By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE
TAVISTOCK chairman Dave Manning has warned his senior playing squad it will need more than an overseas player on board to turn the club’s fortunes round next season.
Tavvy flirted with relegation for most of the 2021 season in the A Division and ended up as the second side to go down with doomed Cullompton.
Tavistock did not engage either an overseas player or a professional in 2021 which, Manning admits, may have contributed to being relegated.
An overseas player is on the agenda for the summer of 2022, but Manning believes it will take more than one player to get the club back into the A Division at the first attempt.
“If you look back to 2019, the last proper season we had, Dylan Aucamp came over from South Africa and did pretty well for us,” said Manning.
“Dylan took 28 wickets, which we did expect, and scored 500-plus runs which was a bonus as he came over as a bowler really.
“Did we miss that sort of input last season? Yes. But we also missed the benefits of having someone who knows what they are doing around the club with the players between matches.
“Would we have stayed up last season had we had an overseas player? Almost certainly that is a yes too. But it wasn’t just that we did not have an overseas player.
“We went through a run of games mid season against the likes of Bradninch, Barton and Budleigh that we lost narrowly by a couple of runs or a couple of wickets.
“Had we just won one of those games we would have stayed up...
“You find a level your commitment keeps you at, which is why we are where we are next season.
“I would like us to go straight back up. We will be going down the road off having an overseas player, but without more contributions from the rest of the team we won’t get out of what is a very competitive division.”
Tavistock’s recent annual meeting voted Manning back in as chairman for a seventh year. Also re-elected was first team captain Shaun Daymond, who replaced Manning as skipper in 2012 and is still there.
Mark Lewis has relinquished the 2ndXI captaincy to concentrate on his other role as youth coach.
“Thanks to the success of our All Stars and Dynamos youth programmes we are hoping to enter at least one side and possibly two in the West Devon Youth League,” said Manning.
The second team will have dual captains for 2021 in Marc Webber and Brett Thomas.
- Tavistock are looking for a permanent groundsman to replace long-serving Bob Newton, who has retired from the job. Chairman Manning is keen to hear from anyone interested in the role. To discuss responsibilities and fees contact Manning on 07855 224773, or drop him an email at dgmanning@hotmail.co.uk
