Posted on Friday 18th February 2005 by Colin Dawson

Amongst many other events that will be organised during the course of this year the "big one" is the Centenary Dinner to be held in a ginormous marquee at New Anniesland on the evening of Saturday, 27th August 2005. John Beattie will be the host for the evening and the Cricket Section has invited Colin Mair of West of Scotland CC (incidentally also Rector of that well known scholastic establishment called High School of Glasgow) to speak on its behalf. He accepted with glee at the prospect of throwing a few jibes at us Accies! Peter Mitchell, former sports editor with the Press and Journal and well revered after dinner speaker, is also on the list of entertainment. The Hockey Sections will also be inviting an as yet unidentified speaker.

It is bound to be a wonderful evening of entertainment and jollity and the 500 person guest list is filling up quickly so don't delay in getting applications for seats to me as soon as possible. Adult tickets are priced at £45 and at £30 for U21/students. We decided at the recent Committee meeting that, in view of the price and the need to get applications in early, members could pay instalments to the Cricket Section in April, May and June of £15/£10 and the Section coffers would pay for the tickets up front. This will give some cash flow relief for everyone who pleads poverty!

The menu is agreed and looks excellent via En Croute Catering (I have already tried them out at the Clydesdale Centenary Dinner) and I can vouch for that. There's also apres dinner dancing till 1.30am for those that feel inclined to stay on and the bars will be open late.

Fellow Accies for once in your lives get your names to me now or as soon as possible if you want to take up the instalment offer!! I can be e-mailed at Colindawson17@aol.com or you can use the usual phone thing. I shall e-mail out a draft invitation letter (proper flyers will follow) and an application form for all those that prefer to apply direct by post.

Posted on Saturday 5th February 2005 by Colin Dawson

On 18th March Colin Dawson and Mike Stanger lead the District U19's on a two centre (Sydney and Brisbane) tour of Australia. Preparations are well in hand and we are nearing our target of raising the £36,000 required for the trip that will end with our arrival back in Glasgow on 12th April. Unfortunately Gautham Hariharan, who was originally selected for the tour, has pulled out for personal reasons.

I referred in the Quiz Night article to other evenings of entertainment and two other quiz nights are being arranged as fund raising events towards that target. One will be held at West of Scotland's ground (through Gregg Watson) and the other at Greenock (through Richard Berrington). These are open events and will be pretty similar to our own with younger element again being encouraged. Unfortunately dates have not been set at the time of writing but if anyone is interested in taking part please get in touch with me. They will happen within the next five weeks!

If I can get my head round technology I hope to be able to send some articles to this site whilst out in Oz so keep an eye out for them. No promises as I'm still a bit of a dinosaur!

The District strives to send an U19 side overseas every three years or so and this trip follows on from South Africa in 2002 and India back in 1995. Both Mike and I managed these earlier trips so we have gained a certain amount of experience ouselves! Several of the players have gone on to make full Scotland caps most notably Craig Wright, the current captain, and Dougie Lockhart (one of our own) who is now well past the 100 cap mark. It is a great opportunity to experience overseas life, conditions and better their own game for the future.

Watch this space!

Posted on by Colin Dawson

Many thanks to all the supporters of this most excellent evening organised by Fraser Murray and Susie Hopkins and hosted by our very own John Beattie who even turned down a live interview on Radio 5 so that he could give us his undivided attention! Thanks for that John - we did appreciate your effort.

The Clubhouse was packed out on the night and this is fast becoming a real family occasion with ages ranging from about 4 to 70+. After expenses the evening contributed the magnificent sum of £591 to section funds.

There has been some pressure to hold the event more than once during any year but the organisers feel that "absence makes the heart grow fonder". However you might be interested to know that there are a couple of other opportunities coming up. See my article on a forthcoming trip to Australia.

Posted on by Colin Dawson

Cricket Scotland has recognised the talent of Sam Page, our U12 captain this summer.

Sam has been regularly attending West District winter coaching sessions and also those held at the National Cricket Academy in Edinburgh. I have been advised that his performances have merited his inclusion in the Scotland U13 squad for the coming summer. Well done Sam and the Section wishes you well.