Calmore Sports Club all-rounder Mark Lavelle has been appointed the club’s first XI captain for the 2015 season following the club’s AGM last Friday evening.

Mark, who scored 482 runs (average 34.42) with the bat and claimed a Calmore SEPCL record of 32 wickets in the 2014 season, replaces Darren Vann, who has stood down following five years in charge in which he saw the club’s rise, culminating in their recent promotion SEPCL Division One.

The 24-year-old, who has played in for the club for a decade and made his first XI debut aged just 14, was a popular and unanimous choice to take the team forward into the new league in 2015 season once Vann decision was announced.

“I am very proud to have been given the captaincy,” he said following his appointment.  “I have been a part of the club for 16 years and progressed through the club system so it is a great to get the opportunity to lead the club from the front.

“Although I am still quite young, I have been around the first XI for a long time and played under some good captains so those experiences will help me in making my own strides.

“I am excited about leading the club especially as the future of the club looks excellent with some of the young talent coming through, so it will be good to play a huge part in the next step of progression for the club and nurturing these young lads into first XI stars of the future.”

The challenges following the club’s promotion to SEPCL Division One is high on his list of priorities.  “Those challenges have grown bigger following the news last week but it’s a challenge I am more than up for it and I honestly believe we can surprise a few teams in Division 1 with the obvious stand out fixture being the proper derby days being back in the calendar.

“I can’t wait to get started,” he concluded.

In other news from the AGM last Friday, Chairman Pete Lavelle was re-elected for another year as was President Terry Chilcott, Secretary Clare Taylor and Treasurer Jeff Tyler.  Darren Vann has stepped up to replace Steve Brandes as the clubs’ Welfare Officer

The club are also introducing a new way to pay memberships through standing order, which Mike Cotton will be contacting all members about in the near future.

Only the captaincy of the first XI was clarified at the AGM with all the other six captaincy positions remaining vacant for the time being.