A cricket winter is a long time, essentially September – February if you include indoor nets (that started this week), or til April if your version of the game is exclusively outdoors. The shortest day in December does feel like a tipping point to brighter (and wetter) days ahead though. But while you’ve all been snuggled up in your winter blankets and finding your winter fitness regime – Hockey (at the Vale!), Netball, Padel (for me) or just prolonged evenings on the sofa (also for me), the many volunteers at the club have been busy getting ready for the glorious Summer of 2026. Despite a few inevitable setbacks, things have been progressing well at the Deane, so here is an update on what’s happening behind the scenes in getting ready for long hot days in the Summer Sun.

Clubhouse – Many of the club legends (or old gits as they call themselves) have been spending hours re invigorating the bar area and changing rooms with a new coat of paint, a new honours board and the planned introduction of a trophy/memento cabinet. Barry Jones has been leading the team and no doubt trying to avoid the anxiety of the inevitable Wales 6 Nations thrashing this weekend at the hands of the mighty English. Much debate about colours but expect a new shade of green when you arrive this year. We are talking to Blagdon about possibly redecorating the home changing room there as well, to a Deane Green.

Users of the changing rooms will also remember the sinking feeling as they entered and the occasional thrill of feeling like you might at any point plummet into a sinkhole below you. Well this particular adrenaline filled moment has been removed and Pete Barton has worked hard to produce a lovely smooth and solid floor (now for the committee debate on carpet colours).

This newly laid floor looked like a risky investment a week ago as Storm Chandra threatened to ruin all his hard work and we woke up on Monday morning to the incredible site of the ground being under 3 feet of water, the water had enveloped the ground and was above the level of the steps on the patio and only waders were adequate equipment if you wanted to reach the clubhouse.

As of today the waters have receded and Pete and the grounds team are analysing the best way to remove the flotsam and Jetsam left behind. Up until this point the new work done at the end of the season had definitely shown some improvements to the amount of surface water on the ground but Storm Chandra was too much for most of Somerset and certainly had us beat.

On the playing side we applied for support from the Tony Coles trust for a grant towards the purchase of 2 new outdoor batting cages. The proposed cages will be 3.5m longer than the existing ones, higher and crucially designed for purpose with pushing bars attached and 6 (yes 6, not 2) swivel wheels that will make them much easier to move around and less prone to damage. Making them longer will also increase their safety.

We were delighted to receive a swift and positive response to the grant application and we should see 2 new batting cages growing on the outfield in April.

As I write this, the clubhouse painting continues and the ground is bathed in a warm sunshine, the waters have receded for now and the hope of Cricket in around 60 days means time to get my large backside to the nets this weekend and see if I can grab a place in the newly formed sixth team. Thanks to all who have been helping to re-energise our facilities, more news soon on a major upgrade we hope to secure for the changing areas.

Martyn Salt.