LEADING BY EXAMPLE
Interview with Alex Moors
by Chris Knowles

Clarence’s 2nd XI captain Alex Moors is currently preparing for what is hoped to be another great season for the club. The 25-year-old Emley bowler, whose finest achievements include the successes of last year, tells me a little bit about himself and his background with the club.

When did you first start playing cricket for Emley Clarence?

It would have been 15 years ago now. I started off in the under-13s when I was ten years old. I was introduced to it through the lads I played football with who were already playing cricket. I’d say that football was my first sport but I went along to the Emley sessions and became addicted to the game.

Did you progress through the junior set-up?

Yes I did. From the under-13s I moved up through 15s and 17s and by the time I was 15 or 16 years old I was playing regularly in the 2nd XI.

Did you find that there was quite a step up from the under-17s to the 2nd XI?

Yes, a massive step up. Especially when you take into consideration the junior set-up was not as structured as it is now. I’d say that the kids coming through today’s juniors will have a better chance and find it a lot easier to make that jump.

Is Emley the only club you’ve played for?

The only time I ever played for another team was the season when I was about 13 or 14 years old and we didn’t have a full junior team so I played for Lascelles Hall. In addition to that, when I started at university I didn’t play at all that year for one reason or another but I realised how much I missed it and came back the following year!

You were 2nd XI captain last year - is that something which you’re confident of retaining?

I think I’ve just been voted in again this year! It was something which was done recently and I think I was unopposed to retain it. We had a really good season last year and I really enjoyed it so I’m looking forward to doing the same again.

Have you ever played for the 1st XI?

Yes I have I played a few games for them when I was about 18 or 19, when they were in the old Central League. I’d say I got a chance; unfortunately for me they stepped up a level and brought a few new players in. Obviously, I’d never turn down the chance to play for the 1st XI again but I think I’m comfortable where I am now.

You’re on the committee at Emley - presumably that’s something which you enjoy?

Even before I was made captain last year I was part of the committee and I must have been for about four or five years now. I think they wanted to bring somebody younger into the set-up to act as a spokesperson and I quite enjoy doing that.

And finally, what are your main interests outside of the game?

I play a lot of football for the local team, Shelley FC, and I enjoy keeping fit, going to the gym and so on. I hope to be doing the Great North Run this year if I can make it round; it may turn into the Great North Walk!

In your opinion, what are the strongest aspects of the club?

An obvious strong point is the togetherness of the whole club. The 1st XI comprises of nine or ten local players and lads who have grown up in the village. There’s definitely no other club like that in the Drakes League and it works in our advantage of course because it’s easier to get wives, girlfriends, families etc. involved in the running of the club. The ground and the set-up is a definite strong point. Personally I think we’re in the top five or six grounds in the league; that’s in terms of the pitch and also outfield. If we could improve the pavilion, which we’re in the process of doing, it will allow us to progress even further.’

And has there been any progress with the extension of the clubhouse?

We’ve obtained planning permission and have the designs in place. The extension will be sideways out from where the pavilion is at the minute, so it will come into where the car park is now and it’ll be built into two floors with a balcony. The only issue now is finding the money!

Similarly, are there any stand-out weaknesses or areas of improvement?

Since we’ve moved into the Drakes League, and it is a better level now, the communication across the whole club could be improved. The juniors have got bigger, the set-up has expanded and I think this is an area we definitely need to recover. The improvements in the junior set-up have been undeniable but it is only recently that this aspect of the club has been perceived in this positive way. Nevertheless, for the first time, the junior set-up will not accommodate the under-17s age group in the forthcoming season, due to a number of reasons but namely a lack of participation. This could potentially upset the rhythm of retention of younger players who are usually nurtured through to the 2nd XI via this age category.

How much will this have an effect on the 2nd team?

I had a few chances last year where I could have picked some players from the under-15s but there’s such a gap and I felt it would be overwhelming for these younger players coming through. If we had an under-17s, it would bridge that gap. It’s still, of course, a big step but I’d be much happier bringing players through from the under-17s, for their own safety more than anything. These things are relative though and I don’t think there’s any stand-out weaknesses. I think the club’s heading in the right direction.
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