16 April 2020
Dear All,
Hoping you are all keeping safe and well and continue to do so during these troubled days. It is certainly very unsettling and worrying for all at this time.
The impact of Covid-19 on all aspects of living in the UK is very significant and as a recreational cricket club we will have many challenges to face in the next few months.
All we know for definite right now from the ECB is that recreational cricket is suspended until further notice. We will continue to follow Government advice issued daily and further updates from the ECB and Norfolk Cricket Board.
As Trustees, we believe it very important that we think clearly under pressure and attempt to make as many good decisions as possible.
To ensure the running of the club continues we held our very first Trustees online meeting recently and will do so again while we remain in lockdown.
We had many things to consider and discuss, including:
- Regular contact with our members
- Maintaining both our grounds so they remain fit for purpose when cricket resumes and maintaining and servicing our ground equipment
- Members’ subscriptions
- Finances
- Senior cricket
- Junior cricket
- Social events
In the interests of keeping you informed, the latest news we have, and the decisions we have taken to date, are as follows:
Playing: While we have not received any detailed correspondence from the East Anglian Premier League and Norfolk Cricket Alliance we know that they are following the advice from the ECB and therefore all senior, women and girls and junior cricket has been suspended. We have been advised by the ECB that the national knockout competitions have also been suspended until further notice.
Practice: Following the above decision it is clear that all senior, women and girls and youth practice, including Tuesday nights – which was due to start on 28 April – are currently suspended.
All-Stars and Dynamos Cricket: Both national programmes have both been put on hold by the ECB. The Swardeston All-Stars programme was due to start on 17 May. The Dynamos sessions were due to start on 23 July.
Grounds: Both The Common and Hilltops are currently being maintained in the hope that the 2020 season can be started. We have been advised by Norwich CEYMS that Hilltops is in lockdown and therefore the facilities there are not available for anyone to use.
Subscriptions: The Trustees have taken the decision to suspend the payment of 2020 club membership subscriptions. We understand that this is a worrying time for club members and do not want to add any unnecessary financial burdens. However, if the season does begin later in the summer the Trustees reserve the right to introduce a reduced membership payment for 2020. Please also see the comment on club finances below.
Social events: Any summer events we were in the process of planning are now suspended and we continue to monitor the prospects surrounding our annual cricket dinner due to take place in September. No final decision has been made on staging it for this year. We will keep you updated. We are looking into the possibility of running an online event such as a quiz which we would hope would bring club members together virtually. We will continue to plan ahead and soon we will begin our preparations for the staging of our charity ball in early summer 2021. More information will be released as it becomes available for both these events.
Communication channels: We will keep our website up to date and also use our accounts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to communicate the latest messages. You can also always email the club at info@swardestoncc.co.uk.
European Cricket League: As you will have undoubtedly read our trip to La Manga to take part in ECL20 was cancelled. ECL organisers envisage staging the competition next year from 30 May to 6 June. We are optimistic we will receive a further invitation to take part in 2021. In the meantime we continue to support ECL organisers and 1st XI Captain Joe Gatting is lined up to take part in a live Instagram interview with the ECL on Monday 20 April and a further live Q&A session on Wednesday 22 April. Both will be at 4pm UK time. Watch out for details on our social accounts!
Finances: It is clear that this season’s circumstances will mean we will run at a significant loss, particularly because we had invested in advance of the new season in items such as a new cover for the Common, new netting for the Hilltops nets and first team coloured kit. While prudent financial planning means that we will be able to come through this crisis it is clear we will need the full support of the club at fundraising events in the future, like next year’s ball, to help offset the considerable dent our accounts will take. As Trustees we hope we can count on the full backing of members to support these events.
Please feel free to email me if you have any questions or concerns. I can be found at stuart.bartram@brandexinsight.co.uk.
kind regards
Stuart
Stuart Bartram
Chairman
Swardeston CC
On behalf of fellow Swardeston CC Trustees:
Tony Bailey
Lee Beadman
Kevin Cooper
David Thomas
Mark Thomas
Peter Thomas
