CLUB HISTORY
2004 - 2005
Gary Heilbronn began the club in the early months of 2004. Gary, an Australian, lives in the village of
Monclera near Cazals with his French wife Elizabeth. In March 2004 Gary and his friends registered the Club at the
Prefecture in Cahors, having created the Club's rules (statutes) and placed an advertisement about the Club's
formation in the official Prefecture monthly information magazine. The Club's name was Monclera Cazals Cricketers,
or M.C.C. a particularly amusing Cricketing in-joke as these are the same initials as the most famous Cricket club
in the world, namely, Marylebone Cricket Club in London with their famous ground, Lords.
Gary became the first President of the club and his wife Elizabeth, the first Secretary. Charles Loftie, the first
Treasurer provided a second hand coconut mat he had acquired and permission was obtained for the club to use the
football pitch and facilities at Cazals during the summer months. With donations of kit from Gary and various other
members the club began to play a number of friendly matches. In the season of 2005 there were 12 registered members
and friendly games had been played with teams such as L'isle de Noé from the Gers and L'isle sur Tarn in the
Tarn region.
Gary and Elisabeth took an extended trip back to Australia and Marcus Padden and his partner Rosie Greenhalgh became
President and Secretary respectively. By this time a friendly cricket match had been established to coincide with
the annual Monclera fete. As part of the fete Rosie turned what had previously been a simple picnic into a four
course fund-raising meal for over 100 people. This raised significant funds for the club's future development.
2006
By 2006 the club had continued to grow until there were 25 registered members. A season of friendly matches was
organised playing clubs such as Eymet in the Dordogne, Damazan in the Lot et Garonne, Toulouse, L'isle de Noé and
Armagnac Bigorre both from the Gers.
With the growth it became apparent to members that the football pitch was less than satisfactory for future
development. In addition was the problem that an artificial strip could not be installed. Members began to look
for alternative pitches, which proved quite difficult in this hilly area! Finally, in a historic Extraordinary
General Meeting in October 2006, of the 3 new pitches proposed, Abbe Nouvelle, Monclera and Catus, Catus was voted
to be the new pitch for the MCC and what was to prove an equally historic decision was made, to join the Siddall's
Cup Competition for the 2007 season. Also at this meeting Simon Coldrick, who had extensive coaching experience
in English schools, put himself forward on his own initiative, and was voted to become the new Junior Players
Secretary and Coach. All three of these decisions were to have considerable consequences.
2007
It had been the donation of the use of a fine piece of flat land at the Lac Vert sport and leisure park by the Maire
of Catus, Monsieur Claude Taillardas, which had enabled the move from Monclera. Monsieur Taillardas was to prove
greatly supportive of the club and even came to the following AGM in February 2007. He explained to the meeting that
he was fully prepared to support all members of his community of whatever nationality in their cultural and
sporting endeavours. He outlined the possibility of a loan to the club to facilitate the purchase and installation
of a synthetic cricket strip and practice nets. In addition he stated that, as with all sporting clubs in the
commune we would be eligible for an annual grant from the town council. The Town Council later ratified both of
these possibilities. After M. Taillardas had left the meeting it was debated, then proposed and carried, to change
the name of the club from Monclera Cazals Cricketers to Catus Cricket Club. This it was felt was both fair and in
the Club's future interest in the receiving of financial aid from Catus. Alan Frank and his partner Madeleine
Cardani were then voted in as the new President and Secretary respectively and the retiring Marcus Paddon and
Rosie Greenhalgh were wholeheartedly thanked for the very great contribution they had made to the club over the
last two years.
