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Reply | Castle Park - the place to be…
at 16:58 14 Jul 2025
Colchester & East Essex Cricket Club is a charitable status community cricket club where members of the public are admitted free of charge, including into the Bar/Pavilion, which offers competitively priced drinks, including a decent selection of real ales. There is usually a tea bar and a BBQ post match. Many Colchester Utd fans regularly support the club.
The club plays in the Essex Premier League which is the highest standard below the professional game. Matches feature many county second XI players, plus some First XI where county commitments permit.
“Ipswich & Colchester Cricket Club” (Ipscol cc) was only established in 2020. They play in Division Six of the Two Counties Cricket Championship. Ipscol has no affinity with the historically long established “Ipswich and East Suffolk CC” or “Colchester and East Essex CC”. Frankly, their name is rather pretentious, but there is no copyright infringement. Maybe they should play at the Jobserve Stadium….. |
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Reply | Ipswich V Charlton friendly on Col U pitch
at 08:10 14 Jul 2025
Week in, week out, this will be advertised to the people of Colchester. Locally, some young girls will be pestering mum and dad to take them. Some will like what they see and the kids, mum and dad will become supporters of all things Binners.
Meanwhile our women play at the Garrison, complete with rusty bucket and sponge.
No amount of money makes this right, it is a disaster.
Totally agree TOOTS.
It’s inevitably good for the local profile of women’s football, and I know our female players feel that, but like you I fear it is a potential disaster for the recruitment of future generations of U’s fans. Ipswich will soon make us second class citizens in our own stadium with their women’s XI probably attracting bigger gates than our men if they reach the WPL. |
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Reply | Castle Park - the place to be…
at 08:28 13 Jul 2025
Yesterday, Colchester & East Essex CC put together their most comprehensive win of the season, beating Billericay CC by 171 runs. They move 26 points clear of Wanstead who only managed to draw against Chelmsford. This could be our season!
For once, Joe MacGregor and Simon Fernandes were dismissed cheaply, but Ben Robinson (114) and Joe Austin (80) demonstrated the depth of Colchester batting.
Full scorecard and video highlights can be found at https://colchesteree.play-cricket.com. Look under results.
Put Saturday 26 July in your diary for when Wanstead visit Castle Park. Guaranteed drama between the two outstanding 2025 Essex Premier League teams. |
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Reply | Ipswich V Charlton friendly on Col U pitch
at 21:08 10 Jul 2025
With respect Wessex, your distant home location insulates you from Ipswich gloating in pubs, schools and frankly everywhere in Colchester. Thankfully, their relegation from the Premier League might shut a few of them up. One sees three Ipswich shirts for every Colchester United in the High Street.
I came to Colchester 23 years ago and have missed few U’s matches. I am indigenously a Villa fan, but have always supported my local team, be that Bristol City, Millwall and latterly Colchester United. I simply don’t get why folk don’t support their local community team, be this soccer, cricket or community projects.
The Cowley brothers were building fantastic momentum, but I feel hosting Ipswich, Ipswich U21 and Ipswich Women is an open invitation to kill that. I hope I am wrong, but being the second class citizens in our own stadium is hard to swallow. |
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Reply | Ipswich V Charlton friendly on Col U pitch
at 20:07 10 Jul 2025
At your first Col U game take something to scrape off Ipswich Town stickers from our seats and any other mischief that we are likely to suffer.
It might be useful revenue for the borough council that own the stadium, and potentially some relief for Colchester United (e.g Robbie Cowlings pockets) if we save some money from our annual commitment, but it is sickening that things have come to this. How long before the Ipswich brand becomes dominant?
Also begs the question, how soon before the pitch is again a disgrace. |
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Reply | Advanced Talks with US Consortium
at 15:11 10 Jul 2025
We are drifting off topic, but reassuringly, Simon Fernandes and Dan Gladwell are on Saturday's CEECC team sheet. They are at Lords today, not Saturday.
However, CEECC will almost certainly lose Simon to Essex CCC during the Hundred, which is great for him, but not good for the Essex Premier League. Charlie Allison is another Colchester absentee. Wanstead will similarly lose Robin Das.
