Willoughby Cricket Club’s Annual General Meeting on Monday saw a change of Saturday captaincies with Ben Hollis and Badj Rahman set to lead the club on Saturdays this coming season.

Ben was the unanimous choice to take over the Saturday 1st XI captain’s role, with Badj equally coming into the Saturday 2nd XI berth.

The club’s main official capacities see little change with Brian Hall continuing as Chairman, Matt Goss in for a further term as Secretary, and Eric Palmer continuing as both Club President and also Treasurer; the latter for what will be Eric's 53rd consecutive year in the role.

The significant changes at the club come with senior/adult cricket.
Hollis, 22, first joined the club as an 11 year old and having come through the club junior and youth ranks it is quite fitting he will now will lead the club’s 1st XI for their return into the South Northants Cricket League’s Premier Division, having been the overwhelming choice of the players and members in a vote against last year’s incumbent Simon Nicholls.

Rahman may have only joined the club six years ago but in that time has established himself as a steady and reliable top order batsman. He was unopposed as the new Saturday 2nd XI captain, and together with his vice-captain Ryan Perry and Hollis they have indicated one of several objectives is to give youth its chance by integrating the club’s blossoming young talent more into Saturday league cricket, in tandem once again with the club’s Sunday friendly XI which will again be led by Karl Quinney.

Nicholls did manage to hold onto the Wednesday XI captaincy in a vote-off with Sean Thornton.

Where junior and youth cricket is concerned, Quinney will manage the club’s Under 15s, Ian Button will oversee the Under 11s and Under 13s, whilst a new addition for this season will see the club field an Under 14 team in the Warwickshire Youth Cricket League, which will be managed by Rob Cartridge.

Another significant announcement at Willoughby's AGM came in the shape of former player and captain Neal Hallam being deservedly honoured by the club as a Life Member.

List of appointments for 2018 season are:

• Chairman: Brian Hall
• President: Eric Palmer
• Secretary: Matt Goss
• Treasurer: Eric Palmer
• Membership: Graham Hallam
• Fixture Secretary: Karl Quinney

Senior/adult cricket

• Saturday 1st XI Captain: Ben Hollis
• Saturday 2nd XI Captain: Badj Rahman
• Sunday XI Captain: Karl Quinney
• Wednesday XI Captain: Simon Nicholls

Junior/youth cricket management

• Under 15 Manager: Karl Quinney
• Under 14 Manager: Rob Cartridge
• Under 13 Manager: Ian Button
• Under 11 Manager: Ian Button
• Kwik Cricket: Matt Goss