Findon given the captain they did not choose

FINDON Cricket Club's Village Cup Finalist first team have not been able to elect their own new captain.

Their chosen candidate Paul O'Sullivan was outvoted at Friday's annual meeting, when only six 1st XI players were available to cast a vote and the rest unable to because no proxy or postal balloting is permitted.

In the secret vote by playing members only, O'Sullivan lost to reluctant opponent John Rogers, who had agreed to be put up by the youth lobby led by chairman Mike Metters and colts organisers Paul Judges, the Findon vice-chairman, and junior secretary, Elaine Judges, his wife.

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Graham Waller, the captain at Lord's in September, resigned last month, in particular over Metters' pressure on him over the selection of young players.

Rogers, a former Findon captain more than once, now at 43 the oldest in the team, and a guardian of good sportsmanship, underwent a second back operation on Thursday. His playing career remains in doubt.

He was persuaded to stand in a clean-up move after, during last season, Graham Waller, against Middleton, and Ali Shackman and James Iago, against Ansty, were criticised for their on-field conduct.

Metters, making a rare first team appearance, had played in the Ansty game.

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Rogers was proposed by 2nd XI captain Andy Boxall and his vice-captain Steve Chapman. But he will not be able to play any sport until Findon will have made their Sussex League third division debut on May 3 and played their first Village Cup tie, against Netherfield on April 27.

A significant number of colts players were present in the voting. But of the first team, Lord's 100-maker Toby Kingsbury, Nigel Waller, O'Sullivan himself, John Cox, Mark Stewart and Josh Stephens all missed the vote. Present were Graham Waller, James Iago, Grant Christie, Ali Shackman, Micky Demetriou and Carl Broad.

Steve Waller, another of the team at Lord's, has quit the club over a separate matter.

What is you opinion about what seems to be going on at Findon, so soon after their phenomenal success in reaching Lord's last summer? Tell us below.