It is too expensive for otherwise amateur clubs (and too late) to bring in an 'Overseas' replacement. The Hundred has negative ramifications for Essex Cricket and its senior Premier League clubs despite the County not having a franchise team. |
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Reply | Advanced Talks with US Consortium
at 08:33 9 Jul 2025
“The most mouth watering chunk is not on the menu……”?
The only tangible asset of note is possibly the Tiptree Training Ground (but who owns it?). What else is there other than the brand, goodwill, EFL membership and players on short term contracts?
Given the prospective buyers are property developers, one suspects this might be a major consideration. A few hundred new houses built there might be the only way for RC to exit without writing off many more £millions. I hope he doesn’t get so frustrated he simply ditches the club and walks away to become a property developer himself. |
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Reply | Advanced Talks with US Consortium
at 08:15 1 Jul 2025
Was the Tiptree training facility part of the deal? That seems to me to be the only asset that might permit RC to recover some of his loans, that is if it is developed for housing. If not, what tangible assets are actually up for sale? The club doesn’t own the stadium.
If no tangible property is included, Colchester United assets are then limited to goodwill and the intellectual property rights around its branding and its EFL membership. Players are of limited value as they are all on short term contracts and can walk away on contract expiry. They might even be able to walk away on conclusion of a sale if the existing contractual relationships are affected by new ownership. There is considerable debt to the current owner. Does that get written off?
My guess is that the parties might be far apart on valuation if the trading accounts are as bad as suggested in another thread. I was skeptical from the outset that any sale would proceed. Where RC goes with this now is anybodies guess. But if he loses more money and ultimately ceases ploughing money into the club, begs the question, are we doomed. I fear the worst.
Maybe we should merge with Ipswich Women and let them take over the stadium rent and running costs. Or maybe that step has already happened? |
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Reply | U'sual Champions League 2025 Final & 3rd PO - Deadline Sat 31st May 20.00
at 16:21 26 Jun 2025
Just want to thank MFB for dropping off my Happy Cup Winners Prize today. Unfortunately, I missed him by five minutes as I had to drop my wife at the railway station.
After another season, I should have a full set of six such mugs. Unfortunately, my Happy League vinyl record clock melted in my conservatory (in Salvatore Dali style). Great bloke Mick, runs a super set of competitions. |
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Reply | Castle Park - the place to be…
at 06:56 22 Jun 2025
Yesterday at the top of the Essex Premier League were two classic examples of how challenging this minimum of 120 overs timed/declaration format can be for captains…
Wanstead scored an incredible 411/4 Declared in merely 53 overs leaving a minimum of 67 overs to bowl out Hadleigh & Thundersley. Then maintaining an exceptionally good over rate in the “Last Hour”, Wanstead bowled 70 overs before close of play. The home side were then 255/7, hence match drawn. With hindsight, an even earlier declaration would have been wise. The hardest thing about this format is taking ten second innings wickets, and that is why the points haul for batting first is higher (else the toss winner would always chase).
Colchester set Hornchurch a more tempting target of 308 in 56 residual overs. Unfortunately, four overs were then unexpectedly lost to rain, leaving only 52 overs to bowl them out. Hornchurch reached 232/8 hence match drawn. Has the rain not interfered, there might have been time to take the last two wickets. However, the 2023 Champions, Hornchurch, are always capable of 300+ so an earlier declaration on perhaps 280 was probably unwise. Tactically, what should perhaps have happened was Colchester accelerate their scoring rate in the second half of their innings. Scoring 308 in perhaps 55 overs would then have resulted in setting a target of 4.72 per over, but leaving 65 overs to take the ten wickets. Another 9 overs (allowing for the rain) then might still have been enough.
Hence, both Wanstead and Colchester secured maximum batting points plus the same bowling points for (7/8 wickets) and 3 (draw) game points, a total of 14 points. This meant CEECC’s 19 point advantage at the top of the league is maintained. Third placed Brentwood also only drew taking 15 points (they took nine wickets) so Colchester’s failure to win is of little immediate consequence. But had they secured those last two wickets, then 14 points would have become 25 win points. Fine margins can make a huge difference in this format. [Post edited 22 Jun 6:58]
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Reply | Castle Park - the place to be…
at 23:59 19 Jun 2025
Exactly right Bewildered.
