Club Skipper Darren Wright to Stand Down

Club captain Darren Wright has decided to stand down from the role after four years but is looking to continue playing to support the bid to regain Premier League status. Darren took on the role for the 2006 season from Phil Greaves when the 1st XI were in Division A of the South Notts Cricket league. He recalls that the first season had some tough moments “At mid-season, we were in the relegation zone but we put together a winning run that started and ended at Collingham; we lost at their ground and that finished our hopes for promotion that year. In my second year, we achieved promotion but only played 9 of the scheduled 18 games due to the appalling weather that year. We didn’t lose a game and sealed promotion with game to spare.

“The team that won promotion was moulded by my predecessor Phil; they were a team mainly in their late 20s/early 30s and were just peaking. It was obvious however that the Premier League is a young man’s game and we have seen a number of Plumtree youngsters come to the fore and succeed, culminating in Ben Storey’s magnificent century against League Champions Clifton and Jurgen Charlesworth’s outstanding 40 wickets for the season. The 1st XI we have fielded this year has been the youngest in my six years at the club.

When asked for the highlight and lowlight matches during his reign, Darren is quick to respond “The winning draw away at Kimberley last year is the highlight – every bowling and fielding change seemed to make something happen; this match was closely followed by the game that secured promotion against Long Eaton the previous year.

“The worst game would undoubtedly be a Popkess Cup game in my first season – we won but the result was reversed when it was confirmed that we had picked an ineligible player. In my defence, we did have to put out two sides that day because of National Village cup tie but I got it wrong!”

Playing and captaining the side in the Premier League has also been an ongoing highlight “There are many outstanding players that we have played against including household names likes Stuart Law, Philip DeFreitas and Darren Bicknell; but most sides in the League have had three or four top players – pros, overseas players and quality club players. It’s a very good standard of cricket.”

“The best thing about Plumtree through is the spirit within the club; even in this most difficult of seasons, the spirit and attitude have been first class. It’s during tough times that character really shows. Dallas Coull is without doubt the biggest character I have had the pleasure of sharing a changing room with, closely followed by Rob ‘Gnome’ Ferley and Michael “Sticklebrick’ Tew. Kevin O’Brien has also been great to have within the team.

Darren is not giving up on either Plumtree or cricket though, just because he is no longer going to be captain “My aim for 2010 is to slip back into the ranks and earn my place in the 1st XI by making runs and maybe the occasional wicket. My form on Sundays this year has been good without the yoke of captaincy and I want to carry that on and help the team compete in Division A and hopefully regain our Premier League status.”

Club Chairman Mark Oldham said “Darren has been a terrific club captain both on and off the field and his leadership will be missed; he played a critical role in the development of the 1st XI and his input has been crucial to gaining and retaining Premier League status. I am sure all club members will wish to join me in thanking me for the tremendous effort and time that he put into the role and we all look forward to seeing him piling on the runs in 2010.”
A new club captain will be elected at the Annual General Meeting.