As Gala CC enters its 170th year, we are once again offering a range of sponsorship opportunities for supporters, businesses, organisations and members of the community in 2023.

Sponsorship is available from as little as £20, alongside a range of other offers such as our popular sponsorship boards.

There are a range of benefits from supporting the club, including:

• Complimentary club membership
• Regular coverage on our website, local press and social media channels where we have over 4,000 followers
• Invite to our supporters and sponsors day with complimentary drinks and buffet
• Opportunity to give back to the community and help maintain one of Galashiels’ oldest sports clubs.

If interested please check out our sponsorship brochure below.

Thank you to all who have and continue to support the club.

Ron Murray has become Gala Cricket Club’s latest life member in recognition of his dedication to the club.

Ron was proposed as a life member at the Meigle Park club’s Annual General Meeting on Friday 3 February.

Ron said: “I am honoured to even be considered a life member of Gala Cricket Club.”

Regarded as one of the club’s best ever players, Ron became the first Gala batsman to score over 1,000 runs in a season, in 1970, with the previous best being held by Jim Mercer in 1897.

Also a talented wicketkeeper, Ron was captain over five seasons in three spells, leading Gala to the Border League title and Border KO Cup.

Since retiring Ron has proved many a wise word to young and senior players through coaching and one-to-one sessions in the nets.

He still contributes to the club as a loyal supporter, providing advice and guidance to the club’s players as well as helping maintain Meigle Park’s garden area with wife Kate.

He has also proved a keen cyclist, taking on many a challenge, most recently in 2019 as part of a team containing a number of club members who took part in a 250 miles charity cycle across the Borders.

While Ron was unable to make the AGM, he reflected afterwards: “There is no doubt I feel that I have taken much more from the club than I have given, in terms of friendships made, great experiences, life skills learnt and sheer enjoyment gained from just being involved in the club.

“To my mind, cricket is the best sport for any youngster to be involved in.

“Apart from anything else, the experience of having a good score one week and being out first ball the next, mirrors the ups and downs of life.”

The AGM reflected on a successful 2022 season, with thanks made to all players, members, supporters, sponsors, scorers and volunteers without whom the club wouldn’t exist.

The meeting also looked ahead to its 170th year in 2023, with the following appointments made on the night.

Co-Chairman: Mike Halls and Kenny Paterson; Secretary: Bruce Robertson; Treasurer: Alan Niven.

1st XI captain: Jack Halls; 1st XI vice-captain: Aashiq Rhode; 2nd XI captain: Liam Skeldon; 2nd XI vice-captain: Ross Patterson.

The club is still looking for volunteers who could lend a few hours to help with day-to-day running of the club. Tasks include ground maintenance, assisting with sponsorship or junior section admin, a bar shift during the season, driving a minibus to an away game, or any other skills you could offer the club.

If you can help or would like some further information on what responsibilities would be for a role at club, please contact galacricketclub@gmail.com.

Photo of Ron Murray and David Boland – credit Grant Kinghorn

Indoor training details for coming weeks are now available.

JUNIORS

• Friday 10 February to Friday 31 March
• 7pm to 8pm
• Queens Centre, Galashiels
• £2 per session

SENIORS

• Indoor football – Friday 27 January (7 to 8pm), Thursday 2 and 9 February ( 8pm to 9pm), Queens Centre, Galashiels. £3 per session.
• Nets – Wednesdays 22 February, 1 March, 8 March, 15 March and 29 March, Earlston High. £3 per session.

Please find agenda for Gala Cricket Club’s annual general meeting on Friday 3 February below.

Please note:

• Its taking place in British Legion Clubrooms, not YM, and all are welcome.
• If you have any ideas for general running of club you would like to put forward please submit to galacricketclub@gmail.com before meeting
• The club needs some additional help this season to support and join our small band of volunteers. Doesn’t mean you/they need to come on committee and doesn’t mean need to commit every week – couple of hours every month or even season would be great. Looking for help in particular from anyone who could join a group looking after general ground maintenance.
  In additional anyone who could help with sponsorship, minibus driving, helping with a bar shift, assistance with admin for junior section, social media or any other skills you/friends/family may have which could help the club. If anyone was interested again please contact galacricketclub@gmail.com and come along to AGM.

Gala Cricket Club

Annual General Meeting

At Royal British Legion on Friday, 3 February 2023, commencing at 7.30pm.

British Legion address – 22 Park Street, Galashiels, TD1 1BZ

AGENDA

1. Apologies and welcome
2. Approval of AGM 2022 minutes
3. 2022 report (to be provided at meeting)
4. Treasurer report (to be provided at meeting)
5. Motions (please submit any motions in advance to galacricketclub@gmail.com)

• Life membership nomination
• 2023 membership fees

6. Election of office bearers
7. AOCB

Gala made it four wins in a row with an impressive 109 run triumph over high flying Morton at Meigle Park.

