batsman late; however, it was as a batter that he excelled. He was able to score runs at a very quick rate and 20/30 minutes at the crease could turn the game on its head. He was a powerful hitter of a ball with a superb eye!
"His greatest moments at Burridge were in Jersey where he starred in a very big partnership with Monty (Paul Candy) where Cawtey scored 100 and Monty nine and helped us to beat the Island XI. We had some legendary tours together!"
"Playing with him at Gosport for five or six years was a key part of the successful era for Borough. Cawtey liked a beer and a laugh after the game and was often late at the bar telling stories and jokes.
"He will be remembered or his cricketing ability and his love of horse racing along with his penchant for telling stories. He made everyone at the club welcome, especially anyone that joined as a new member. 
"Burridge is a better club for Roger having been part of it, we hope he rests well with our thoughts."
Roger's farewell is at Wessex Vale crematorium, Hedge End, on Wednesday December 17 at 1215 and the Utilita Bowl afterwards.

The former England batter was a beautiful man and a brilliant cricketer who took on the best and most threatening in the world and often won.

There will, I think, be a party up in the sky. The talk will be of square drives and square cuts; of outswingers and inswingers. The laughter will come from days in combat and from nights in harness. The memories of five friends who trod different boards in the same cause and who then lit up the stages upon which they performed with distinction. The personalities were different but the spirit and character within them was shared. It will be one hell of a bash and the dust will only settle come the morning light.
Malcolm Marshall, Martin Crowe, Shane Warne and Mike Procter were already through the door; now Robin Smith joins them.
Crowe will urge Smith to play with softer hands. Procter will tell him to smash the spinners into the distant beyond. Warne will say, "I told you, Judge, it's simple, you're better than him, go take him down." Marshall will say, "Judgie, china, we gonna do this thing together." With Marshall it was always the two of them, together.
The depth in that relationship dated back to one time at a bar in Leicester where two hustlers were giving Macko a bit of racist lip. After a while, the bit became a lot, so Hampshire's two finest cricketers left to find something to eat. The hustlers followed them and moved up a gear, at which point Robin said, enough now. But they were not for hearing, so he said he'd hit the lead offender if he didn't shut the f*** up. But the fellow was still not for hearing, so the Judge gave him a very decent right hook. After which, the hustlers ran for their lives.
                                                                             Dangerously powerful
I relate this story because it is so uncharacteristic of the very special and gentle man who died 48 hours ago. Never can Robin be "judged" as a person by that moment, only as a friend. Neither, by the way, could his dangerously powerful square cut be used as evidence against him in that case, but only as evidence of his threat to a bowler. He was mortified by the whole thing, shocked that he had lost his cool, and sorry for such a reaction. Macko said it was the only reaction going and that Robin beat him to it by a second or two. 
"Was it sudden?" my brother asked last night of his passing. Sudden, yes. Surprising, no. We (the cricket brotherhood he so missed) had all seen him during the Perth Test, which included an emotionally wrought Q & A session by him on the subject of mental health on the second, and last, day of the match, which led to a standing ovation at a corporate lunch. The next morning we had a Hampshire breakfast - Barry Richards, Paul Terry, Robin's brother Chris, and me. Robin was anxious that he had revealed so much of himself at the corporate lunch, but he still found time to remind us of stories past and matches never to be forgotten. He was very funny, a side of him not always seen, for shyness generally prevailed. On this bright Perth morning he had us in stitches.
Barry talked about the coaching book he wrote some 53 years ago in which Robin was photographed as the model pupil at the age of nine. That's how good he was, even then. He could play all the shots, most of them strongly and always in balance. Barry didn't have to tell him much - though Robin dismissed this as nonsense. Well, he would: modest to a fault. When breakfast finished, we hugged. For the last time.
I first knew him when he came to Hampshire in 1982 on the back of his brother's successful signing two years earlier. Oh my days, could he bat! He was raised by a joyous if quirky father who pushed him hard, and the kindest, most gentle, ballet-teaching mother. They brought in a coach, the former Natal batter, clear-thinking Grayson Heath, and the triangle of learning and improvement was set in stone.
Robin played mainly forward and drove straight and off his toes with splendid certainty. Those who tried to force him back were viciously cut and pulled. It was simple, exciting and effective. Obviously to us all at the time, a star was born. He loved a night out and, on occasion, only just beat the cup of tea his father brought to his youngest son's bedroom at 5am, 20 minutes before they left for rugby training in the winter and for cricket nets in the summer. 
                                                                                          Fantastic try
In a school rugby match once, Robin, playing at inside centre, received the ball from his fly half on the halfway line and burst past seemingly every member of the opposition before speeding down the right wing towards the try line. Alongside him, at full tilt, was his father, John, dressed as always in white shoes, socks, shorts and safari shirt. Screaming support ("C'mon my boy, faster my boy, c'mon Robin, run Robin, run…") John threw himself over the line on top of his son before celebrating the fantastic try as if he himself had scored in a World Cup final. Both emerged coated in mud, one of them smiling in acute embarrassment.
Back in England, the Hampshire net area wasn't big enough for Robin, and the club coach banned him from hitting sixes, such was the high cost of cricket balls not returned by local residents. In match intensity, batting with him was great fun and the trick was to get him to show off more than his reticence would naturally allow. After the Barry Richards sign-off came the Viv Richards appraisal - "Judgie, man, he got a big heart man, big courage, y'know, and he strikes the ball like no one else man. I love that guy. When he walks in I secretly hope he makes a few, y' know, but only just a few, you understand!" The Judge's R-rated battle with Ian Bishop in Antigua might have helped prompt that little narration.
His first Test was against Viv's men at Headingley in 1988, after a breathtaking televised cameo in the Benson and Hedges Cup final at Lord's, in which he blistered the pacy Derbyshire attack. Kitten-nervous, he walked in at Headingley to face his pal Macko and clipped the first ball off his legs for a couple. Robin said it was a deliberately gentle leg-stump half-volley. Viv agreed but didn't seem to mind in the slightest. Macko simply denied it, somewhat sheepishly. The next ball was a bouncer, and after that, he was away; 4236 runs at 43.67 in 62 Test matches at a time when the England team was disjointed.
God knows why not more - matches, that is. He was 32 and done up as a Test cricketer. Daft. With a little more self-belief, he'd have played a hundred matches and averaged 48. Honest, he would. He had the game. They say he was crap against spin but he averaged 63 against India and 67 against Sri Lanka. Warnie got him a few times, the first of them just a few balls after the one "of the century" that did for Mike Gatting at Old Trafford in 1993. Have a look at it on YouTube. It's a belter and does not define the Judge as
weak against spin in any way or form. But once it's a media story and the Judge hears about it, he shrinks.