The club joined the Federation and registered for the first time 32 licensed members of the FFBS. Of this total,
12 members were juniors who were part of Simon Coldrick's new squad. He ran a very successful training programme
throughout the season for the group, who were mixed in age, gender and ability. Some of his older juniors played
very successfully in some senior friendly matches, fielding as well as many of the "old uns" and in the case of
budding bowler Ben Small aged 13, taking wickets! We continued to play a series of friendly matches during the season
and took part in the first round of the Siddall's Cup for the first time. In the Spring of 2007 a number of working
parties were organised to begin the preparation of the new pitch: adding soil to level areas and seeding, marking
the new boundary and the position of the new strip. Dordogne Property Services, tendered for, and were awarded the
contract by the town council. Under the direction of DPS's manager, Ken Sutton, further working parties were
organised to begin the excavation of the pitch area followed by the lining of the excavation with mole proof netting
and the filling, levelling and compacting of crushed limestone to create a solid but drainable base. Finally the
new pitch material the "Tom Graveney" supplied by the UK company Exclusive Leisure was laid and fixed down in
position. At the same time the two practice nets supplied by Hucknetts, also UK based, were delivered. With the
increase in the number of players came an equal interest and enthusiasm of WAGS (Wives and Girlfriends!).
Ginny Bristo began to organise and provide cricket teas at our home matches. These were of a very high standard
and much appreciated by both our home team and our opponents! In the September of 2007 the Maire of Catus,
Mr. Taillardas and some of his fellow counsellors officially opened the new pitch. The press, La Depeche and
Catus.Com, covered this opening. The Maire made a short speech wishing the club well ceremonially laid the stumps
and then had a go at wielding a cricket bat for the first time! To coincide with this inauguration a group of
player's wives and supporters organised a friendly match and followed this by providing a barbeque for
approximately 100! Their hard work was rewarded when the meal was very well received and raised of funds for
the club. The whole day was a great success.
At the club's General meeting, held In the October, another historic decision was taken, that of joining the
Barclays League, organised by ACCSO for the 2008 season. Also in the autumn, after the season had ended, a working
party laid down the concrete bases for the practice nets and cemented in place the framework supports. In December
of 2007 a group of members devised and planned an end of season Christmas Party. The club joined the Maison des
Associations in Catus and the Salle des Fetes was booked for the event. A sumptuous buffet meal was provided by
the sterling efforts of the Christmas party team. Alan Frank, "Frankee", was the DJ for the evening and Alf Tingey
appeared as Father Christmas to the delight of the children.
Excellent feedback was obtained from many of the 130+ guests saying it was one of the best nights they had had for a
long time. Once again a substantial sum was raised towards club funds.
2008
At the club's AGM in January 2008, new Committee members were appointed, including Ginny Bristo as Secretary and
Malcolm Grant as Treasurer. John Monsell was reconfirmed as Captain for the fourth year in a row!
In February a working party erected the steelwork and netting for the two training nets and regular Saturday training
sessions began. The club faces a bright future and already has a full season of League and Friendly matches planned,
some against touring UK sides. We are now playing on "one of the best pitches in the South West of France" as
Mike Gear, President of ACCSO put it after playing on it as a member of Damazan CC in a friendly match at Catus
last September.
Says club President Alan Frank
The club is going from strength to strength. There is a good spirit both on and off the pitch. We provide the
opportunity for people of all ages, abilities and Nationalities to learn, play and enjoy cricket. No one should be
afraid of approaching us no matter how long ago it was that they played (if ever!). I myself played cricket as a boy
up to aged 10 but then there was a 47 year gap until I took up cricket here in France!
We want to have fun together off the pitch too, so as well as our fixture list we are planning a number of social
events during the year. Our first this year is set to be a friendly match and barbecue planned to coincide with the
annual Fete de Catus.
Our biggest problem at the moment is that with the number of extra matches this year we definitely need a bigger pool
of players for selection purposes. With more or less one match a week throughout the season we only need to have a
few players off for us to start experiencing difficulty in turning out 12 players each week. We seriously need more
players and previous talent and experience, though extremely valuable, is not out first concern at the moment.
The main thing is enthusiasm, commitment to the club and a willingness to participate.
With members who have these qualities we can build, with practice, not only a good spirited, congenial, and fun team
to be in, but also a winning team. So if you think you could be interested please get in touch with us straight away?