In the timed/declaration format a minimum of 120 overs are bowled (fewer if rain interruptions). More overs can be bowled if ahead by the cut off time (a “final hour” starts at 18:10).
The First innings is limited to a maximum of 64 overs, and that normally leaves 56 overs (total 120), but an early declaration offers more time to bowl out the opposition But it’s often a difficult decision for captains.
For example, last weekend, Hornchurch CC scored a massive 353 - 9 declared after 57.4 overs. That gave Fives & Heronians CC an extra six overs, hence now 62 overs (120 - 58) rather than a mere 56. Hornchurch knew the hardest task is bowling a side out to secure a win rather than a draw.
Frankly, nobody expected Fives & Heronians to reply with a winning 355 - 7. Feroze Khusi (a name you will recall was an Essex CCC opener until injury ) smashed 130 in 108 balls and Bilal Kamal (an Essex youngster) hit 71 in 49 balls.
The Buckhurst Hill v Colchester fixture was much lower scoring. Size of boundaries and the condition of pitch/outfield is highly material. Colchester’s 271 was probably the equivalent of 320 at Castle Park’s pristine conditions. So this introduces further captaincy skills - reading pitch conditions.
This format is highly tactical and different to the biff, bash, bosh of limited overs. Take a look at the final wicket to fall in that fixture. Seven catchers around the bat, one side digging in for a draw…..proper cricket! |
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Reply | Castle Park - the place to be…
at 08:08 15 Jun 2025
For half a season (or rather the middle two quarters), most English Premier Leagues switch from pink/white ball (50) limited overs cricket to red ball timed basis cricket.This is to encourage young cricketers on the brink of County Championship call ups to become accustomed to declarations and the tactics requiring a team batting first to take ten second innings wickets else a match is drawn.
The match is typically a minimum of 120 overs starting at 11.00am with a “last hour” to be bowled from 18:10 or when 17 overs remain (if later). The side batting first have up to 64 overs in which to set a target then leaving at least 56 overs to take ten wickets (which is the difficult bit!). An earlier declaration leaves a greater number of overs available to bowl the opposition out, but more time for the side chasing to attain victory.
Yesterday, Colchester, after some cautious (slow) batting used the full 64 overs available to score 271 setting Buckhurst Hill a still potentially gettable target of 4.84 an over in their residual 56 overs. Faster scoring might have permitted an earlier declaration and more time to take the ten wickets now required for victory.
As it turned out, the target was plenty as wickets fell steadily, but the Buckhurst Hill tail dug in seeking a draw. Their last wicket fell with merely 19 balls remaining and eight fielders around the bat, nail-biting tactical stuff and very different to white/pink ball limited overs, biff, bash, bosh.
To incentivise teams to bat first, they get 25 points for a win. The side batting second take 20 points for a win (as they can potentially better control the game). A draw results in 3 or no game points, (depends on (division) plus batting and bowling points only, with the team batting first taking double batting points.
Games are all about can the side batting first score enough to avoid defeat but then take ten wickets. It can lead to fascinating tactical battles like yesterday or boring stalemates if a declaration comes too late leaving the side batting second batting out a draw. P
However, , bonus points are always important, even in drawn or lost game situations. Yesterday, Hornchurch lost having scored an incredible 335 runs in 58 overs before declaring. They left themselves 62 overs to bowl out Fives & Heronians, but took only seven wickets. . But taking 11 bonus points lifted Hornchurch three places and out of the relegation zone.
Yesterday, Colchester took 25 points from winning having batted first. Rivals Wanstead lost further ground taking merely 20 points from batting second (versus Brentwood). The timed/declaration basis produces surprisingly few draws except between the top teams. Captaincy skills are vital in determining when to declare. Leave it too late, fail to take ten wickets and you are limited to bonus points. Declare too early and you lose.
It’s not everybody’s favorite format, but fascinating to the purist that appreciates something different from biff, bash, bosh cricket. With a pint (or three) of decent real ale in hand, all formats are enjoyable in Castle Park! [Post edited 15 Jun 9:36]
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Reply | Castle Park - the place to be…
at 22:55 13 Jun 2025
How unlucky were Essex tonight v Sussex?