                                                                                             Lord's finals
​After the 1988 Cup final, we won twice Again, in 1991 and 1992. Our hero was Player of the Match both times. He played on for Hampshire into his forties and is, in my view, the county's greatest ever cricketer, pipping Marshall to this accolade. This is not to say he's the best cricketer to play for the club, because Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Marshall and Warne battle for that title (Wasim Akram played a few games for the county too) but simply to say that when it mattered, and consistently so over a very long time, he turned on the magic. 
Amid these serious judgements, you have to laugh. Robin was naive beyond belief in his vibrant youth. We once drove to Cardiff with a plan. Robin travelled with his brother in their red-and-white Porsche - posers - and behind were Paul Terry and I in something rather less glamorous. A few miles before the Severn Bridge, Chris, or Kippy as we all knew him, asked him to get their passports out.  "Passport?" said the Judge. "Yes, we're heading into Wales now." "Er, I haven't got my passport with me, Kips. No one said." "Jeepers, Judge, we've got a problem."
They pulled in to a service station, us tucked in behind them. "Judge hasn't got his passport." "Hmm," said I. "Well, either he gets a cab back to Southampton and then trains it to Cardiff, or….""What?" "We hide you in my boot until we've crossed through immigration.""Whaaat?!"And in he climbed and there he stayed until the Hilton somewhere near the city centre. That took some living down.
                                                                                             Really tough
Now he's passed on, after years of battling the demon drink while caring for his mother and father, and more recently his girlfriend, Karin, who is confined to a wheelchair. He'd done it tough, like really tough. Allan Lamb, with whom he batted in that first Test innings, helped keep him afloat with typical humour and unwavering commitment to a team-mate and friend he valued highly. Rod Bransgrove, the Hampshire chairman, treated Robin as he would his own son. A number of very good people gave him their best shot but true happiness eluded Robin in the years after professional cricket and he never found an alternative. 
He would talk of two very different people, Robin Smith and the Judge, and sadly explain how he could no longer be the latter. The Judge was no hellraiser but he was a fabulous bloke and a brilliant cricketer who took on the best and most threatening in the world and often won. Robin Smith was a beautiful man, suddenly exposed to a world that no longer made sense. Cricket had wrapped its arms around him and then pushed him from the door. The streets outside numbed him and the future held next to nothing of the blue-sky idealism under which he had previously flourished.
                                                                                                  Adored
At a party in Perth we sat close together on a small sofa and he explained how hard he found being at the Optus Stadium during the Test, and how, more generally, he could no longer cope with the adulation. Now he doesn't have to. Instead, we hope he can chill with the other wonderful cricketers who have left us too early, while reflecting on the glory days, the friendships, the fun and the family at home he so adored. We salute Margaux and Harrison - his two kids, grown up and forging their own path - for their love of a man who gave the game he loved every inch of himself. Here is the message I have sent to the many friends of us both who have been in touch: "It's awful… but his life had not become easy. A very special person and a thrilling cricketer has gone. I loved him - as did so many all over the world - and was lucky to be with him amongst numerous dear friends last week when his great spirit still shone brightly. May God rest his mighty soul.
Mark Nicholas, the former Hampshire captain, is a TV and radio presenter and commentator.

