Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Forum News and Suggestions => Custom Bats Blog => Topic started by: The 22nd Yard on January 14, 2014, 08:02:17 PM
-
Dipping a toe into village cricket and the fate of one team..
http://wp.me/p380Xy-aW (http://wp.me/p380Xy-aW)
Has anyone else noticed a trend of village players moving to town teams? Or a village club near you folding? Please post any stories!
-
Nick Saunders seems to get around clubs....
-
just clubs? ;)
-
I think the fact ECB only care about focus and club mark clubs speaks volumes. I certainly accept that any player shunted up,and down the batting order each week or even drooped to 7+ I'd they are a proper batsmen would put me off playing.. Would be a complete waste of a day!
-
sadly it happens, especially at clubs that pay players.
-
From the people I spoke to it seems like another factor is everyone becoming pretty snobbish over the wickets they play on, no one is happy to play on a cow field anymore. Massive shame, especially it's in terms of fairly non-competitive sunday games...
-
in league cricket you can sort of understand it though.
-
A good article, I've played against Pickwell for Barrowby CC in the Grantham Sunday league.
It's a sad state of affairs, one which might threaten Barrowby. As a team we age between 23-early 30s and with the core players getting married at the moment I worry that this same fate will happen to us.
Empingham is a beautiful ground, a lovely team. Played there last season, scored 79 :) My uncle was a huge member of the club until he passed away :(
They did receive a very large sum last year in funding which they have put into the pitch and it has made a difference.
Unfortunately Barrowby without such funds, and unable to have sight screens or covers as they get vandalised, a similar level wicket is not possible :(
-
I play for a village club as we've recently been selected as the National ECB Natwest Cricket Focus club for 2014, and we're nowhere near London!
-
I play friendly village cricket and to be honest occasionally we play teams where their standard is so woeful I would rather have sat and watched from the bar than been out in the field. Our wicket is uncovered and often resembles a cow patch, however thanks to hard work from volunteers we almost always get a game out of it even if it is raining sometimes. Our batting order moves around depending on who has turned up in what state and we rely on a couple of bowlers to bowl practically all day whilst the part timers get in their obligatory overs to justify paying their subs.
Teas can vary depending on whose turn it is to provide them and our changing room is so small, the whole team can't get changed without "accidentally" getting intimate with each other. The outdoor nets are so run down and covered in moss that short pitch deliveries will scoot along the floor whilst full deliveries will grip an abrasive part of the mat and spit up into fingers and ribs causing you to question everything you know about physics, let alone batting. God forbid you should leave a ball in case it finds its way through one of the many holes in the net, that is unless you fancy making the bowler get knee deep in the knotted brambles snagged up behind.
The whole thing sounds like a nightmare yet every summer I turn up twice every weekend, stretch out my aching knees and head out with a smile to spend the next 6 hours mucking about with the sorry excuses for human beings I call my mates before spending the same in the bar afterwards. I wouldn't have it any other way.
-
I'll ignore Redders and Ian's comments for the time being :D
Running a cricket club is about drive and ambition. If your sole ambition is to get 11 men and play a bit of cricket then fine but you won't have a team for long. You have to work to get 11 and assume you need 18-20 players. You probably lose 2/3 a year and they need to be replaced. Players don't come to your club unless you:-
- play on a decent deck
- have decent facilities
- can practise regularly
- Nice surroundings
- Tell them you are there!
Get the proposition right first.You get those sorted and show a bit of willing to recruit players, start new initiatives etc and the rest comes. It needs hard work, not excuses. The number of times I have heard club officials moaning they don't have players when they have done next to nothing to promote the club or recruit players. In my last two clubs I have stuck adverts on the internet recruiting players and it works. At Headingley in particular we had most of the guys recruiting all winter, it's a young club with drive and it shows. However, their location and name is a godsend. I do feel for some villages, go to the middle of the York plains and visit the likes of Green Hammerton who are probably 20 miles from anything approaching civilisation and they can only really recruit from the village. However, it one takes one guy to start a colts section with a dozen colts and the club can survive. Ultimately if members aren't willing to work for the club then the club will fold.
