A few weeks have now passed since ion8 Forfarshire won the Grand Final against Uddingston and then crowned an amazing summer by winning the national T20 title 24 hours later in Dumfries.
And although the domestic season has now gone and clubs are already busy starting to plan for 2020, you can bet that Forfarshire president Clark McConnachie is still smiling when he thinks back to those two great days and the winning of the CSL Eastern Premier Division.
“I am just so proud of the lads for what they have achieved,” he said.
“A large majority of the first XI squad are local guys who have come through the youth system and that is great to see.
The team was well led by Umair Mohammed this summer and the likes of Scotland regulars Craig Wallace and Michael Leask were brilliant with the young up-and-coming players who themselves are regulars in representative cricket.
“It means so much to the local lads because they have been heading down to Forthill since they were just little, hitting a ball about and learning all about the game and now they have won all of these trophies with the senior team, it doesn’t get much better than that.
“They have all bought into what the senior players have wanted to do while other guys who have come into the club like Chris Greaves, Brock Ditchmen and Bryce Allchin have been brilliant.
“In the last few years we have tried to create a culture at the club where we do things properly on and off the pitch and we carry ourselves in the right way. We all help each other, support each other and want to make it a nice club to be at.
“It was a squad effort, but also a club effort. The volunteers off the pitch and hose who put in the hard yards that are perhaps unseen are able to enjoy this success too, without them we wouldn’t be where we are now.”
After the season was finished, victorious skipper Mohammed announced he would be leaving the club after 27 years involvement to spend more time with his young family.
He said: “I have been completely overwhelmed by all of the support I, and the team, have received over the past few weeks. It hasn’t really sunk in just what we have achieved and may only be in years to come when we can take a look back to truly appreciate it.
“I have played for this great club for the best part of 27 years now. From a wee boy who enjoyed running around with his mates to being given the honour to captain this great club. I have played with some of the finest players ever to grace the hallowed turf at Forthill, but the squad of players we have now, in my opinion, may be the best we have ever had.
“It’s important to note that it’s not just the players that need to take credit for what we have achieved this season. It wouldn’t be fair to single out any one person in particular, but the amount of work that is put in behind the scenes during the week and on matchdays is incredible and I am eternally grateful for what they have done.
“This will be my last season playing for Forfarshire. With the arrival of my beautiful baby daughter Nina and living and working in Edinburgh I will be unable to commit to the travelling required to continue to lead this great side and represent this great club. My wife Julia has been by my side for a long time and I thank her unreservedly for her support for me travelling back and forth to Dundee for the best part of nine years.
“To have been inducted in toto the first ever Hall of Fame has taken me totally by surprise and I can’t believe that I’m surrounded by quite possibly the best keeper ever to grace the Scottish game in Alec Steele and Forfarshire’s all-time leading runs scorer in Graeme Garden.
“I have given absolutely everything to this club and in return it has given me so much back.”