Russell Domingo, the former South Africa and Bangladesh coach, has been named Hampshire men's head coach on a two-year contract. He will be joined in the club's new coaching set-up by another South African, Shane Burger, who previously coached Scotland before moving on to Somerset.
Domingo was in charge of South Africa between 2012 and 2017, followed by a three-year stint with Bangladesh. He has been head coach of Johannesburg-based Lions since 2023, and has also worked in the PSL. Burger joins as assistant coach (bowling), while former Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams will continue in his role as assistant coach (batting).

Petersfield stalwart Colin 'Codge' Greetham, one of East Hampshire's most popular sporting characters, has died aged 83 years following a lengthy illness.    
There is to be a celebration of his life at Harting Congregational Church (Petersfield Road, South Harting, GU31 5QA​) next Monday 8 December at 1:30 followed by a wake at The Half Moon.
Colin played cricket for Petersfield, was Alton Town's goalkeeper in their heady FA Amateur Cup days and, after his playing days were over, took up lawn bowls.
Well known in the area as a postman (who probably knew everyone on his daily round),  Colin played for Petersfield from 1965 until the late 1980s, mainly as a wicketkeeper, initially for the 1st XI and later, with the advent of the Southern League, for the second team. 
Codge’s service to the club extended way beyond playing. He was groundsman at The Heath for many years in the 1980s which was no mean feat for someone fully employed, fortunately his flexible shifts as a postman made this possible. 
He was also a key figure in many of the social evenings that the Club organised and frequently appeared at sporting events in drag, dressed as HM The Queen.  One such occasion occured at an England Test Match in Barbados when, regally attired, he wandered into a packed grandstand at the Kensington Oval waving to the locals and generally bringing the house down. 
Codge eventually retired from the game in his late 70s when he was playing for the Hampshire Seniors. Over a cricketing career of over 50 years he played for a number of other local clubs at various times including both Harting and Steep. He was also a founding member of the Hampshire Stragglers, a touring team which visited Kent annually. In all, he toured for nearly 60 years.
His lengthy and generally successfully soccer career took him to Petersfeld United and Waterloville 
Codge was also a keen footballer, playing in goal for a number of sides in the Portsmouth area, including Petersfield Utd. He first started playing in 1954, eventually hanging up his boots in the 70's. He played regularly, three times a week at a good standard, including playing for Waterlooville and Alton. He played for Steep in the Meon Valley League.
Last summer he came down to the Heath with wife Jackie and his son David (ex-Petersfield player) to watch league matches on Saturdays but eventually needed a wheelchair. 
Codge was a local legend, always cheerful with usually something amusing to say. He will be sadly missed on the Heath boundary.    ​Chris Wood.

