STRANGE BLUE NEWS

A New Blue

Posted: 21.JAN.2007

People of the Great Nation of Camdiscia,

With the state of Jesus Green literally shaking the ground beneath the great frisbee foot of Strange Blue, the Exec got to thinking about what we've got here, how good it is and where to take it. For a sport that traditionally struggles with being marginalised, we've got a huge level of involvement and commitment, an increasing position in the community and a wealth of talent. So what to do?

The loss of Jesus Green, while immediately a tragedy, has several satisfactory upshots: College League has been forced into a position as a proper college sport, represented and important. It's going to take a bit of organisation on the part of the captains to get it running, but once we get past this stage it will run as smoothly as any other league in Cambridge. We need a little patience to get through the current yucky weather, but perseverance in making games happen in colleges will do good things for the sport's recognition and inclusion within the university.

For our larger events, we already know facilities like those at Churchill are perfect for Cuppers, and discussions with the Council show them keen to accommodate us elsewhere with better facilities.

To bring it all together, Sundays are still the focus. The aim this term is to get everyone doing training together, at whatever level is right for them. We hope to stream the skills&drills part to keep up the intensity of the drills for everyone, but keep the group together for games at the end to improve our intermediate players and beginners quickly. We plan to return to Jesus Green when the conditions are right, once the water level has lowered and the ground won't mush on contact then having one weekly practise won't do much damage provided we move the pitch around sensibly. Until JG's back, Sunday's will be a moveable feast - Parkers Piece was good today, future arrangements will be announced on camdisc (and on our spangly new website!)

After growing rapidly in strength and number over the past year, the women of the blue are at the point where they can commence their own assault on the national stage. The success of the women's practise last term has inspired a proper squad training session for the ladies with plans to enter a team in women's tour come summertime.

With the form the SB firsts have shown in recent competition, this coming outdoor season has real potential to see us make our mark in the highest level of competition, the national Tour. The strength of squad we have already is solid, but must be developed if we are to claim our place in the top 12 open teams in the country. To this end, the squad selection was carried out to produce a hard core of committed individuals to begin focused training.

This is the direction we in which we should all be aiming, at any level, as a strong squad does not a strong club make. We want to maintain and develop our great depth of talent, keep improving players at all levels - our Tour ambitions simply show which direction is up, and it's good to aim high.

Here endeth the 'vision'. Be sure to peruse the seductive new website which has recently come into being at http://www.strangeblue.org - all feedback appreciated along with suggestions of things which would be useful to have up there. Have fun,


James "Wonderbeard" Strachan