News and Events

On the 22nd June, The Club organised a trip to the 20/20 game against Kent at the Rose Bowl, and an eventful night it turned out to be.

14 of us attended, including Rob Jacksons mate Matt who proved an important member of the team.......he was able to drive afterwards ! Steve Cross was also there, but had tickets with the Prawn Sandwich brigade in the VIP area. Attire was to be 'Public Schoolboy', ie. jeans, t-shirt and short sleeve cricket jumper. These were to be accompanied by a mask from a selection obtained by Paul Anscombe. After weather updates throughout the day with numerous e-mails flying around (does anyone ever work), it looked unlikely the game would avoid the rain. 9 of us took the train to Hedge End (others drove), and drinking commenced on the station. Oli Sheldrake had already advised he would have to get a later train as he was stuck in traffic at Lyndhurst. The first major fine was for Hugh Baker who left his brolly on the train.

The next was for Matty Angell who claimed he knew the way from the station to the Rose Bowl......and would have gone the wrong way, luckily we followed the direction the bus went. Claims from Matt every few yards that he 'remembered that bush' did not boost confidence. We were still unsure, we needed help. A young girl was bouncing up and down on a trampoline in her garden, and this face kept appearing above the fence. Enter the charms of Paul Anscombe to try to get directions from her to no avail, he even tried bouncing up and down in time to her. No worries, there was a lady watering her plants further down the road so Paul again charged across the road as the lady vanished towards her house (obviously petrified of the ogre in a bunny mask), but she game through with the info and Paul happily bunny hopped back across the road.

So we were getting there, but a Burger King stop was required. Now Nige Dibbens turn, no idea what he ordered, but it didn't arrive until the rest of us were ready to leave. Next stop the ground, and astoundingly the rain had stopped, and it was sunny. Call from Oli as we approached the ground, he is on the courtesy bus so we should meet him there.

Arrived, and quickly grabbed a set of seats behind long on, good chance of getting a catch there. A few were delayed by a stop at the bar. Oli arrives at the ground (we have his ticket). Nige and Squirt leave the ground to try and find him, it seems Oli had gone to the other side of the ground. 15 minutes later, eventually met up, but oh dear. Nige had forgotten to bring his entry stub out with him. Luckily Squirt had a spare ticket which had to be used to get Nige back in ! All now ready to roll for the match, with Matty Angell having defined the rules of the drinking game. A pint circulates ball by ball. You drink one finger depth for each run scored when you are in possession of the glass (4 fingers about 1/2 a pint). If it is a wicket, you have to neck down the full glass.

Kent are batting first, and hit the first two balls for four. Embarrassingly the Littleton gang are cheering like mad. Stuff the cricket, Hugh and Mark have to down 8 fingers between them immediately. Will we have enough money to get through the innings, let alone the game! Runs accumulate and a few wickets go down, Nige and Cookie being the prime sufferers for Necking it. Rob Jackson though, like his batting somehow had mastered the dot ball and was getting little to drink. That soon changed when he got consecutive wickets on his turn. As the pints ran out, the new ones became more unusual. Lager, lager and cider, lager and bitter, and an obnoxious concoction which Cookie could not neck on a wicket. The worst though was from Oli. On one round, had a major gulp, a gargle, then it all went back in the glass. Suffice to say, that was the end of that pint. So half time, Kent made 153 with some unknown called McLaren clubbing 46 off 19 balls, and most of us were worse for wear. Regular visits to the WC had commenced.

Hampshire batting now, and a dreadful start. We were applauding the first 2 wickets (how bad is that) as Paul and Rob had to neck their pints. Kent then put a chap called Cook to field near us. Lovely misfield, just like our Cookie. Unfortunately that's where the similarity ended, he then took 3 wickets ! Drink continued to roll and spirits were high, but controlled and not abusive. Squirt managed to knock a can of beer over the girl sitting in front, but then the most astounding event. Yasir Arafat was sent to field in front of us. We still to this moment do not know why, but Steve Fenner took a dislike to him, so much so, that he legged it down the steps and launched his beer at him. Thankfully it missed, and as it was Stevie, by some considerable distance.

The game was now coming to a climax, and Hampshire needed one run off the final ball, which Greg Lamb 'middled' to 3rd man where the unknown McLaren took a flying catch. A tie. We knew it would be as every 20/20 game Paul Anscombe has been to was a tie.

So just time for a quick 'team photo', several visits to the loo, and try and get ourselves back to Winchester. This was not before Matty Angell somehow fell face first over his seat (whilst preserving his pint), and seemed to be performing a headstand for a few minutes.

Back Row - Hugh 'Donkey' Baker, Oli 'Sheephead' Sheldrake, Rob 'Panda' Jackson, Mark 'Tiger' Dibben

Middle Row - Matt 'The Cow' Angell, Dave 'Monkey' Guy, Ray 'T-Rex' Fenner, Steve 'Puppy Dog' Fenner

Front Row - Paul 'Bunny' Anscombe, Nigel 'The Wolf' Dibben, Phil 'The Duck' Cook, Nigel 'The Fox' Louth', Andy 'Porky Pig' Walker

Walking back from the ground, Squirt made a totally uncalled for comment to the young lady being escorted by four blokes, before Matty Angell took centre stage. He decided to make an unscheduled visit to the bushes (with a little help from others), completely covered his cricket jumper in who knows what, then struggled to get out again.

Thanks go to Matt (Robs mate) and Ray for their taxi services, leaving only four of us to acquire a Taxi, which somehow a drunk Matty Angell managed to get to pick us up from outside the ground.