​Parley cricket stalwart Alan Graham has been honoured with a Cricket Collective Lifetime Achiever Award by Dorset - a truly fitting tribute to his hard work and dedication to cricket. 
Alan is the heartbeat of youth cricket at Parley. Without his tireless efforts, passion, and commitment, youth cricket at the club and beyond simply wouldn't happen.
​Aged 65, he has been involved with Parley for over 30 years and has overseen the club's outstanding junior development before an untimely stroke last autumn sadly reduced his activities. 
Parley's homegrown Southern Premier League Division 3 championship winning team from this summer were all coached by Alan Graham, who is pictured receiving his award from Greg Parsons, the Dorset Cricket Development Manager.

Serbia seamer Peter Nedeljkovic, left, is among six newcomers to Hampshire's 2026 academy intake.
London-based Nedeljkovic, who has just turned 18 years of age, has represented the country in 10 T20Is, with a career-best 5 for 20 against Hungary in the televised European Championships in August.
"Ned" to his pals,  he debuted against Gibraltar and was also part of a Serbia XI that faced MCC in 2023; earlier this season, he dismissed former Bangladesh captain Mohammed Ashraful, who was playing for Portsmouth in the Southern Premier League.
Nedeljkovic played regularly for Hampshire Pathway in the ECB Under-18 Championships, taking 34 wickets
He joins England Under-19 quick Manny Lumsden, who featured for Hampshire in last season's One Day Cup, among the ranks. Ben Mayes, who was previously part of the programme, has since signed a professional deal at the Utilita Bowl.  Lumsden and Mayes have been with the England U19 squad in the West Indies.
"We are really pleased to welcome six new faces to the academy and are delighted that three players remain with us for 2026," said head of player development Charlie Freeston.
​Two Berkshire-raised youngsters - Abdullah Iqbal and Tom Wellings - provide the Academy with leg and off-spin options, respectively - while Wimborne's pace bowler Barney Overton is the latest teenager to emerge from Dorset's cricket production line.  
Two other Berkshire lads, ​Ibrahim Zafar (who played England age group cricket in 2025) and James Isbell are in the Academy squad.
Adam Bourne, from King Edward V school, is a promising batsman from Bashley (Rydal) while Chichester Priory Park's Freddie Gillett made his mark this summer with several fine knocks for Hampshire IIs and the Academy.  He will captain Seaford College next summer. 

2026 Hampshire Academy players, minus Oli Williams and Manny Lumsden.
Back, from left: Peter Nedeljkovic, Ibrahim Zafar, Barney Overton, Adam Bourne. Front: James Isbell, Abdullah Iqbal, Freddie Gillett, Tom Wellings.

Hampshire's Fletcha Middleton hit the first double century of his fledgling career - a week after bagging a 'pair' for Belmont, adopted New South Wales premier club.
He made a duck in both innings in the previous week's nine-wicket win over Toronto Workers in the Newcastle District competition, but seven days later took West's bowling to the cleaners, making 200 out out, exactly half of Belmont's 400-5. 
Fair Oak based Middleton, who hit an unbeaten 113 for Belmont a fortnight ago, hit two sixes and 25 fours.  Play resumes next Saturday.