-
We had the same problem at my new club last year, they struggled to field 11 men on numerous occasions in the 2nd team, and played with a weakened 1st team a few times due to lack of players, and commitment issues with the players involved.
This year we have made big strides to signing some new players, as early as August last year I got together with the committee and we outlined players we would like to try sign, sent them all letters in the post outlining the clubs plans both on and off the field.
We have also committed to running 2 junior sides. Not much I know compared to some clubs, but as a club we didn't have any junior sides 2 years ago, and now some of these juniors are coming through and are older, now pushing for 2nd team selection. From the outside I can only see people taking a positive view of us as a club, as we have identified problems both on and off the field, and have set out to address these and become more attractive as a village cricket club.
-
A sad story
Im playing for Exford this year, as they are entering the nth Devon lge, for the first time
This is after playing friendlies for the last few years
Hopefully it will be the start of a successful and enjoyable time for the club
Only time will tell.
It just seems, crickets going through a bit of a lean period, in certain areas of the country
Different formats,(20/20,,lms,,) may change that, but it is a shame,for those of us who love all forms of cricket
-
A sad story
Im playing for Exford this year, as they are entering the nth Devon lge, for the first time
This is after playing friendlies for the last few years
Hopefully it will be the start of a successful and enjoyable time for the club
Only time will tell.
It just seems, crickets going through a bit of a lean period, in certain areas of the country
Different formats,(20/20,,lms,,) may change that, but it is a shame,for those of us who love all forms of cricket
for some reason i thought you were entering the west somerset league, north devon makes more sense though.
good luck. are you still playing the same friendlies and in the exmoor cup?
-
I only play a few games for them, it's a 300 mile round trip for me!
My son plays tho
I'm sure they will still play friendlies
-
One of the big issues I see at clubs when out coaching and seeing clubs nearly fold through paying ridiculous money for average players is only part of it. The leagues have lost sight of what club cricket is about. There is a huge emphasis on league and different cup competitions which now run into Sunday fixtures on a regular basis. This has made clubs run upwards of 3 teams to play league cricket of which most lower divisions are playing on shoddy parks pitches against people who for want of a better description are not cricket players but people playing cricket and do not understand what cricket is about. Playing on parks pitches is no good for anyone especially young up and coming players trying to play properly, I fact it can put them off for life.I think in the premier league in Derbyshire you get £1000 if you win the league. Well clubs are dumb because a lot of them are laying out at least £10,000 on players, and forsaking the young lads in the process.
When I was growing up you tended to have a surplus of players for two Saturday league teams. Then on a Sunday you played good quality friendly matches against good teams on good wickets allowing a mixture of seasoned players to play alongside their young sons and juniors learning the art of the game. Still wanting to win but with no pressures and a nice atmosphere to do it in. The easiest way to learn is by enjoying something. Now it's all too cut throat and generally the poor players have over inflated views of themselves and a misconception of how the game is played at top level. I have played several games where I have had to walk across to a fielder and interrupt his abusive behaviour to young players.
It's not all about win win win. It's nice to win but we are there to enjoy playing and hopefully succeeding a little bit along the way and if we can help some youngster fulfill his potential and make a career from it all the better. The leagues are producing less quality players nowadays than they used to and they have provided everything. The Derbyshire leagues are more interested in gold plated clothes pegs in your changing room and axminster carpet on the floor than the actual playing surface. If the ground looks pretty they are happy. They have thousands locked in their bank account and don't even look at helping the poorer clubs develop by giving interest free or low interest loans for the site screens and covers that the league tries to emphasise is needed. The more stipulations they put on clubs the harder it is for poor clubs to survive. The cricket is the important thing. Get it back to what it was a great game that you always wanted to win but with great moral ethics behind it. And get people running the league that know what cricket is about and are not just sitting on it for their own self importance that goes for the ECB too.
-
Couldn't agree more.
