The First Billericay Beer Festival was a resounding success due in no small part to the hard work of all the volunteers. I would like to thank all the helpers and entertainers for their time and effort. And a special mention to the Lions Club of Billericay whose idea it was to stage the event. They worked tirelessly throughout the event, meeting & greeting, serving & hosting, well done lads your contribution made the event the pleasure it was. The Billericay Lions are a charitable organisation who distribute most of their funds locally click for more information. http://www.billericaylions.com/

As it stands the Ryman Premier Division will run with 23 teams next season. The result of that is each Saturday and at least two of the bank holidays there will be a team without a game. It also means more midweek games and FIVE relegation places. This change from a 22 team division had to be voted through by the member clubs. The Ryman board instructed clubs to vote in favour of the change, all but two voted as instructed and the constitution was changed. Had the vote not gone the board’s way we would have remained with 22 teams and the normal four relegation places. It would have also meant that in order to accommodate Grays, one team from our division would have been relegated and as a consequence, one more from a division below. I don’t know what the current situation is with Grays except for what I read in the press and on various forums. It looks a complicated matter and Grays, as you would expect, are battling hard on behalf of their club. I wouldn’t like to predict where they will end up but wherever it is, I wish them well.

I can report that our pre season is coming along nicely, we have had informal sessions every Wednesday throughout June and the Lads are now in the full swing of a proper pre season training schedule.  There were 22 in last night with 3 still on holiday. I spoke with Criag today and he is very pleased at how hard the lads are working, it’s a gruelling schedule at the moment and everyone is doing all that is asked of them. This Saturday the lads are competing against each other in a superstar’s event that takes place at LA Fitness Billericay and New Lodge.  The competition is 10 events from 11 with 10 points awarded to the winners, 9 for second etc, and jokers available on one chosen event. The competition starts at 10.30 at New Lodge and spectators are both welcome and encouraged. Lunch for the competitors is 2.30 (the bar will be open) and the final few events will take place at LA Fitness.

We won’t be announcing names until we have signed players, I see regularly announcement’s that this player has gone here or there, yet they are, or have trained with us, so until pen is put to paper we will be keeping quiet. But for those who want a sneak preview, why not come along Saturday and encourage the lads in their events. It’s not our intention to trial vast numbers of players. We are only interested in players who want to be at Billericay.

We have had an offer for one of last season players and he seems to go, we expect that deal to be completed later today. Once it’s done we will release the news.

Don’t forget to purchase or sell a draw ticket, the prize is huge compared to the outlay and the more we sell, the better our budget will be.

If you come along Saturday,  I’ll see you there.

Steve