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As Welsh demi-god Matt Planchant swept the winning runs through square leg at Chollerford on Thursday, one could be forgiven for thinking that unconstrained celebration would be the order of the day. But behind the scenes at Computing Cricket Club there were some worried faces, for the club's winning start to the season (three league wins and a place in the last 16 of the cup) has led to a shortage of 'win cards'. The 4" by 3" blue cards are completed by the winning captain and sent by first class post to the league secretary so that results can be officially compiled. "Usually CCC order around six cards for a season and they remain unused at the bottom of the skipper's bag, underneath that forgotten sock," says club secretary Cliff Spencer. "This year we've had a run on them and it's still May!"
The solution seems obvious: photocopy some more cards. However, at a tightly run club like CCC things are never that simple. "The skipper says he has a couple of cards left," says club accountant Roger French. "By my calculations that means we could need up to ten photocopies if we were to win all our league games and the cup too. At two of the queen's new pence per copy that could mean a financial outlay of 20 of the queen's new pence. It's something the club just cannot afford."
So could the success of the club on the pitch lead to financial turmoil off it? Professional Yorkshireman French says not, but action must be taken: "there are two options," he says. "One, we look for a win card sponsor. Two, I could raise the match fee and put a cut of that towards card reproduction. It would be a kind of win bonus and I'm sure the lads wouldn't mind."
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