Clubs should improve the proposition and encourage people to want to play. Paying players is a backwards step as you create mercenaries and divert funds from the ground, youth setup, facilitates etc. The ecb don't help. They spend a fair chunk on the top ecb premier clubs who obtain clubmark and nothing on grass roots cricket. Many small clubs are going to the wall because they can't meet ecb standards for grants. It's also frustrating that so much money is spent propping up counties. Most of it covering insolvent balance sheets rather than take the surgery required and streamline the county structure. This in turn would free up funds for more youth development schemes, creation of new pitches and community grounds. Leagues are no better. One league I know of nearly sent a couple of clubs into oblivion thanks to fines for late match returns.
Sent from my HTC One mini using Tapatalk
-
no issue with aying players if it reflects their off field value to club - ground work, coaching etc. Not keen on Harefield style mercenaries for hire though.
-
Village cricket and any standard of cricket is about enjoyment. The league that I play in, I can honestly say, I question why I bother to turn up most weeks! Don't get me wrong I can never imagine myself not playing cricket of a Saturday afternoon, but some of the sides we visit hardly can make a side, because of lack of committed players, due to circumstances mentioned above marriage, retirement, work etc.
Another big issue for me is the behaviour and some of the language used on the field, I don't turn up on a Saturday to be verbally abused!
I think the most worrying trend in the area that I play cricket, is the fact that participation in the junior level of cricket is always very high, but increasingly doesn't transfer into filling men's sides! Which in turn has led to second teams and even whole clubs folding!
Reading the article and situation that the particular club finds itself in, given the funding that club mark & junior sections receive, it will only be a matter of time before the bigger clubs have 4th, 5th and 6th teams that will fill the spaces that village clubs leave!
-
Village cricket still very much alive and kicking in our part of Gloucestershire thankfully and the pitches are as variable as ever. Kingswood Village continues to pick up new players and develop youngsters whilst only playing friendlies on Sundays and 20/20s mid week. Roll on the 1st game
-
Village cricket still very much alive and kicking in our part of Gloucestershire thankfully and the pitches are as variable as ever. Kingswood Village continues to pick up new players and develop youngsters whilst only playing friendlies on Sundays and 20/20s mid week. Roll on the 1st game
What team do you play for?
-
Clubs in my league are paying stupid money for players, both overseas and home grown. It's proving very difficult to keep our best players (who are being offered money to play elsewhere) and recruit new players. Running a league club is now like running a small business, committee meetings now focus on income (bar, sponsorship etc) more than cricket and to be honest mostly that's to keep up the pitch rentals, which our local council uses as money tap, rather than providing facilities for local sport. The pitches they provide for the money they charge are terrible, whilst complaints seem to fall on death ears and letters get little response. Sorry I could go on ....rant over >:(
-
Clubs in my league are paying stupid money for players, both overseas and home grown. It's proving very difficult to keep our best players (who are being offered money to play elsewhere) and recruit new players. Running a league club is now like running a small business, committee meetings now focus on income (bar, sponsorship etc) more than cricket and to be honest mostly that's to keep up the pitch rentals, which our local council uses as money tap, rather than providing facilities for local sport. The pitches they provide for the money they charge are terrible, whilst complaints seem to fall on death ears and letters get little response. Sorry I could go on ....rant over >:(
100% correct. I don't think any big clubs are actually focused on cricket. Their sole objective is money. Money brings in players , who win things.. So meaning they can get more youth through the door which is viewed mainly as a cash cow.
Small clubs are similar , just smaller scale.
Sad but true. It's worse in football and has been going on for years now. I see cricket heading the same way, except without the large fan base.
-
What's the answer then?
I've moved down to Oxfordshire from oop north, and the club I've played at for two years is struggling for players down here
They have several youth teams,and schools all using the clubs facilities, county games are played here, and the ground is a stunning place to play cricket
So why did we struggle to turn out two or three senior teams on a Saturday?
I have my own reasons for being slightly pi##ed off with it all, which I'm sure others also share
This year,I'm going back to playing for a few clubs,in different formats, hopefully a bit of midweek, and Saturday league here, and Sunday's playing in Devon and Somerset
If it wasn't for joining the forum,and re discovering my love of all things cricket, I would have called it a day after last season.