The evening finished off in O'Neills (Cookie chatting up a few young ladies), before some of the team went to the Porthouse to show off some of the worst dancing ever seen.

And that as the end. Well not quite. From our position in the ground we had hoped for a catch. We didn't get one. James Bruce did though, and the Echo photographer decided to publish this in the Saturday edition, and who were the rabble behind him............yes us !

Nigel Dibben, and debutant Oli Sheldrake blitzed 3 club records in the opening league match against Penton. Oli Sheldrake hit 156no, a club record individual score, and with Nigel Dibben 121no, recorded a club record partnership of 305 (unbroken), and a club record league score of 345-1. Congratulations to both.

The footy team success just goes on. After 22 hard fought matches, the team has again won the SoccerclubUK Premiership title. Needing to win their final match against Six Pack, a seasons best 6-1 victory secured the title. Congratulations to all who represented the team during the season.

Back Row : Rob Kitley, Simon Byrnes, Dave Burgess, Toby Fallon, Tom Brown, Simon Daunter.

Front Row : Paul Anscombe, Scott McLeonards, Nigel Dibben. Absent, Steve Cross (at a lesser footy tournament in Germany !)

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11th April 2006. Littleton Cricket Club FC have again received a prestigious award from the Hampshire Football Association.

Littleton Cricket Club FC achieved 1st Place in the North Hants Fair Play Award for the second year running.

This covers all Saturday and Sunday teams, playing at all levels, who play in the North Hampshire regions.

This is judged by an FA Panel and takes into consideration club discipline, fines, cautions and sending offs, plus importantly feedback from Clubs and Referees. Regarding discipline, we received zero penalty points, ie. No Red or Yellow cards throughout the season.

We again receive a £200 voucher to spend on GX Soccer (the awards sponsor) kit or equipment. We have been invited to pick up the award at the Fitness First Stadium Bournemouth during the Hampshire Cup Final between Farnborough and Basingstoke on Monday 24th April 2006.

Congratulations to all team members and officials. To receive the award once is an honour, but for two consecutive seasons is an amazing achievement.

20th June 2005. Littleton Cricket Club FC win the SoccerclubUK 6-a-side Winchester Premiership title.

After a hard fought 22 match season, it came down to the final game. LCCFC had to beat Sicknote United, and hope Winchester Wanderers could beat the current leaders Winchester Lions. In two closely fought games, LCCFC came good winning 2-0, and Wanderers did the business also winning 2-0. Conceding only 14 goals, but scoring 41 secured the title on goal difference. Rob Kitley (16) and Nigel Dibben (9) both appeared in the top 10 scorers list. Another trophy, plus £100 for the kitty. Congratulations to the squad members all who have played regularly throughout the season :

Paul Anscombe, Nigel Dibben, Steve Cross, Andy Walker, Tom Brown, Rob Kitley, Matty Woods, Dave Burgess and Chris Clayton.

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17th June 2005. Littleton Cricket Club FC have received a prestigious award from the Hampshire Football Association.

Littleton Cricket Club FC achieved 1st Place in the North Hants Fair Play Award.

This covers all Saturday and Sunday teams, playing at all levels, who play in the North Hampshire regions.

This is judged by an FA Panel and takes into consideration club discipline, fines, cautions and sending offs, plus importantly feedback from Clubs and Referees. Regarding discipline, we picked up only one booking all season, thanks Phil Cook, without this we would have had a clean sheet !!

This is the first year of the award, sponsored by GX Soccer, truly reflects the way we play our football, and is really an astounding achievement and honour.

An award, plus a £200 voucher to spend on GX Soccer kit or equipment. An invitation to pick up the award at the Fitness First Stadium Bournemouth during the friendly match between AFC Bournemouth and Southampton on Friday 22nd July 2005. We have got reserved places in an Executive Box, with a buffet.

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30th November 2004 - Having won the league, the 2nd Team splashed out the cash to attend the Presentation Evening at the Rose Bowl. Not only had we the Divisional trophy to pick up, but Will Lecomber the bowling award for his outstanding efforts during the season. What a shambles it turned out to be. The Team pick up an award for South West 4 (a Division which does not even exist), and the actual trophy was a for yet another different Division ! Will waited patiently for his award, proud parents there to watch. The Bowling and Batting awards for North West 4 were not even announced, and when our Chairman decided to make a fuss, it was identified there was not even an trophy for Will. To make things even worse, the Best Bowling award has appeared on the HCL website, but not for Will, they have given it to a chap from Wellow, who actually won the Batting award ! The Committee will be making a formal complaint to the League regarding this fiasco.

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On Saturday 3rd July, the Barbeque at the Club was a great success, despite both sides games being rained off. It was good to get players and families of both teams together socialising, and also great to see Pete and Ruth Kirby. Many thanks to Pete Arculus, Alan Zanetti, Alan Jackson, Ray Fenner and their spouses for all the work they put into the evening.

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Congratulations to the 1st Team for a splendid effort during this season. Promotion was only just missed. Unfortunately the 2nd Team were relegated, despite our pleading to the Hampshire League regarding the irregularities of one of our opponents which sealed their continued position in the Division at our expense.

Well done to Nigel Dibben for ending up with a higher average that his single highest score in a match. This achievement was matched by him also being top of the Divisional batting averages. (See the alien story in the Enquirer section and the topic raises it's head again!).

Not only did we excel with the bat, but well done to Phil Cook who topped the Divisional bowling averages.