General
Another great year of the Social League has come to an end, capped off by the annual celebratory dinner - which took place this past Saturday at Aberdeenshire Cricket Club.

After a gruelling 26 weeks of play, filled with broken cues, scattered darts, and the occasional flying domino, the eventual winners were a symbolic duo — Calum Howard and the outgoing Tony Grogan.

The season began with a fantastic increase in participants. While we said goodbye to a few familiar faces, we also welcomed plenty of new ones — including Stewart & Rod, Andy & Graeme, and the returning powerhouse pair, Tony & Calum. Thanks to generous donations from members, we were able to refit our two snooker tables and pool table with brand new cloths, breathing new life into our playing surfaces.

We also extend a massive thank you to our very own David Rae and the team at Helideck Certifications, who came on board as new sponsors and provided significant support to help grow our ever-improving league. We’re truly grateful.

Season Overview

As always, the top of the league was in constant flux. The newly formed duo of Clark & Kieran looked strong early on, leading the table for much of the first half. However, a tightly contested 5-5 draw against the formidable Gamblen & Chandu proved a turning point. With the chasing pack closing in, the returning veterans Howard & Grogan made their move, climbing to the top with just three games remaining.

But they weren’t alone. Former champions Simon & Alan were lurking, having found form late in the season and going unbeaten in their final four matches , despite the strong surge the duo found themselves just falling short. The final challenge for Tony & Calum came from David Rae & Brian Rowan, who had been yo-yoing near the top all season.

With two games left and only six points separating them, the stage was set for drama. Tony & Calum edged out a lower-ranked side 7-4, pushing their lead to 13 points. While many would expect the chasing team to cruise past the bottom-placed pair, the "Penn & Teller" of our times (Colin & Ivor) conjured up a magical performance, stunning Brian & Dave 6-3.

This left the final match between the top two with a steep mountain to climb — Brian & Dave would need a 12-0 win to snatch the title.

The final night arrived with a crowd gathered and anticipation high. It was set up to be a fairy-tale ending for our beloved former groundsman and favourite Glaswegian Leeds fan... or was it? Easter was still a fortnight away, but a miracle seemed to be brewing. Brian & Dave raced into a 6-0 lead. With darts and doms remaining, the momentum was theirs.

But — like his beloved Leeds against the Mackems — Grogan rallied. With inspiration and steel, he and Calum bounced back, securing victory in the pool and with it, the league title. Champions.

End of Season Dinner & Awards

The season ended in style on April 12th with a fantastic night at the club. Huge thanks to the amazing kitchen staff for putting together a delicious meal at short notice. The atmosphere as always was full of joy and laughter, with the most being made of the increased kitty!

Winners:

Social League Champions: Tony & Calum

Snooker Champions: Joint – Tony & Calum, and Lee & Ron

Darts Champions: Kieran & Clark

Dominoes Champions: Simon & Alan

Sociable Team of the Year: Joint – Lee & Ron, and Neil & David

Wooden Spoon: Colin & Ivor

We'd like to extend special thanks to the generous individuals who contributed donations, and to the bar staff — Brian, Louis, and Jodie — for their service and hospitality throughout the season.

One big farewell must go to Chris Quinn-Waugh, who after four years of incredible service left the club this February for new adventures. Chris was a huge part of the Social League , regularly providing warm meals and warmer company on cold winter nights. Thank you, Chris, for everything.

Lastly, a heartfelt thank you to Neil Carsey — the man behind it all. Another brilliant job hosting and organising the league. Your efforts do not go unnoticed, and we’re all grateful for what you do. Long may it continue.

Final Word

The Social League continues to be what the club is all about -a blend of cricketers and social members coming together. In these challenging times, it’s more important than ever that we support each other and the club we all call home.