Joe Vaughan, the Old Tauntonians & Romsey all-rounder, cracked a second consecutive century when he made  127 for his adopted Australian club Bentleigh in Victoria's South Bayside competition - but his efforts were in vain as opponents Middle Park successfully defended 288-8 to win the two-day match by 16 runs.
Vaughan, who struck a career best 153 in Bentleigh's previous match against Hampton, set down 21 overs in the Middle Park innings and steered his side into a promising position until a late collapse. He has so far made 359 runs in four knocks.

​Retired Gloucestershire left-arm swing bowler Mike Smith is set to provide Dorset Cricket Society members (and guests) with a fascinating insight into life as a county cricket match referee at Hurn Bridge on Thursday, 1.45pm. 
Smith was an effective swing bowler for Gloucestershire and played a single Test for England at Headingley in 1997 against Australia. Graham Thorpe dropped Matthew Elliott at first slip while on 29 for what would have been Smith's first (and only) Test wicket. Elliot went on to make 199 and Australia won comfortably by an innings.
He was never picked to play for England again, but remained one of the most consistent swing bowlers on the county circuit until his retirement in 2003. He later worked as an employment solicitor at Bevan Brittan in Bristol.
A superb afternoon.  Next up Somerset chief executive Jamie Cox on Thursday 11 December

Constitution changes adopted

Motion 1: To change the minimum quorum for committee meetings to at least 5

New Rule

3.4 No business shall be conducted by the Committee unless at least five members are present of which at least two must be officers. Where necessary the Chairman of the meeting shall exercise a casting vote.

Motion 2: To increase the appeal fee to £75

New Rule

12.7 In line with the ECB General Conduct Regulations, Clause 40; a club or player has the right to appeal, which shall be submitted in writing to the General Secretary within seven days of the decision of the Disciplinary Committee, together with an administration fee of £75. The administration fee may be returned at the discretion of the Appeal Panel.

Motion 3: Introduction of points deduction for very low Fair Play marks

New Rule

12.8 Points Penalties
In addition to any bans or suspended bans applied by the Adjudicator, Disciplinary and/or Appeal Chair, the following points deductions for the team shall apply:
Level 1 offence = Penalty of 4 league points deduction
Level 2 offence = Penalty of 6 league points deduction
Level 3 & 4 offences = To be decided upon by the disciplinary panel, but most likely no lower than 8 or 10 points deduction respectively.

Teams scoring 13 or less on their Fair Play marks, where a disciplinary incident report has not been submitted or submitted but not upheld, shall have 2 points deducted.
League points deductions may, at the League's sole discretion, be applied immediately or at the start of the following League season.

Motion 4:  Removal reference of displaying trophies in cabinet in Ageas Bowl

New Rule

9.3 The League shall provide and award 15 individual medals to the winning Club of each Division. Those Clubs may purchase additional individual medals with the consent of the Committee. The League shall also present a trophy to those Clubs. The Clubs shall hold the trophies until 1st September of the following year and return them in good order to the General Secretary. Arrangements for engraving trophies shall be the responsibility of the League.

Motion 5: Introduction of a fine for failing to return trophies by due date specified 

New Rule

9.4 Failure to return the trophies in good condition to the General Secretary by the above date, shall result in a £100 fine.

Administrative Rule Proposals

Motion 6: To make rule more consistent with AR 2.3 regarding promotions between divisions 1 and 2

New Rule

2.2 Between Divisions 1 & 2:
The bottom two teams from Division 1 shall be relegated to Division 2 and be replaced by the top two teams of that division subject to those teams holding a current overall accreditation grading consistent with Intermediate level.

Motion 7: Amendment to Scorer Provision to remove any ambiguity on when a penalty can be applied

New Rule

5.1 Each team shall supply a competent scorer. The scorer shall not in normal circumstances (see 5.2 below) be a player in the match. Failure to comply with this provision shall result in a penalty at the discretion of the Management Committee.