-
I think there are many reasons.. You could get lost in all the rabbit holes answering it
Lifestyles are different.. People move more, kids lose interest come 16.. Junior stuff seems to die off and there is little cross over to adults... Aleut cricket seems to be all about winning rather than just playing cricket.. ECB seem to want to create a few super clubs (sorry ' focus/club mark clubs), and get rid or allow to die the smaller ones. Large/ambitious clubs just take it youths for the cash, with little effort really out in to ensuring they all lesrn, play and most of all enjoy..
Etc etc
The list tbh is endless.
You could add attitudes on the field are worse now than ever before, youngsters (say 20 or less), now expect more while wanting to do and pay less (ie just turn up, play, be the star and go home)..
I could literally write for hours
-
I couldn't tell you what my clubs secret is, but while a few teams around us(both geographically and league based) are struggling for players, we are struggling to get all our players a game!
We have a junior set up, and when they graduate we tend to keep the majority. Last under 17s we had 9 for the season after. U17 before, we kept all 11!
So currently we have 3 Saturday teams, 2 Wednesday night teams, 1 Sunday side. And this year junior wiser u17, u15, u13 and 2x u11s.
We do not pay any players at our club, infact only a few of the 76 players we have registered for Saturday cricket was not a junior at our club.
We are not a league winning club, althought we won sat cup and league in 2009, and the midweek side took 3 promotions in a row, we aren't ever favourites for a league, and work hard for our wins.
So we don't attract trophy hunters.
The only thing I can say keeps people at our club is the banter. And great family feel, everyone gets on, everyone has a laugh at games. Most stay for drinks, most turn up to BBQ and other charity events.
U15 and u17s have atleast 30 adult players in attendance for there games, and when the u17s got to a cup final two years back. We had nearly a 100 players, supporters and family at the game.
So my advice is make your club a great place to play and people will stay.
-
I couldn't tell you what my clubs secret is, but while a few teams around us(both geographically and league based) are struggling for players, we are struggling to get all our players a game!
We have a junior set up, and when they graduate we tend to keep the majority. Last under 17s we had 9 for the season after. U17 before, we kept all 11!
So currently we have 3 Saturday teams, 2 Wednesday night teams, 1 Sunday side. And this year junior wiser u17, u15, u13 and 2x u11s.
We do not pay any players at our club, infact only a few of the 76 players we have registered for Saturday cricket was not a junior at our club.
We are not a league winning club, althought we won sat cup and league in 2009, and the midweek side took 3 promotions in a row, we aren't ever favourites for a league, and work hard for our wins.
So we don't attract trophy hunters.
The only thing I can say keeps people at our club is the banter. And great family feel, everyone gets on, everyone has a laugh at games. Most stay for drinks, most turn up to BBQ and other charity events.
U15 and u17s have atleast 30 adult players in attendance for there games, and when the u17s got to a cup final two years back. We had nearly a 100 players, supporters and family at the game.
So my advice is make your club a great place to play and people will stay.
It does have to be a good fun club to stay alive without paying, cash cowing youths. If you get it right it shows that it can be done. A club I've been helping in the last year is expanding, when most clubs are struggling to put out Sunday sides, we are easily putting 2 Sunday sides out every week.. Add that to a cup t20, two midweek t20 sides and three Saturday league sides.. Oh and touring games most weeks from June to August and civil service cup comps too... All without any junior sections etc. Again, it can be done and run as a club for the players. It as I say.. Most are not.
-
It does have to be a good fun club to stay alive without paying, cash cowing youths.
Cosh cow is correct, I help coach the youth teams at our club and the majority is baby sitting (upto U15). How many will go on to play for our club is negligble, may be 2 from each age group on average. However the money they bring in is pure gold, especially for our treasurer! I've been involved with cricket since birth, dad played village cricket and all the family went, which I wouldn't have swapped for the world (still love the smell or beer and cigars in old village pubs), kept me out of trouble and taught me how to make relate to people of varying ages. My dad, my brother and I still play and my son is just starting out, people who stop playing due to a new family are missing the point IMHO. keep playing and introduce the kids, it's better than them playing xbox all weekend or wlaking the streets.
