St George’s Coach Clay Smith Reflects On Match
[Written by Patrick Bean]
It was late Friday afternoon at Somerset Cricket Club and the lush green lawn was filled to near capacity with spirit-fuelled revellers celebrating a successful defence of Cup Match by the hosts.
A cacophony of reggae and calypso rang throughout the land, raising excitement levels to its zenith before an ultimate end.
Yet, amid such elation St George’s coach Clay Smith cast a forlorn figure, sitting behind the venue’s southern fence alone in his thoughts of what might have been.
Gathered metres away from Smith were a solemn group of St George’s players milling about in agonised reflection upon another failed bid, perhaps wondering when the ongoing nightmare would end.
Even as the die had been cast as early as the first hour of play unyielding hurt remained in the eyes of the defeated, a fact hammered home when Zeko Burgess’ guard was shattered by Derrick Brangman.
The loss marked the second time in three years under Smith that the East Enders had been comprehensively beaten by Somerset.
Despite having guided St George’s to consecutive domestic league titles, installed a successful youth development programme and aided the progress of the game in the local schools’ system Smith was prepared to hear critics calling for his removal based solely on his Cup Match failures.
“It’s part of the job,” said Smith, among the few to have recorded multiple Cup Match centuries as a player. “I’m the first person to be criticised because I am the coach and rightfully so.
“The buck stops with me and I have no problem with that. Because, at the end of the day, if we’re successful I’m responsible and on the other side of that I’m also accountable.
“It’s part of the job where one has to take the good with the bad.”
Upon assuming the role as coach Smith stated there to be a five-year plan to have St George’s win back the cup.
Still, despite many changes being made to the team, this year’s showing represented a backward step following last year’s drawn affair.
Having inserted more young talent this year, Smith yet believes he has a core capable of unearthing the Somerset juggernaut, however, he is unsure whether he’ll be allowed time to complete the job.
“We are in a rebuilding stage,” explained Smith. “It’s always going to be tough to beat these guys.
“Each year we come prepared to the best of our ability to give ourselves a chance to accomplish our goals and the day will arrive when we will win this cup back.
“We have a lot of new players coming in and we’re getting there slowly but surely. Whether I’ll be around to see it is not totally up to me.”
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St. George’s, why do you not pick any players from St. David’s??? You had the Billybies playing when you won the cup several times back in the day!!!!!
Get rid of the whole selection committee at St George, and let’s start fresh. But that would never happen because of the friends and family situation. It’s a on going issue that has been at the club since the beginning of time.
Trust me I’ve lived it!
Friends and family will take st george no where, they keep this crap up they will never win the cup untill the year 4047! Lol what a joke