The three end strips are reserved for juniors games, evening matches and practice
“I also needed some funding for a new
wicket mower,” says John, “but, when I told the committee that the cost would be around £4,000, I was told to go and buy secondhand! I don’t like buying secondhand, but Rochford Garden Machinery in Wincanton sourced me a 24” Allett Buffalo for £900, which I’m delighted with. It’s like comparing a BMW with a Mini.” I suggest that BMW actually make the new Mini, and am reminded that, at sixty-four years old, John remembers the original Austin Mini of the sixties! We return to the subject of ‘the shed’ and its future. “The council are planning a new sports centre on part of Britten’s Field. The outline cost is £1.5m, but it’s anyone’s guess what the actual figure will be, should it ever get built; £2.5m perhaps? I’m not sure that a town of just 6,000 people actually needs such a facility. And, I know that there is no one
on the council that understands the cost of running a cricket and football club either. Just imagine what would happen to both clubs if the profits from the shed were to disappear overnight because spectators were using the bar in the new sports centre.” “The ECB reckon that it costs a minimum of £200 to stage any sort of cricket match. With the amount of teams we have playing here - and don’t forget we have four junior teams as well as the seniors - that would equate to well over £1,200 a week. Subs and match fees would never cover that.”
So, to combat what some see as the inevitable, John put himself forward to become a town councillor, and has duly been elected. Council meetings could become ‘interesting’ from here on in! “They just haven’t thought it through,”
exclaims John. “How much money do they need to take on a yearly basis just to
The outfield is cut by the council
cover the costs? I reckon at least £5,000 a week. That’s £260,000 a year. It’s not sustainable in such a small town.” We return to the subject of cricket
square maintenance - probably just in time to avoid a burst blood vessel! “Typical match preparation is the usual ten day format,” says John. “I don’t tend to spend so much time on the Britten’s Field square to be honest, but it plays well enough. It’s a question of needs must, but the standard of play doesn’t warrant it. Equally, the main square will get a thorough end of season renovation and I’ll continue to improve the root depth, following the same methods as last year.”
“Our 1st XI captain is the former Somerset player, Sam Spurway. We also have an overseas player - don’t get me started on that! So, you can see that the standard we play at is pretty high.” Currently playing in Somerset Premier
GROUNDSMAN’S STORE
VANDAL RESISTANT DESIGNED TO ORDER RE-LOCATABLE HIGHLY SECURE
AVAILABLE FOR USE AS:
GREENSKEEPERS’ SHEDS, GARDENER’S TOOL STORE, WORKSHOPS AND MANY OTHER DESIGNS CLAD IN TIMBER, BRICK OR STONE. STEEL TILE & GREEN ROOFS AVAILABLE
Tel 01642 244663 104 Fax 01642 244664
sales@cleveland-sitesafe.ltd.uk www.cleveland-sitesafe.ltd.uk Cleveland Sitesafe Ltd. Riverside Works, Dockside Road, Middlesbrough, TS3 8AT
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148