Captain - Mr Cyril Lindsay

Cricket trip to Bangkok

The cricket team embarked on their annual pilgrimage to Bangkok to participate in the 28th RBSC 6s. Our club must have taken part in at least 20 of these events and this year under the able leadership of Aman Sondhi, armed with a star studded team of current IPL players and state legends, we were determined to win for the first time. The best we had ever achieved was becoming cup runners up in 1999. Both our teams did well at the group stage with the “A” team being the stand out team in the tournament. Sadly, an upset win at the hands of Kowloon Cricket Club at the quarter finals stage knocked out our fancied team and spoilt the chance of an all CCFC semi final in the cup. The “B” team spurred on by player of the tournament Harshveer Singh and by spirited support from the rest of the team went on to shock all and sundry and enter the finals of the cup, giving the club some hope of a first win ever. We however ran into the defending champions “Young Starlets” from Gujarat who meant business from ball one. In spite of giving our best, we came well short. Harshveer made us all proud winning the “player of the tournament” and winning the award for “maximum sixes”. There was a lot of camaraderie and fun among the players and a scrumptious team dinner on the final night was enjoyed by the entire touring party. Apart from winning laurels on the cricket field, a certain member of the touring party took the most happening nightclub in Bangkok (Bed Supper Club) by storm with his patent dance moves drawing applause and cheers from all around, and even attracting the most attractive dance partner to join him. No prizes for guessing who the “Badsha” of the dancefloor was. The entire cricket team joins me in thanking Aman and his section bearers for a most enjoyable trip.

Season Report

The season came to end on 8th May, 2012. We lost to Punjab Sports 0-4. In the play-offs against Port Trust we lost 1-2 and drew with CESC 1-1, thus ending up at 4th position as compared to 3rd last year. We played a total of 13 matches in the league ( before the Play-offs), winning 9, losing 2 and drawing 2. We would like to point out that during the play-offs, we missed the services of 3 of our best players, who had to leave for state selection trials and two of our players sustained injuries in 1st play-off against CESC . We were left with only one player on the bench and had to play with only local players.

Hockey, as a sport, unfortunately no longer receives the necessary support from members and Corporates inspite of the best effort of your Committee.   The two teams from our Club, the pro team and the Gremlins played in the Super Division and the First Division Group B of BHA with a lot of success.  Matches were played both in the Maidan and Ballygunge grounds, unfortunately with very little support from the Club members.  The Club continued its endeavour to promote hockey in the State in the form of Bengal 6’s tournament which had approximately 500 participants and about 30 school teams taking part.  Beighton Cup and BHA league matches were played on our grounds.  Captain Dinyar Mucadum  and his team ably guided the Section.

CCFC Gremils Wins the Senior Division Title.

The Bengal Open Hockey 6’s ( held every year around the last week of Jan & latest upto the 2nd week in Feb)
The Bengal Open 6’s was started with a hope that it would provide our national sport, hockey, a boost in the arm and provide a platform to promote it more vigorously. The mood is more of a carnival and the 2 day festival start from 9am in the morning & continues up to 5 pm in the evening. The event blends the school children & the super division players together in one arena. The children witness a very high standard of skills of the seniors from close quarters and this helps them in trying to emulate them. It also inspires them to strive to get to greater heights.

We also wanted to showcase the fact that hockey is still a very vibrant sport in our schools & with proper backing, it could put India back on the map of international sports. Hockey has such a strong base in our country, refining it to suit modern times, by providing the proper infrastructure & opportunity, could easily result in India once again becoming Olympic gold medal winners again.

In the first edition we had around 48 teams & this has slowly gone up to 63. Most times, more than half the participating teams are from schools. Proper care is taken of all the teams who are provided with adequate food packets, regular fillips of tea & a constant supply of fresh water. The changing facilities are also better than the ones available on the maidaan and this further boosts the image of the event.

This event is rated as the most popular & best managed event in Hockey in the eastern region. Players, coaches & umpires start enquiring about the dates from early December itself.

The event is managed by some of our key members and we have the support of the Bengal Hockey Association. Select referees from both the BHA panel and our members provide a well balanced team to ensure good standard of umpiring, which is automatically beneficial for the encouragement of the sport. The referees are paid well and provided with decent kit making it a special event & therefore eager volunteers.

To make the winner proud, special attention is also paid to the quality of the awards/medals. The PA system frequently announces the schedules and ensures that the games run as per schedule. A central shamiana provides relief to the referees between games.