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The 2026 cricket season has started for Tynemouth, but not for me...

At every cricket club, from the start of March onwards, there is a sense of profound anticipation in the air regarding the imminent new season. Tynemouth CC is no different, though the first item on the agenda for 2026 was the Northern finals of the ECB Indoor 6 A Side competition. Having sailed past Blyth CC in the Northumberland final, we had a bye in the North Eastern final as no Durham sides had entered. This gave us a clear passage to Northern finals, which were held at Derbyshire CC’s County Ground on Sunday March 8^th. In recognition of the distance we had to travel, Tynemouth were placed in the second semi-final against Lancashire’s representatives, Liverpool John Moores University.

The team selected consisted of Dan McGee (captain), Ben Harland (w/k), Matt Kimmitt, Joe Snowdon, Barry Stewart and George Stewart. The support was me. I was supposed to be scorer, which I’ve never done before, but a Scouse boffin with a lap top did the honours and I only had to update the scoreboard. To get there, I scrounged a lift down with Dan and Snowy, who had already done nets at South North that morning, once they’d refuelled with an enormous Wetherspoons breakfast in The Job Bulman. I didn’t partake. The journey both ways was long but not arduous and we literally spent about an hour and a half in Derby. I’ve only previously ever been there for games at the Baseball Ground and Pride Park. I don’t think I’m missing much.

Anyway, Tynemouth batted first and scored about 120, with Kimmitt, who’d benefitted from a night in his own bed as he hails from those parts, top scoring with 44*, showing the importance of a good rest before playing. Despite trying our best, Tynemouth lost by 2 wickets with an over and a half to go. A quick coffee from a local garage and we were away back up the road, getting back just in time for Call the Midwife, importantly enough.

Despite the result, I was enthused enough by exposure to the most beautiful game to show up for nets the week after. Thoroughly enjoyed it as well. Obviously I didn’t bat, but I turned my arm over. Got hit all around the place, of course, but I did manage to take the wicket of the First XI captain, which will no doubt be my season highlight. Encouragingly, the work I’ve been doing in the gym over the winter meant that kit, which was previously far too tight fitted perfectly and, most importantly, the remedial efforts I’ve been doing on my right shoulder meant I could bowl without discomfort (badly, but at least it didn’t hurt) and throw the ball overarm for the first time in possibly three years. In retrospect, I really should have gone to more nets, but getting to South North by public transport with a cricket bag for 9.30 on a Sunday morning is a nightmare.

I did make the TCC AGM. Twice. The first attempt was on the night Newcastle played Barcelona away. I arrived with the score 2-2 in an Uber from town, so we all know how things went from that point. Perhaps the scheduling could have been different, but UEFA selfishly refused to move the game at Camp Nou, and our meeting was postponed for being inquorate. It went ahead on Wednesday April 1^st, and it was a pleasure, as always, to see so many old friends and acquaintances furiously debating irrelevant minutiae. Suitably fired up, I was so much looking forward to the season, especially having shifted 2 and a bit stone and rediscovering the use of my right arm, that I paid my subs immediately and began anxiously scanning the WhatsApp group for messages regarding the forthcoming fixtures.

And then I didn’t get selected for the 3s opening game at home to Kirkley so, having initially intended to watch Gosforth Bohemian Reserves versus North Shields Athletic Reserves at Kenton School in the Alliance Division 2, I accepted a last minute corporate freebie in the Magpie Room for NUFC v Bournemouth. We all know how that went. Mind, the smoked salmon was lovely.

Incidentally TCC 3s beat Kirkley by 9 wickets, so the decision not to play me was obviously the correct one. Let’s see what next Saturday at home to Benwell & Walbottle brings.