Joe Hull

[RobYeltz]

I'm disappointed to see Joe leave, especially down the road to them lot but I understand his reasons for doing so.

Sadly Stourbr*dge are ahead of us and this is a step forwards I feel for him. I feel a little differently about Joe going compared to Tonks and Green, at the time Stour were no better than us, certainly on the pitch but in the short space of time since then I feel Stour have moved forwards and they're using their cup successes to improve their squad at the moment, and who can blame them? I think they stand every chance of pushing hard for the play offs now with the improvements and number of players they have. Their cup successes have benefited them enormously, and it goes to show how it can improve a club.

Good luck Joe, you've been a good servant to The Yeltz, I wish you luck for the future (apart from against us) and I'll miss the chats with the old man!

[Laurel Lane Lamper]

It's not in that short space of time that they've been moving forwards. We may have beaten them on the pitch last season but they have been making progress off the pitch for several seasons.
Their relations with the cricket club have improved so they've been able to stage early and late season matches instead of using other grounds.
Today comes more significant news
http://wccc.co.uk/news/county-to-return ... en-cricket

A similar day to that in 1982 when Glenn Turner scored his century before lunch may not be long off in being once again possible.

[Noggin]

I always thought that the Glenn Turner century before lunch was on royal wedding day?

[Noggin]

... but they have been making progress off the pitch for several seasons...

That's the key point. Getting the structures and finances in place off the pitch is the important thing, the playing performance follows this (not always of course). in other words, the probability of getting things right on the pitch is a lot higher if you get the right bits in place off the pitch.

I think this is an area where HTFC have a lot to learn and I do not think there has been much progress over recent years

[Laurel Lane Lamper]

I always thought that the Glenn Turner century before lunch was on royal wedding day?

It was and the same day The Villa signed Andy Blair

so 1981?

[Laurel Lane Lamper]

http://cricketarchive.com/Worcestershir ... 41497.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_o ... na_Spencer

[The Reasonable Man]

I always thought that the Glenn Turner century before lunch was on royal wedding day?

It was and the same day The Villa signed Andy Blair

so 1981?

29th July 1981.

I was there (at the cricket, not the wedding...).

That was the last County Championship match staged at Amblecote, v Northants.

There was a Sunday League (oh how I remember fondly the John Player Sunday League...) match v Leicestershire at Amblecote in 1982, but Worcs have not played there since.

[The Reasonable Man]

A similar day to that in 1982 when Glenn Turner scored his century before lunch may not be long off in being once again possible.

I doubt it, for the same reason that Worcs don't play at Kiddy any more (except in the event of flooding) and many other Counties don't use "out-grounds" either. There simply aren't the facilities for sponsors, corporate guests, not to mention the press, such as they are for County cricket these days. Plus the upheaval of staff for the sake of four days cricket, and then all back to New Road again just isn't worth the hassle.

Second XI cricket is as good as it will get.

(Although, personally I'm looking forward to seeing my daughter play for Worcs at Stourbr*dge one day)

EDIT - still persisting with an asterisk, I see...

[Laurel Lane Lamper]

At least the return of 2nd XI cricket is a very welcome step to the many Pears supporters in the northern part of the former county. No doubt just reward for those that have strove to achieve it.

[OmmerUmYeltz]

In a long line of depressing news since last April , this is one of the worst. To lose your captain in a sideways move to the local rivals just sums up the poor state of the club, regardless of probably being safe from the drop. There was a comment earlier about the other JH writing off this season, you presume he'll still be here of course. I know some would like him to go, but because of a club falling apart around him? Not sure anybody would want that to be the reason.