-
As a first team captain (and groundsman, coach and anything else that needs doing) at a village cricket club, I can totally empathise with any village cricket club struggling to put teams out, Last season we lost 60% of our first team before the season started, this left big holes and no players to fill, which resulted in a very stuttery season.
The club needs to put 2 teams out a week to function finacially and player recruiting is very hard trying to compete with the bigger clubs in the area.
It falls on the same 3-4 people time after time and this is where I see the problem in Village cricket, people get fed up with it always falling to them and the same people toget jobs done, if they dont do it, nothing happens.
-
As a first team captain (and groundsman, coach and anything else that needs doing) at a village cricket club, I can totally empathise with any village cricket club struggling to put teams out, Last season we lost 60% of our first team before the season started, this left big holes and no players to fill, which resulted in a very stuttery season.
The club needs to put 2 teams out a week to function finacially and player recruiting is very hard trying to compete with the bigger clubs in the area.
It falls on the same 3-4 people time after time and this is where I see the problem in Village cricket, people get fed up with it always falling to them and the same people toget jobs done, if they dont do it, nothing happens.
Who do you play for?
Sent from my HTC One mini using Tapatalk
-
Who do you play for?
Sent from my HTC One mini using Tapatalk
Drax CC up in good old Yorkshire :-)
-
Drax CC up in good old Yorkshire :-)
Are Drax in Senior League these days or still Vale?
To help fill the teams, you could look into the junior loan system. There are a number of clubs you could ask to get the odd player here and there. I'd also suggest looking on play-cricket at some of the local teams and find names who have not played much, if at all. You could then tap them up as they may be willing to move to play more regularly.
Sent from my iPhone 5S using Tapatalk
-
Are Drax in Senior League these days or still Vale?
To help fill the teams, you could look into the junior loan system. There are a number of clubs you could ask to get the odd player here and there. I'd also suggest looking on play-cricket at some of the local teams and find names who have not played much, if at all. You could then tap them up as they may be willing to move to play more regularly.
Sent from my iPhone 5S using Tapatalk
Senior league matey, played us before have you? Numbers aren't looking too bad at the minute, however the season is approaching and anything can happen yet!
-
Played you in Vale League cup a few years ago when I was in 3rd team at Heworth. Thought you has been promoted up to YDSCL.
Nice little ground and decent set of lads when I played, enjoyed the game even though we got beat in the end.
Sent from my iPhone 5S using Tapatalk
-
Yeah the standard of the grounds and teams is a LOT better in the Senior league, Hemingbrough have just joined and they'll be playing our seconds.
Our seconds are way out of their depth but the committee just won't listen!
I think I remember that game, my dad umpired (I was a young 'un then) and one of your lot was trying to poach me! Only club that's tried it mind haha
Glad to hear you enjoyed playing against us!
-
Yeah, that 4east league looks a toughie. The central league looks a lot weaker, shame your IIs couldn't get in there.
Have a look at the yorkercricket.co.uk page as I just did and it talks about dual registration, so you could get some who play for you some weeks and someone else other weeks, good for regular filler inners.
Talking of tapping up, the offer is still on the table, if you ever feel like a change. ;-)
Sent from my iPhone 5S using Tapatalk
-
From the people I spoke to it seems like another factor is everyone becoming pretty snobbish over the wickets they play on, no one is happy to play on a cow field anymore. Massive shame, especially it's in terms of fairly non-competitive sunday games...
I dunno, while I'm happy to play on a more 'sporting' wicket, there is no enjoyment playing on something that goes up and down etc. Nothing more annoying that getting a shooter or a pop up off a length ball etc.
-
Yeah, that 4east league looks a toughie. The central league looks a lot weaker, shame your IIs couldn't get in there.
Played a couiple of really good matches against Drax last season and real shame they're in not 4C.
First match was a on a very green (at Drax) but what turned out to be an absolute belter of a wicket with the home side getting around 190 in 45 overs. We started the run chase pretty well and reached 88 for the first wicket but the junior I had lent Drax for the afternoon then came on and bowled really tightly. In Tuesday evening practice he sometimes struggled to actually get it within the net so to say I was surprised is an understatement. Anyhow given our fragile middle order, I simply opted to plod along for the draw (reach 75%) but 5th wicket down brought in a someone who batted very aggresively, hitting 29 off 10-15 balls and I think we only finished around 12 runs short in the end.
