Micky's Pembrokeshire
page revision date :
Cricket Umpires are ready for action!
The cricket season in Pembrokeshire is already up and running and it is good to report that members of the Pembrokeshire Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers are really geared up for action and looking for another enjoyable season in our summer sport.
The umpires have already held their annual general meeting and their excellent pre-season lunch with Rob and Mandy Scourfield at the Tudor Lodge in Jameston, where a number of guests were also in attendance – and the main topic of conversation was, understandably, the forthcoming cricket campaign!
‘As you were’ at the helm
It is very much a case of ‘as you were’ at the AGM because the officers were returned unopposed and the very experienced John Williams remains as president to keep a weather eye on what goes on. Les Hastings remains as the industrious Hon Secretary and doubles up as Child Welfare Officer, with his principal role, as well as being the major administrator, to organise the umpires for all the league matches in Divisions One and Two of the Nicholas Insurance Services - sponsored Pembroke County Cricket Club League. Richard Merriman is chairman for the final season of his three-years at the helm – and with Alan Hansen as his very capable deputy, waiting in the wings.
Dai Morris is assistant secretary and his main job is to allocate officials for the plethora of cup matches throughout the season, no mean task when rain affects the programme and fixtures tend to pile up a little, with Trefor Evans completing this key sextet as Hon Treasurer and Training Officer. In the first instance he carefully looks after the Association’s finances and also trains up newcomers to the role of umpire.
Young newcomers and real cricket lovers
Two of his newcomers to start umpiring after winter-training course where Trefor is also assisted by Richard Merriman, Huw Davies and Ray Kane, are Carew brothers Ben and Ollie Cole, with Ben also rightly regarded as one of the most promising young rugby referees and Ollie as a leg-spinner of some potential at Carew. Both clearly enjoyed the course and they will certainly drop the average age of the umpires!
Remaining on the committee are previous incumbents Arthur Brady, Dave Brandon, Bill Carne, Denis Chiffi, Hilliard Davies, Ray Kane and Huw Davies, all keen lovers of the game and most of whom played cricket in the county before they took up the white coat and got involved in a new part of the game where they could put something back into the game.
All would say it is a great pleasure to be involved because, unlike referees in some other sports they don’t have to put up with abuse because the sanctions are very heavy for anyone who transgresses from the code of conduct expected.
Characters galore
They are joined by a number of other real characters in Dave Loosmore and Tony Scourfield, the respective chairman and vice-chairman of the Pembroke County Cricket Club,, Rob Bellerby, Peter Perry and Philip Marsden, who is very much one of the elder statesman who clearly has as much affection for being involved as anyone in the county. There are others too numerous to mention but the Pembrokeshire Association of Cricket Umpires & Scorers are always looking out for new members, so if you love the game why not contact Trefor Evans or Les Hastings and ask for details – they would be delighted to hear from you!
| 
