Waterlooville are set to play the Southern Premier League Division 2 season without overseas aid following an unsatisfactory chain of events that has led to their intended South African import playing in North Walls instead of Rowlands Avenue.
The Ville, who have recruited seasonal overseas players from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa since the mid-1970s, had lined up Johannesburg teenager Chris Taylor.
“We made a specific point of stressing the Premier League’s long-standing requirements for foreign nationals to have appropriate coaching qualifications and police clearances,” explained Waterlooville’s Director of Cricket Andy Reynolds.
A UK passport holder, Taylor arrived in the UK last month, spent 11 nights in quarantine at a London Heathrow hotel at his parents’ expense and in late April made two friendly XI appearance for the Ville, hitting 57 in a six-wicket victory at Stirlands having made his debut against P & S the previous day.
It then came to light that the South African had arrived without the necessary coaching qualifications or SAP clearance, so was Ineligible for Southern Premier League cricket.
Taylor hot footed it to play in the North Wales Premier League, where he promptly scored a century for Pwllheli in a high scoring win for the seaside town.
Immense
An angry Reynolds said: “The disruption caused to the club regarding collection, accommodation, personalised kit, pre-purchased tickets for upcoming sporting and social events, not to mention the coaching and support of our thriving junior section has been immense.
“The lesson, of course, for all clubs is regardless of guarantees from your agent, always do your own due diligence plus be very, very cautious of the players advertised profile.
“Taylor was advertised as a keeper/batsman, which was exactly what we requested and required.
“On arrival, he explained to me he hadn’t kept for a year and only does as a stand-in as it wasn’t his strongest skill set.
“Having watched him keep wicket, I am able to confirm his summation was correct!
Waterlooville put the irritation behind them to score a rain affected 46-run win at Fawley. Tomorrow they are scheduled to visit Paultons, who have appointed Simon Ennew as their new captain.
The hosts are without key all-rounder Tony Richman and hard-hitting left-hander Nigel Feltham as they bid to bounce back from last weekend’s Angus Brown inspired defeat at Hartley Wintney.
“It was a tale of what might have been. We should have lost the match comfortably, but it was really pleasing with the fight we showed for what turned out in the end to be a narrow defeat.
Paultons: Simon Ennew, Cameron Grierson, Lee Wateridge, Ben Rogers, Jacob Lee, Josh Metcalfe, Robert Pike, Peter Lamb, Chris Dunn, Harmon Chandhoke, Andrew Denney.
Waterlooville: Archie Reynolds, Jon Hudson, Namish Verma, Sonny Reynolds, Tim Jackson, Dan Birch, Sam Robinson, Ashan Silva, Harry McBride+, Jack Pearce, Haydn Knight.
The Ville, who have recruited seasonal overseas players from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa since the mid-1970s, had lined up Johannesburg teenager Chris Taylor.
“We made a specific point of stressing the Premier League’s long-standing requirements for foreign nationals to have appropriate coaching qualifications and police clearances,” explained Waterlooville’s Director of Cricket Andy Reynolds.
A UK passport holder, Taylor arrived in the UK last month, spent 11 nights in quarantine at a London Heathrow hotel at his parents’ expense and in late April made two friendly XI appearance for the Ville, hitting 57 in a six-wicket victory at Stirlands having made his debut against P & S the previous day.
It then came to light that the South African had arrived without the necessary coaching qualifications or SAP clearance, so was Ineligible for Southern Premier League cricket.
Taylor hot footed it to play in the North Wales Premier League, where he promptly scored a century for Pwllheli in a high scoring win for the seaside town.
Immense
An angry Reynolds said: “The disruption caused to the club regarding collection, accommodation, personalised kit, pre-purchased tickets for upcoming sporting and social events, not to mention the coaching and support of our thriving junior section has been immense.
“The lesson, of course, for all clubs is regardless of guarantees from your agent, always do your own due diligence plus be very, very cautious of the players advertised profile.
“Taylor was advertised as a keeper/batsman, which was exactly what we requested and required.
“On arrival, he explained to me he hadn’t kept for a year and only does as a stand-in as it wasn’t his strongest skill set.
“Having watched him keep wicket, I am able to confirm his summation was correct!
Waterlooville put the irritation behind them to score a rain affected 46-run win at Fawley. Tomorrow they are scheduled to visit Paultons, who have appointed Simon Ennew as their new captain.
The hosts are without key all-rounder Tony Richman and hard-hitting left-hander Nigel Feltham as they bid to bounce back from last weekend’s Angus Brown inspired defeat at Hartley Wintney.
“It was a tale of what might have been. We should have lost the match comfortably, but it was really pleasing with the fight we showed for what turned out in the end to be a narrow defeat.
Paultons: Simon Ennew, Cameron Grierson, Lee Wateridge, Ben Rogers, Jacob Lee, Josh Metcalfe, Robert Pike, Peter Lamb, Chris Dunn, Harmon Chandhoke, Andrew Denney.
Waterlooville: Archie Reynolds, Jon Hudson, Namish Verma, Sonny Reynolds, Tim Jackson, Dan Birch, Sam Robinson, Ashan Silva, Harry McBride+, Jack Pearce, Haydn Knight.