At last night’s Norfolk County Management Committee meeting Jack Pye of Wymondham was appointed Norfolk County Manager for the two year period of office beginning in April this year until the end of March 2024. After consulting with the successful candidate, the Norfolk Committee voted to appoint Christopher Willies of East Tuddenham as Assistant Manager for the same period. The Committee passed a vote of thanks to the current Manager Simon Willies of East Tuddenham, and the current Assistant Manager Keith Cooke, who will remain in charge of the team until after the I.C.C Consolation Finals which currently involves Norfolk Premier. That is scheduled to be played on the first weekend in April. Simon Willies has served as Norfolk County Team Manager for the last four years with Keith Cooke of Halvergate as the Assistant Manager. Both Simon and Keith decided not to stand for election for the next two year period. Jack Pye thus becomes the seventh Norfolk Manager in Norfolk’s short mat bowls history. The late George Clarke served as Norfolk’s first Manager from 1989 to 2002 during which Norfolk won the I.C.C Premier title in 1996. He was followed by the late Roy Grapes who was Manager for four years from 2002 to 2006. Brian Saunders, remembered for his encouragement of young players into the Squad, took on the job from 2006 to 2010. The year 2010 saw the appointment of Lianne Mills as Norfolk’s first female Manager, who served one term from 2010 to 2012. In 2012 Selwyn Goldsmith was appointed Manager and during his six years in charge Norfolk Premier won the I.C.C Premier title for the first time in 20 years beating Essex Premier in the final.
Jack Pye of Wymondham and England