Far From The MCC

~ Est. in 1998 ~

Mad News

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“2012 Norfolk Tour!”

The Mad’s 2012 has now been revealed as to being hosted in Norfolk. Matches will be contested from the 9^th to the 12^th of August. Can all interested parties please contact either Dave Emerson or Ian Howarth in due course, so the necessary arrangements can be made for travel and accommodation.

The trip will allow us to reacquaint ourselves with our good friends from the Saxlingham Gents, and hopefully make new friends from Happisburgh CC and Marlingford CC.

“2012 Nets!”

Time to dust off your kit bags and work off that winter lard. Net sessions are to be shared with the OU Offices, OUP and any other hopeless casuals who aren’t put off by pulled hamstrings, torn rotator cuffs, broken fingers etc…. Usual venue is Oxford School, Barracks Lane, just off Glanville Road, Cowley Road (same as the previous fourteen decades)….

Nesting is £4 per head and times on the Sundays are thus:

Sunday 26th Feb 2012 – 9.00 to 10.00
Sunday 4th , 11th, 18th and 25th March – 13.00 to 14.30
Sunday 1st April – 13.00 to 14.30

Please note the KILLER time of the first net! This is a gauntlet laid down to the club’s T20 Skipper!

“2011 AGM!”

The Far From The MCC’s 2011 annual general meeting was held at the Fir Tree, Oxford on the slightly earlier date of 22^nd of October. It was the usual fare whereby the club’s future was mapped out over the course of the evening as the team got leathered.

T20 Captain Fantastic.

To read up on the minutes of a very well attended meeting, please navigate to the “Miscellaneous” section of the website > “Social Events”, where you will find the details along with various photos from the evening.

“Broad Gets Batting Tips!”

Fresh faced England all-rounder Stuart Broad was only too happy to take on words of encouragement and expertise from Mad rabbit, Gareth Timms, in a chance encounter at an American Football match. Said Broad, “…even if I held the bat the wrong way up I couldn’t possibly be as crap as this fellow! Eight ducks in a season – and two of them in one game!?”

“2011 Southsea Tour!”

The Mad’s 2011 tour to Southsea, Portsmouth and surrounding areas of Hampshire was a roaring success. All 3 matches went to the final over, and the team almost won a game….

Many thanks once again to James bla-bla Hoskins for organising the bla-bla trip, and to all those guys who participated in making it so enjoyable for all those concerned. For details and photos relating to the tour, please navigate to the usual place in the “Match Reports” section of the website.

“2011 Season Starts!”

The FFTMCC’s 2010 cricket season has now gotten underway, and the match reports, fines and various other bits and bobs can be found in the usual place on the website.

“2010 Lyme Regis Tour!”

The Mad’s 2010 tour to Sidmouth and surrounding areas in Devon was a great success, especially if you discount any of the cricket results.

Many thanks once again to James Hoskins for organising the trip, and to all those guys who participated in making it so enjoyable for all those concerned. For details and photos relating to the tour, please navigate to the usual “Match Reports” section of the website where you’ll also find various Inspectorates.

“Stan is back!”

‘Stan’ James has never had a punt. Ever. Honestly.

Fantasy Cricket returns for the Mad in the shape of more convoluted formulas and equations from our ex-skipper; which allows us all to indulge in gambling on ourselves as we navigate another season with wood and a cherry. Please find all the details in the “Fantasy Cricket” area.

“Far From The Wembley Stadium!”

Not content with embarrassing themselves at cricket most Sunday’s, The Far From The MCC staked a claim in an Oxfordshire 5-a-side football league during the winter of 2009/10. The tournament proved an unmitigated disaster, but much like the Tetsworth cricket thumping of late summer, many amusing memories with be retained.

For a fuller review of the tournament and statistics thereof, they can be found in the usual place in the “Miscellaneous > Social Events” section of the website.

“Louth Tour!”

The Far From the MCC 2009 tour to Louth, Lincolnshire proved a massive success, and the team even registered a win. The weather was great, the hosts were delightful, and the booze never stopped flowing. A huge thanks to Steve Parkinson for organising the trip, and even more thanks in avoiding playing for us for the most part. Match reports, scorecards and fines can be found in the usual place among the “Match Report” section. And yes, that is Claire Taylor of England’s all conquering women’s cricket team above – the proud recipient of one of our own best selling books. Apologies for the clown in the background.