Second match was another cracker with Drax again batting first and getting around 140 with the opener getting over 70 of these runs and finishing not out. If I was being critical then I did have him caught behind twice but 140 made a decent game of it. After a couple of early wickets, we then put on around 100 for 3rd wicket and got home with a couple of overs to spare. The juniors bowled very well and restricted me to running singles.
-
thanks to this thread i've chucked an advert up on Gumtree - our club is pretty good but it could always be better and having more players would help that!
-
Has anyone noticed a drop off in players this season? We've been OK fortunately, only struggled to put out a full 11 on a couple of occasions. However a lot of teams we have played have turned up less than their full compliment, i.e. with only 10, 9, 8 or even on one occasion only 7. This used to happen occasionally in a season but it is an almost weekly occurrence now. Usually we manage to find one of our guys who isn't playing and is willing to play for the other team but it does lead to some rubbish games...
-
My club may not be around in 2015 as we only fielded 11 players on 2 occasions in 2014 and that was due to 2 players arriving I hour after the match had commenced straight from work. Also no one who plays actually lives in the village
At the end of the last league match 2 players stated they were going to retire this leaves the club with just 6 members with an average age of 45 yet the location is excellent the costs are low due to the link with the tennis club the pavilion is a modern brick built building incorporating a tearoom and bar.
Much depends on the clubs enthusiastic captain and his family who do the bulk of the work inc telephone calls attend meetings collecting subs and provide an excellent match day tea the wicket is also excellent due to the club having a professional groundsman who also plays.
-
Youth, you have to invest in youth to survive.
The clubs in and around our league that have youth set ups have 2,3,4 and even 5 sat teams. And have xi players out in each side 99% of the time(the team with 5 teams did concede the last game of the season, but that's the only 1!)
Teams with no youth have struggled, 2nd teams turning up with 9 and 10 players week in week out, some occasions both first and seconds only fielding with 9.
There is off course the clubs with money, there a different matter!
-
Youth, you have to invest in youth to survive.
The clubs in and around our league that have youth set ups have 2,3,4 and even 5 sat teams. And have xi players out in each side 99% of the time(the team with 5 teams did concede the last game of the season, but that's the only 1!)
Teams with no youth have struggled, 2nd teams turning up with 9 and 10 players week in week out, some occasions both first and seconds only fielding with 9.
There is off course the clubs with money, there a different matter!
you are correct but where does the club find them from most of the youths in the village have now moved on.
-
That's the problem, the big clubs with the money and facilities snap them up (normally through after school coaching etc) and then they're lost, very hard to bring a player over from a big, expensive set up to a typical village team
-
i have played for a local league side for the last couple of seasons and they have been struggling for player and it has been getting worse. not sure how many times we had 11 players this year only a handful i would say. we finished bottom of the league by a long way not sure what is going to happen next year they have no youth section or any players interesting in playing there
my village club who are in the league for the first time next season who i willbe playing for have a thriving youth section. 2 u13's side and 1 colts side. we are looking quite good for next season and the future.
i agree with the big club taking a lot of the youth players. i think it is difficult because they do all get coached to a good standard and are goo players but the club just dont have enough places for them all to play so a lot arent playing cricket regularly which then causes other issues
-
Local sport is in terminal decline, anyone that thinks otherwise is deluded. Clubs are dying out rapidly and 'big' clubs who just horde youths (for the cash) are being short sighted. Yes it's great for them to have millions of teams but who are they going to play?? If all the small clubs die out, you will be left with just a few 'big' clubs.. So it'll be team a 3rd xi vs team b3rd xi... Then next month they'll play again as they'll. it be enough in the league.
As for 'big' clubs givin better coaching etc.. I believe that is also a pr load of crap (also with all the club,ark/focus club stuff). Clubs have youth sections for one primary reason, money. It's easy money. He coaching is basic and only the odd one may get actual coaching as most are run by dads etc.. So aren't actual coaches (and the ability of most coaches are over rated, most are purely childminders really).
