BYFLEET’S Sam Coyne says they are overcoming the challenges caused by the pandemic – and he expects the seniors to challenge for promotion from the Shepherd Neame Surrey County League 1st XI Premier this year.

Coyne, who is in his second season skippering the 1st XI, told the News & Mail: “As a club, we really struggled after COVID. But we’ve managed to get some players back, we’ve got new players in, and finally it feels, with availability, we’re at a point where we can really push on and contend. 

“We’ve now got seven bowlers who could walk into any team elsewhere – we’re really strong in that respect. 

“And we bat deep. So from our perspective, anything less than promotion would be a bit of a shame.” 

Last season, the 1st XI finished third in the table thanks to victory over Merrow on the final day.

Coyne said: “Last year was very tight. We know the league’s hard to get out of, but we enjoy it. 

“We turn up on a Saturday and we try to beat every team. We’ve got a great spirit, great character. And we’ve probably got the best team bond we’ve had in a long time, which is really positive.

“The last couple of years were really tough at the club [during and right after COVID]. But now we’re starting to find a real bit of momentum and we’ve got a great community here.

“And to have that strength as a club in a village like this is brilliant, when you consider you’ve got Weybridge up the road and Woking & Horsell the other way. 

“It’s tough to compete with clubs of that size. But we’ve got our own little spirit, our own little village, and we punch well above our weight.”

On his role as captain, Coyne, who is currently out injured, said: “I do love it and that’s why I’m desperately trying to get back to playing.

“But I take confidence from knowing there are 10 other blokes aside from me who can captain the team. I think I’m more of the voice, but there’re fantastic cricketers and leaders in the team, and I trust every one of them. 

“Our volunteers deserve a shout-out too, because they’re all fantastic to the club and do a great job and help us to just play cricket. 

“And that’s a massive help when you’re trying to concentrate on what goes on out on the pitch. 

“It’s like one big family here, and there’s a collective spirit that runs from off the pitch to on it – and that’s us down to a tee.”

Byfleet’s Parvis Road ground has hosted cricket since 1876.

The club’s ground manager, and now a part-time player, is Malcolm Denham. 

He joined the club in 1974 and has since played more than 1,400 matches for them.

Denham said: “The biggest change is the motorway [the nearby M25]. That wasn’t there until the mid-1980s – and before it was built, you could hear birds signing in the trees. It depends on the wind direction, but on a normally westerly wind direction, the motorway is quite loud and off-putting – but we’ve got used to it.  

“The ground was left to the cricket club by Frederick Cornelius Stoop [who died in 1934].

“He was a local businessman who bequeathed this ground to the cricket club, at a nominal rent, as long as cricket is played here. 

“He lived at West Hall, which has now been developed. He was Dutch and was involved in oil. He was the centre of the cricket club, basically [Stoop was Byfleet’s president from 1896 to 1932].”

Another key member of the club who has a long association with them is Sam Crabtree. He is standing in as 1st XI captain.

Crabtree said: “I was raised here, really. My dad played here for many years and was the chairman. My brother played here too, and now my kids come down. It’s always been a family club. 

“Dad used to saw his bats in half for my brother and I. We’d get a little tennis ball, and anywhere we were we’d always have a ball in our hands.”

Crabtree – who has played more than 350 senior games for Byfleet, having made his debut in 2005 – wants to see more younger players coming through the ranks at grassroots level.

He said: “Lots of young cricketers also play football, and there are so many football tournaments that go into the cricket season now. 

“I was different. As soon as the cricket season started, I stopped playing football. But that was because I was raised at the cricket club.”

Asked how you get youngsters to stay in cricket, Crabtree said: “One of our players is a PE teacher. He’s always suggesting to his school that the children need to be playing more cricket. 

“We could do some leaflets and send them out to local schools, because it’s going to be the kids who keep village clubs going. We [the older players] can’t go on for ever – so for this club to keep going, we have to get that new influx of people.”

Byfleet’s overseas player, South African all-rounder Riley Coutts, 25, is in his second season with the club. And he has some tips for young players keen to improve their game. 

Coutts, who hit 704 runs and took 46 wickets last season, said: “Focus on your fielding. People say it’s the worst part of cricket – they don’t like doing that – but if you can enjoy your fielding, you’ll enjoy the game of cricket.

“Have fun on the field because you do that for two thirds of the game anyway – so if you want to enjoy your cricket, enjoy your fielding first.

“And protect your wicket. Most people at the moment aren’t able to stay in long enough. They’re always thinking about the strike rate. 

“But it’s not all about the strike rate – you can always catch up. Sit there longer and take your time to settle in.”