Deliver merely 11 more balls to constitute a five over (DLS) game would have guaranteed an Essex win given that Sussex would never recover from Snater’s early wicket taking burst. Sadly the persistent rain frustrated that. |
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Reply | Castle Park - the place to be…
at 18:45 9 Jun 2025
This result, comprehensive scorecard, and video is held on the ECB’s Play Cricket database at https://colchesteree.play-cricket.com/website/results/7016660
The computer scoring system is PCS Pro as used by the Counties and it automatically calculates DLS.
Its comprehensive output is uploaded to the ECB server after being verified by home and away scorers ( and umpires). In First Class Cricket, there is additionally an Analyst involved in the sign off process plus a Match Referee. The league then countersigns and publishes league tables. To a high extent, this is digital and automated (no paper!).
To view this computer file, one needs a log-in and ECB/Club authorisation etc. However, pop down Castle Park when the First Team are home and I would be delighted to show you how it all works. My kit embraces a video editing studio, so it’s quite a professional set-up. Have a look at the video at the above URL.
The detailed DLS output is a table that shows the par score required on a ball by ball basis for each wicket. So to work out the par score to be exceeded one would interpolate that as follows;
In Over X, after Ball Y, Par score required if 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 wickets.
The calculations prior to this entail serious algebraic mathematics. As you might imagine this table is huge, but if one selects publication of only end of over par scores it will fit an A4 page. For captains use, we similarly show only end of over targets on scoreboard.
ICC regulations demand that we show this on scoreboard ONLY on an end of over basis to avoid confusion, unless the scoreboard can simultaneously show the par score for all six balls in any over. I think Trent Bridge is the only UK scoreboard with this capability! |
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Reply | Castle Park - the place to be…
at 10:21 9 Jun 2025
Absolutely Bewildered.
When the Colchester second wicket fell after merely 6.1 overs, with Colchester now on 21-2, the DLS Par score had rocketed to 42. Fernandes and Austin first had to claw that deficit back.
The score then reached 43-2 after 11 overs, however, another five overs had elapsed so losing the early wickets and now further overs having completed, hence losing dual resources, ratcheted the DLS up to over 60 at that point, still about 17 behind. Colchester simply couldn’t afford to lose another wicket with black clouds overhead. But still needed to edge closer to the run target.
Scoring then dropped to a crawl, as not losing a wicket had taken on greater emphasis than run rate. Crucial was getting to the twentieth over to constitute a game whereby DLS Method takes over from Abandoned. The result was still on a knife edge with par +1 only achieved in over 19.
Then 8 runs off over 22, plus 4 from the first two balls of 23 saw Colchester still above DLS had TWO wickets fallen and in an unassailable position unless a hat-trick. At this point, Hutton (and Umpires) finally surrendered to the drizzle with players just making it back to the Pavilion before the deluge finally hit Castle Park.
Castle Park is one of only two Premier League Grounds where DLS over by over is shown on the scoreboard. At other grounds, players have to rely on a paper sheet. For a few seasons we have been “educating” our players how DLS works, and here, Colchester were tactically spot on, after the unexpected early dismissals. |
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Reply | Castle Park - the place to be…
at 15:43 8 Jun 2025
Sure it wasn’t a bat on his head? Maybe a cricket bat?
The Medieval Festival people had a nightmare. Parking was available on Kings Meadow, but the weir footbridge is still not repaired and other gates being locked meant a long walk around Catchpool Road and Pavilion Way (or via North Station Road).
I have heard that the Moor Hens have left their nest so that the weir bridge repairs can now continue. However, it doesn’t sound as if the work will be completed before the music concerts start.
I wonder, was it a Moor Hen on his head? Some folk will do any job for a £tenner. |
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Reply | Castle Park - the place to be…
at 15:22 8 Jun 2025
Magnificent win by Colchester, and tactically intriguing.
Colchester losing two early wickets meant Simon Fernandes and Joe Austin had to add 50+ runs for the third wicket simply to repair the Duckworth Lewis deficit. They ultimately added 71 in an unbroken partnership to ensure that the home side were 25 above DLS par when the rain came.
Had Colchester lost a further wicket, they would have merely been a single run ahead of par after the 22.2 overs bowled. Had two wickets fallen that would have meant defeat.
Nail biting stuff if following DLS on the scoreboard! |
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