🏏 Offham Cricket Club – All Welcome! 🏏
A family-friendly club with teams in the Kent Cricket League, Kent Village League, and local junior leagues, plus Sunday cricket. Offham Cricket Club was founded in 1944 and today is a competitive, but family friendly club. As well as visiting teams, the club extends a warm welcome to family, friends and other spectators each match day. The club has, since i
ts promotion to the structure in 2003, had 1st XI and 2nd XI sides playing in the Shepherd Neame Kent Cricket League. Currently the sides play in Division 5, but the club has strong aspirations for each to play at a higher level. Training for both sides takes place each Wednesday during the season, from 5.30pm, at the ground and at winter net sessions from January to April. The club also runs a Sunday side playing friendly matches through the season, and from 2022 will participate in the Kent Village League. This side is integral to the club’s policy of providing opportunities for young players whose skills and confidence are at an appropriate level to progress from junior to senior cricket. Each week the side is a blend of younger and more experienced players playing within an enjoyable, supportive, but competitive environment. Friendly fixtures are planned against other clubs that share a similar ethos. Offham Cricket Club has a vibrant and successful junior section, led by Graham Razey, Junior Manager, and a well qualified, experienced and enthusiastic team of coaches. Junior training takes place at Offham Cricket Ground (The OCG) each Friday evening, from 6pm, from April to July for all age groups. The club fields successful U11, U13, U15 and U18 teams playing hard ball matches in the Invicta Junior Cricket League. In 2020 both U11 and U13 sides won their respective leagues. Softball cricket competitions are arranged for younger players, as an introduction into the game. The club also arranges indoor sessions both before and after Christmas, and participates in an indoor cricket league. The club is committed to safeguarding young people and this is underpinned by our club policies, use of the ECB 'Safe Hands' processes and robust safeguarding checks. All junior coaches and team managers are DBS checked, as are captains and official of the senior teams. Our home venue, Offham Cricket Ground (The OCG) is one of the most attractive in the Kent Cricket League. It is lovingly tended by the groundsman, Nigel Stoodley, and a small band of assistants. In addition to having an excellently maintained wicket and outfield, the club benefits from having full mobile covers - which aid pitch preparation - an electronic scoreboard, sight screens and practice nets. The club prides itself on being friendly, supportive family orientated community where everyone is welcome to participate - whether in the sport or social events. The pavilion, whilst modest in size, with its bar is a focal point during the season and is particularly popular after matches. Members, parents, friends and family also enjoy a range of social events including an annual awards event celebrating individual and team successes, as well as wider contributions to the club. In addition, there is an annual golf day, quiz evenings and occasional music events. The 2020 and 2021 seasons provided some significant challenges due to the COVID 19 pandemic. The club takes its responsibilities for the safety of its players, visiting teams, officials and spectators very seriously. All those present for training or matches to follow the various ground management arrangements. Copies of the club risk assessments for both junior and senior events can be found in the Club Policies section of the club website (www.offhamcc.co.uk). If you are interested in becoming part of the Offham Cricket Club community as a player, or have a son or daughter who is interested in playing for one of our junior sides please go not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or visit the Join Us!
