16/10/2025
Message to My Juniors
Hi everyone,
I wanted to share some personal news with you all. After much thought and reflection, I have decided to step away from my volunteer role at the cricket club. This has not been an easy decision and it is one of the hardest I have had to make, but I feel it is the right time for me to move on.
Working with you all has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Seeing how far you have come, from those first uncertain nets to confident performances on the field, has been nothing short of inspiring.
Watching youngsters join us through the All Stars programme when they were knee high, and now seeing many of them well into their teens, stronger in every sense and thriving as amazing young people, fills me with real pride. The smiles, the friendships, and those moments of progress in training and matches are memories I will always hold onto.
I want you to know that every session, every match, and every word of encouragement came from a place of genuine pride and belief in your potential. Each of you has brought something special to the club, your energy, humour, and determination, and that is what made being part of this journey so meaningful.
As for me, I am not entirely sure where my coaching journey will take me next, or if I will continue straight away. What I do know is that the direction things were moving in no longer aligned with the vision I had for how cricket in Blyth could continue to grow and stand proudly on its own.
My hope has always been to create lasting opportunities for young players to learn, develop, and feel a true sense of belonging. I still believe in that vision wholeheartedly, and I hope it continues to shine through in the years ahead.
To the parents and families who have supported week in and week out, thank you. Your commitment, patience, and encouragement have helped build something truly positive for these youngsters, and it has been a privilege to be part of that.
I also want to recognise some of the volunteers and parents/guardians who have been instrumental in keeping grassroots cricket alive at the club.
Alan Raffell, Paul Roper, Scott Earle, Steve Black, Mark Freeman, James Morton, Andy Clark, Hannah Finnigan, Hennie Mills, Colin Bassam, Phil Kinnair, Bob Beckwith, and many others have all played vital roles in ensuring we could provide opportunities for every junior at BCC.
Apologies if I have missed anyone, as there have been so many people who, often without much credit, have helped this section thrive for more than a decade since our juniors section was created.
A very special thank you must go to the Gregorio family for their incredible support, especially Dom, who has been a huge help over the years. He has gone above and beyond to ensure that not just our juniors, but the wider Blyth community, received the support needed to make things happen.
And finally, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to my own children, Jasmine, Kassia, and Sachin, who have each been part of this journey in their own way.
Jasmine gave me one of my proudest moments as a parent when she took six wickets for just fourteen runs against Shropshire in her final match for Northumberland County Under 15s.
Kassia’s love of the pull and hook shot, which she may well have inherited from her uncle Paul, brought such joy every time the ball sailed over the boundary.
And Sachin, who has captained our Under 15s for the past couple of seasons, leading his team to a cup win and joint league leaders this year, has shown real maturity and calmness under pressure. Watching the player and person he is becoming fills me with immense pride and happiness.
I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together. This has been about far more than cricket, it has been about teamwork, growth, and friendships that I hope will last well beyond the boundary rope.
Thank you all for allowing me to be part of your cricketing journey. You have given me far more than I could ever give back. Remember, let your cricket do the talking!
If anyone has photos from over the years that capture your children’s time with the Bobcats or moments from our sessions and matches, please feel free to share them in the comments. It would be lovely to see and celebrate some of those memories together.
With very best wishes,
Surj