“Mumbles Tour!”

A photo of Jake at Whitland CC which somehow symbolised the tour.

Despite the truly shocking August weather, the Mad’s 2008 tour of the Mumbles in South Wales was a great success. It goes without saying that we never won a game, but at least we played a few games! Many thanks to Nick Hebbes for organising the trip, and commiserations to Matt Bullock who missed out as he was sat on the toilet all weekend! Reports and other particulars from the trip can be found in the usual place among the “Match Report” section.

“Mad Book Launch!”

The Far From The MCC officially launched their own book at the club’s 10 year celebration (Decadilly Day) on Saturday 9^th, August 2008. For details about the book (“Not at This Level”) and how to obtain a copy – please navigate to the link “History / Book”. And of if you know anybody (yes, anybody) who maybe interested in a copy please please tell them! We have costs to recoup!

A Mad collective celebrate in the… pub.

It goes without saying that the day itself passed without a ball being bowled – despite the fact that four teams were slated to compete in a Twelve12 knockout tournament at Jesus College…. It started raining from 11:00 onwards and got steadily worse as the day progressed; so players decamped to the Marsh Harrier pub instead (to get pissed). At least the books remained dry!

Many thanks to James Hoskins for his tireless work in organising the day – sorry it didn’t quite work out, dude! Please note that the Club Poet was on hand to scribble his musings of the day, and of course these can be found in the “Miscellaneous” section of the website – “Morler’s Poetic Corner”.

“Eastbourne Tour!”

Despite the alarmist view that only old people holiday in Eastbourne awaiting their predictable demise, the Mad enjoyed a successful 2007 tour of the region and even managed to return without any deaths themselves.

The Red Arrows entertained the dying on the Eastbourne seafront.

Many thanks to James Hoskins for organising the trip – especially the match he underwrote against Worthing CCC where a South African youngster was unleashed on us bowling in excess of 80mph! Reports and other particulars from the trip can be found in the usual place among the “Match Report” section.

“Pembroke Floods!”

With most of England submerged under the summer floodwaters, the groundsman Kev braved the waters with his fishing wellies and snapped the scenes down at our home of Pembroke College Sports Ground. Needless to say the game against Wootton & Bladon was called off on the Sunday 22^nd, July 2007….

“The Mad Invade Lords!”

Steve Parkinson was most at home with the snobs of Lords.

Friday, July the 6^th 2007 saw the Far From The MCC finally celebrate a successful Social Day - under the careful supervision of new Club Secretary, N. Hebbes. The day comprised of getting totally sloshed in London and watching a Twenty20 extravaganza at the home of cricket. A full report from the day, and pictures thereof, can be found in the “Miscellaneous” section of this website. Well done, Nick – I’m sure you enjoyed every minute of looking after the club’s irresponsible children….

“Moo Boy is now THE MAN!?”

Martin Westmoreland followed up his unbeaten knock of 106 against Hanney CC, to post a new individual high scoring record of 109 not out against the Oxford University Offices. Congratulations to him, and because of his innings(s), he is now The Man to beat - or at least he would have been if G. Littlechild hadn’t hit 117 not out against Hanney CC a few weeks later, and I. Howarth hadn’t hit 112 a year after that.

“Minehead Tour!”

The Far From The MCC made it a hat-trick of visits to Minehead in 2005, and also enjoyed some great coastal weather. Despite winning only 33.3333333333% of their matches, it was deemed a huge success with many wonderful highlights.

Amongst the many happy memories, the iconic imagery of T. Smith’s campervan doubling as a scoreboard at Watchet CC will remain with us for many years to come. Time advances, but the team will one day return….

“Mad Return to Minehead!”

After a successful and highly enjoyable tour to the Minehead region of Somerset in 2003, the team returned in 2004 where they enjoyed a 75% winning ratio of matches played. One of the standout performances was by J. Hotson, who managed to juggle a kettle of boiling hot water whilst utterly inebriated at four in the morning….

The team bathed in glorious sunshine for much of the trip, and made full use of it by spending most of the time off the pitch in the pubs.

“Rock Hard”

Australian import, and dark-thought harbouring novelist, Antony Mann, proved that using your face against hostile bowling whilst netting at Pembroke was definitely the way forward. Quoted after butting a rising delivery in the direction of a vacant mid-on area, he added “you soft pommy bastards ain’t got shit – bring it on.”

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