The Braw Lads knew a victory was needed if they were to have any chance of retaining their East of Scotland Championship title.

And Gala produced the goods on the club’s sponsors day, mainly thanks to a dominant batting performance which saw the home side score 273 for 3.

The innings saw overseas amateur Ridwan Khalia score his first hundred for Gala, finishing on 113 off 132 balls, which included eight 4s and three 6s.

He was supported by professional Upul Indrasiri who finished 89 not out as the pair put on 189 for the third wicket.

Captain Josh Irvine scored a quickfire 23 off seven balls to guide Gala to their imposing total.

Best bowler for Morton was Aron with 2 for 66.

Morton were on the backfoot from the start of their innings as Gala kept scoring opportunities to a premium.

There was controversy for the first wicket as Morton contested that a Gala catch had actually been dropped but the decision stood.

Dinesh Tharanga bowled Suresh for 16 to leave Morton 46 for 2, and the visitors were then stopped in their tracks by the tight bowling of Jamie Crooks and Indrasiri.

At 55 for 2 at the halfway stage, Morton tried to play more shots but three wickets for Crooks, thanks in part to two excellent catches by Robbie Paterson and Khalia, left them reeling.

Morton kept battling and eventually made it to 164 before Ash Rhode claimed the wicket of Senthil for 21 to seal a Gala win.

Crooks finished with 3 for 36, Indrasiri 2 for 32, Khalia 2 for 20, Scott Paterson 1 for 11 and Rhode 1 for 29.

The club thanks all sponsors and supporters who took part in fantastic sponsors day on Saturday.

The shining sun and little breeze made for scorching conditions at Meigle Park on Sunday where Dumfries travelled to play Gala in the Scottish T20 South Qualifier, with the winner heading to Stirling for finals day on the 24^th of July. Gala would be put into bat first in what was perfect conditions for cricket with a good wicket prepared and fast outfield.

Gala would open with Khalia and Crooks and the pair would go out hard at the pink ball as they looked to take advantage of there only being two men allowed out of the 30-yard circle. In the early stages the Gala batters managed to find the boundary easily as Crooks found his form attacking the offside whereas Khalia dealt some deadly blows straight back to the bowler. After the powerplay Gala would be 72 for no wickets after 6 overs. Khalia and Crooks would then be made to work hard for their runs as boundaries became hard to come by however Khalia still managed to clear the infield on 2 occasions. Crooks managed to get his release shot through a reverse sweep that ran down the hill for 4 however after this, Khalia would then depart not long after for 66 as he was caught in the deep, setting up Gala nicely at 102 for 1. Indrasiri would join Crooks however it would not last long as Crooks danced down the wicket to Staples who managed to slide one past, bowling Crooks for a supportive 32. Irvine, Eyre and Rhode would all join Indrasiri but all fail to make it to double digits whilst their Sri Lankan partner did the damage at the other end. Dumfries did well to get back into the game as they really slowed up the scoring rate of the home side however, towards the close of the innings Indrasiri found his timing and put the ball to the boundary on multiple occasions as he reached 52 before being bowled by Hobman. Tharanga would be joined by Finlay Rutherford but neither would score with Finlay Rutherford being run out on the last ball with Gala posting 179 for 7 wickets.

Harris Rutherford was on top form again with ball in hand as he found his line and length early on, managing to bowl Adid with the score on 2 and then strike again with the score on 24 as he bowled Thornely for 6. Dinesh Tharanga showed his class with ball in hand as he had Van Zyl caught behind by Khalia for 14 with the visitors struggling at 33 for 3. Crooks and Indrasiri would then pair up once again to attack the batters with spin from either end. Crooks managed to take two wickets in his first over, bowling McGrath and then Smit mistiming a cut shot to Indrasiri at backward point. Indrasiri then grabbed a wicket for himself as well as a run out before Crooks took the 8^th wicket and his third. Robbie Paterson had a chance of a wicket as McCutcheon looked to go big in the final overs however, he was put down in the deep by Crooks running into a difficult chance. No other wickets fell despite Paterson and Rhode’s best efforts meaning Dumfries fell short of the Gala total, scoring 125 for 8 after their 20 overs.

The win means Gala will travel to Stirling on the 24^th of July, returning to finals day again along with Forfarshire, with the Edinburgh and West qualifiers still to be played. The club will run a coach up to support the team so if you can, the boys would love your support! The 1^st team are next in action when they welcome Morton to Meigle Park on Sponsors day next Saturday.