Wick summers & Club Day

Summer is a glorious time. Cricket, sunshine (most of the time), mates, and laughs.

It's difficult to pick out one day that is the highlight of this glorious time of year, but most Wickmen (and ladies) would probably pick Club Day as the day they look forward to most. Tour is when silly season hits fever pitch, but Club Day defines a season.

So what is Club Day I hear you cry?

Well, it's when the whole club come together to celebrate the Wick as one big family. There is a 6-a-side tournament, which although ultimately friendly is never lacking competitive edge. Every wannabe skipper secretly craves the accolades that comes with winning the prestigious Wick 6s. It's a chance to pit your skills against the whole club, and our sister club the Crossbats.

It's a time for the whole Wick family not just the seniors trying to smash each other out the ground. Colts, families, friends and absolute ringers all come together at the glorious Wick ground to share and enjoy their cricket club over a glass or two (lemonade for the colts).

Dave Fudge the club's resident DJ, gives the games a 20/20 feel with all the players walking into bat with their signature theme tune... My favourite is Bloomy's - The Adams Family.

Sir Jim Dowler (he is definitely a Lord of the Realm down at the Wick) does the BBQ, and there are never any empty stomachs.

And then of course there is the annual stunt. This might be someone getting stitched up, or something to amuse the crowd. My personal favourite was Joe Ewen, Matt Davies and Dom Lowns a few years ago.

Picture the season. The Wick ground is bathed in sunshine, and the crowd are basking in its golden glow, whilst watching a crucial semi-final. Then, from the Millennium Wood emerges a dark figure. He scampers on to the pitch and steals the stumps mid-game. What were we to do? Fear and bemusement set in as everyone feared the tournament may have been sabotaged.

But there was never any need to fear - as from out of the trees emerged Batman and Robin (Joey and Matt dressed in tights with bin bags for capes). They gave chase. People held their breath and chewed finger nails. Could our caped crusaders save Club Day? Well... of course they did, and unmasked the mystery stump uprooter... none other that Dom Lowns... worryingly he is now Club Treasurer...

Club Day was saved for another year and everyone keenly awaits 2007. What surprises are install for the people of The Wick this year... I wonder?