Motion 8: Establishing and clarifying penalty for breach of visa requirements 

New Rule

4.4.2 Clubs may register only one overseas player during the season.
Such a player shall have previously attained a Certified Coaching Certificate from his country of origin or a UKCC2 coaching qualification (unless his VISA forbids the player from taking part in any form of coaching either paid or unpaid) and have evidence of a current and relevant Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check or equivalent. Should the coaching certificate from his country not be accepted by the ECB as equivalent to the UKCC2, he may coach only with supervision of a suitably qualified coach.
Should a player breach any of the terms of their visa, their registration will be deemed to be invalid from the date of the breach.
The current question regarding a DBS or equivalent check is for the Club to prove. It is usual for the Registration Secretary to receive a document that describes DBS clearance or its equivalent, as being authorised within the preceding three months.
Proof of the player's coaching qualification certificate and DBS check or equivalent, along with a scanned copy of the player's visa or passport and a signed "ECB non-ordinarily resident player registration form", must be lodged with the Registration Secretary. All necessary documentation must be provided prior to the player's electronic registration application being made via the Play-Cricket website.
Overseas players are expected to play a full and an active part in club junior activities.

4.1.4 All Registration and Transfer Responsibilities
It is the total responsibility of the Club to ensure that any player they register is correctly registered and is free to sign having not played for any other club in a League or Cup competition during the current season in the Southern Premier Leagues, Hampshire Cricket League, any other ECB accredited Premier League (including, from 2022 onwards, the Dorset Cricket League Premier Division) or a National Cup competition (excluding the National Village Championship), see Rule 4.1, General Conditions, above. Should it be found the player has been signed in contravention of Rule 4.1 or plays in a match contravening Rule 4.1 or 4.4.2, the offending team shall lose any points gained in matches in which the said player played, and not less than 10 points per game played.

Motion 9:  Removal of Retired Out as a Method of Dismissal

New Rules

2.4 Unless bowled out earlier, the team batting first shall bat for the full number of overs allotted prior to the commencement of the match; declarations are not permitted nor shall the method of dismissal Retired Out. Should the side batting first be dismissed before the overs to which it is entitled have been bowled, the team batting second shall be entitled to bat for the original innings length or as reduced due to inclement weather or other cause.
2.7.9 Declarations are not permitted nor shall the method of dismissal Retired Out.

Playing Conditions Proposals - Division Specific Motions - ECB Premier Division Only

Motion 10: Timed Matches, Changes to Play Conditions

Change lunch to cold food break to be taken between 13:15-13:45
Change tea to 2nd refreshment break
Removal of time allowance for fall of wicket(s)

New Rule
3.2  - First Interval - 1.15pm - 1.45pm
Note: Law 11.5 (Luncheon Interval) will apply, except that, where an innings concludes or there is a break in play within 10 minutes of the scheduled first interval, the interval will commence at that time and play will recommence 30 minutes after leaving the field.
3.3 Second Interval – 20 minute break of flexible timings but no earlier than 50 minutes after start of second innings.
Note: Laws 11.4, 11.6 and 11.7 and 11.9 (Intervals) shall apply.
3.6 In a 'Time Game' only following an interruption, the game shall be abandoned, with the agreement of both Captains, if the team batting second will not have the opportunity of batting for at least 25 overs, unless they have previously scored more runs than the team batting first or have been bowled out. However, should either Captain wish to play the remaining overs, the match shall continue until the number of overs remaining have been bowled, or 7.00pm, whichever is the later, unless a result is obtained before. The decision to continue shall only be reconsidered should weather or light intervene.
Umpires shall be the sole judge of weather, light and ground conditions.
The game shall be considered abandoned only if the overs remaining could not be completed due to weather, light or ground conditions.
4.4 For the purposes of the Directives, the First Interval of 30 minutes shall be considered to be 40 minutes
13.4.1 The Umpires shall consider any time allowance to the fielding side for lost ball, injuries, obvious time wasting by the batting side or other reasonable cause and shall confirm this to the fielding Captain and the batsman at the wicket at the time of delay. 5 minutes shall be allowed for each drinks interval. Time allowance will not be subject to retrospective negotiation. The Umpires shall notify both scorers of any points to be deducted and the Umpires decision shall be final. The points shall be deducted from the total points awarded. The maximum prior to deduction shall be 25 (see section 12.3).
​Refreshments
11.1 The Home side shall provide food and drink without cost to the visiting side.
Start times
New Rule
2.1 All ECB Premier Division matches shall be played on the day designated by the Management Committee. Matches shall commence at 11.00am.

THE ECB Southern Premier Cricket League annual general meeting is at Totton & Eling on Wednesdav evening at 7pm.   The Management Committee report reads: 

The Management Committee would like to congratulate everyone on making the season so successful. We can continue to be proud about the level of cricket on display throughout our league. From a weather perspective, quite a bit of rain in early months of 2025 followed by a long period of hot weather made things extremely tricky, but credit is due to all the ground staff that worked many hours to ensure cricket was played as much as possible.
The SPCL celebrated its 25-year anniversary in 2025 and had scheduled a representative game vs the MCC. Sadly, terrible rain on the day put a stop to any prospect of play, but we were able to enjoy lunch which included a good chance to catch up with some of our players and indeed those previous committee members who have worked so hard over the years to make the SPCL what it is today.
Many congratulations go to all the winners of their respective competitions during the 2025 season, namely:
♦ Premier Division Overall - St Cross Symondians 
♦ Time Pennant - Alton 
♦ 50 Over Pennant - St Cross Symondians 
♦ Division One - Sarisbury Athletic 
♦ Division Two - Calmore Sports 
♦ Division Three - Parley 
As part of our ongoing commitment to listen to your feedback and to try different things, the SPCL T20 competition took on a new format, using a group system for 2025. St Cross Symondians were eventually crowned the winners. While the format was received with mixed reviews, we feel that we are likely to try a similar format in 2026, subject to entries and umpire availability.  
The Disciplinary team had to handle 18 incidents, which was the same number of cases as of the 2024 season. This is an area that needs ongoing focus and creative thinking. To that end, you will see in the AGM paperwork, a proposal relating to low fair play marks that we will be put to the vote in attempt to further address our concerns relating to behaviour.
One rather large administrative breach consumed the time and attention of the management committee in the later part of the season and as such there is still one matter outstanding which requires a decision to be made. This does provide an excellent opportunity to encourage clubs and players not to be too lateral with their interpretation of the spirit of cricket or indeed the spirit of our own rules and regulations. 
Annual Dinner
In October, we welcomed players, officials and guests to The Novotel in Southampton for our annual presentation awards dinner. With the ever-increasing costs of speakers and looking at those available in our price range, the League opted to go without a speaker this year. With this in mind, we were also able to reduce the cost of tickets to clubs.  We are pleased to report no negative comments were received, and it felt like more people stayed to socialise more post awards. 
Congratulations are due to all the individual winners including batters, bowlers and wicket keepers across all four divisions who all put in some impressive performances during the 2025 season.
The very special Tony Baker Award for the Unsung Hero of the SPCL was awarded to Paulton Cricket Club Chairman, Mark Lamb. The award was given in recognition for his long and distinguished service to the club especially following the arson attack – a very worthy winner indeed.
Ground, facilities & Youth – League Accreditation
The Chairman of Ground Accreditation remains vacant, so please, if you are interested in the role or know someone who could be, then please do speak with Steve Vear.
In the absence of a chair of accreditation, the accreditation report was created administratively by me with the help of Stephen G Jones. It was presented to the Management Committee where it was unanimously adopted.
Congratulations must be given to both Bashley Rydal  awarded the GEORGE WINKLES MEMORIAL AWARD for Ground of the Year and to St Cross Symondians who are awarded the PAUL THOMPSON MEMORIAL TROPHY for the Most Improved Ground.
The accreditation report is provided separately as part of the AGM paperwork, but we would like to
highlight the following –
♦ Basingstoke & North Hants CC move straight to a 2nd warning for their outfield
♦Trojans CC move straight to a 2nd warning for their pitch and a 1st warning for their outfield
♦ First outfield warnings have been given to Rowledge & Sarisbury Athletic
♦ New Milton CC and OT’s & Romsey move to a 3rd and final warning for their pitch
♦ Lymington receive a 3rd and final warning for their pitch whilst retaining a 1st outfield warning
♦ St Cross Symondians have their 2 pitch warnings rescinded
♦ Bournemouth CC have their 1st warning removed
♦ Langley Manor have their 3rd and final rescinded with a 2nd warning retained
♦ South Wilts have their 2nd pitch warning reduced to a 1st pitch warning
♦ Burridge retain their 2nd pitch warning
All clubs were issued their pitch, and outfield marks after each home match which we hope helped to monitor progress.
Promotions and Relegations
In accepting the recommendations contained within the Accreditation Report, the Management Committee confirm the following promotions and relegations that, subject to your adoption of
this report, will take effect for the 2026 season.
♦ Sarisbury Athletic are promoted into the Premier Division with Basingstoke & North Hants being relegated to Division 1.
♦ Calmore Sports & Langley Manor being promoted into Division 1 with Waterlooville and Hook & Newnham Basics relegated to Division 2.
♦ Parley and Sparsholt being promoted into Division 2 with Hartley Wintney & Trojans relegated to Division 3.
♦ Paultons and Gosport Borough are demoted into Hampshire League Division 1.
♦ We welcome for the first time, Ferndown Wayfarers and welcome back Sarisbury Athletic 2nd XI into Division 3 having secured promotion from the Hampshire League.
2026 Management Committee
We are delighted to confirm that all the current officers and members of the SPCL Management Committee have agreed to continue to serve you in the 2026 season. At the recent committee day, our Treasurer Duncan Forbes informed the committee that he will be looking to leave his post in 2 year’s time. We would therefore be keen to hear from any appropriately skilled and motivated individual who would like to be considered to succeed Duncan. 
In an attempt to increase the level of player representation on our team, we will be offering 1 club from each division the opportunity to reduce their annual subscription by 50%, by an SPCL player member of your club joining the team, subject to minimum attendance requirements. We very much hope that this will encourage a few people to step forward and play their part in the ongoing success of the SPCL.
Acknowledgments
On behalf of the management committee, we would like to thank all those who give up their time
to ensure 440 players can compete every week for 4 months of the English “summer”.
Particular thanks must go to Steve Vear, who no matter the huge number of years of service to the Southern Premier Cricket League, still flawlessly guides the committee through the peaks and troughs of running a truly fantastic premier league. We do not wish to push our luck, so please, let’s all make 2026 an issue free season!
We’d like to acknowledge the South Coast Panel of Cricketing Officials for their dedication of standing for 100 or even 120 overs each week. They do put up with some disgruntled players, so
hopefully these proposed increased penalties are voted in and give them some extra much
needed support.
Closing Note from Chairman
I will never apologise for repeating time and time again my enormous gratitude for every single member of the SPCL Management Committee for their many hours of constructive, professional, and indispensable service they put into giving our member clubs a league to be proud of. I thank each and every one of them, on behalf of you, for all the work they do. 
While we always try and limit the number of rule changes we propose each year, you will see from the other paperwork that there are several items which require your review and vote. It is vital that each club arrives at the AGM having discussed these proposals with your club, together with the authorisation from your own committee on how to play the vote on the clubs’ behalf.
While I do not wish to duplicate the explanations on the proposals, I would just like to highlight a few of them.
Start times
The SPCL Premier Division Chairman and Players asked for several changes to be made to the Premier Division. This has included removing the need to provide 2 meals during time games and changing all games in the Premier Division to 11am starts.
We are therefore giving the same opportunity to other divisions to also change the start time to 11am. This will be a ‘rolling motion’ much like with coloured clothing a few years ago. We will start with each division in turn and only continue to the next as each division vote to accept the changes.
Should a low fair play mark be received without there being a disciplinary report we are asking for your agreement to administratively apply a point deduction.
It has been a huge disappointment to see the rule around scoring provision being challenged for the first time in in our memories and therefore we look to strengthen our ability to take appropriate action.
Thank you for making me proud to be the Chairman of this wonderful organisation.

Yours in cricket

Steve Vear MBE
League Chairman