So, whilst some clubs and their players will congratulate themselves on having 5xi's and numerous kids teams... How many of those kids get genuine coaching ? How many get a genuine game ? How many keep playing ? Etc etc.. I suspect more Jnrs drop out proportionally from big clubs than the smaller more focused ones.
Just my 2p's worth from someone without a club ego or agenda.
From my own clubs point of view, we have started a 3rds this year, startin youth next year, play 2 Sunday games every week (never been short), never been short on sats and have been leaving out at least 4 each week so I am asking for a 4ths next year. We play t20 cup on. Tues, t20 league on weds and play civil service cups, county cups and lots of touring games,
I'd say it's a strong club BECAUSE it's not got an ego or pretentious ambitions.. Or pay players which a lot of club players actually don't agree with. Only 1xi players do as it digs them out the dirt
-
Please tell me where my club is going wrong?? We certainly don't make huge cash out of our youth section once everything is added up!
-
Who stole the fun out of cricket? :o
-
Who stole the fun out of cricket? :o
Teams do it to themselves....it's like being a regular in a local pub - you moan about the lack of atmosphere then complain when somebody new walks in......
-
Please tell me where my club is going wrong?? We certainly don't make huge cash out of our youth section once everything is added up!
Each Jnr pays what, £50 for the season?? Coaching costs nothing (as it's usually a dad or two), the wickets prepared anyway, they don't have teas etc.. So really, the only costs are any elec, water which is peanuts. The coachin kit they use is usually there anyway too.
So if you run u11's, 13's,15's then you are raking in at least (assume there are 15 in each squad)... So that's what, £2250. Now, you aren't telling me those three Jnr sides get £2250 worth of value?
No, the big clubs use this to fund paying players, paying overseas, funding first team egos etc
I've only played this game for 4 seasons and when I talk to other people (current and older), there seems to be a general agreement that people can't enjoy the games as much now as there is far more aggression now. Competitiveness is separate to aggression.
All I can say is that I've not ever been an ego at this game, I've seen the bad side of big clubs and egos in other sports and the amateur game seems to be following amateur football and if you look at the stats...both sports (amateur crixket) is in serious terminal decline. Women's cricket is growing it is kids crixket growing?? I'd say probably not since it really caught on post 2005.
I love this game, I wish I'd played it when I was young etce. I'm just a realist and actually want to both improve actual standards for all and not bury my head in the sand behind a few paid players etc. Big clubs are great and you will always have the haves and have nots but for mass participation, the game needs a drastic rethink if it is to stop the decline and keep/capture people bk playing given the change of modern lifestyles
-
Ade, you are way off the mark in terms of the costs of running youth cricket.
-
Ade, you are way off the mark in terms of the costs of running youth cricket.
Maybe, maybe not. Accounts from various clubs I've seen suggest not. I hope you are right though. I can only say what I have seen.
-
We have at our club an u17s, u15s, u13s, u11s and 2 u9s teams.
We do not have a club pro(banned in our league)
We do not pay any first teamers(again banned in our league)they all pay subs
Major costs in last 3 seasons. 1 new electronic scoreboard, paid for by change jar at club, took full 3 seasons, and a donation of 200 quid from a non named player to finish it.
New gang mower, which we bought second hand, with a known fault as we cannot afford a new one. Again this was paid for by change jar, first team fines, and a few donations.
We have to pay like that as all money from memberships goes into the general running off the club, with nothing left over.
I'm not sure where on earth you get the idea that juniors are a "cash cow" for clubs.
Infact to accomoadate juniors into adult cricket we have a 3rd team, with which we have to hire a pitch to allow the 3 r&d team to play, this is not cheap, and teas, a scorer and an umpire, and the 3rd team makes a weekly loss. One we subsides with the players in the 1st and 2nd xi volunteering to pay £10 a week subs rather than £8 the club asks us to pay, so we actually break even for the weekend!
It has been noted at the amg, that without our own bar and sales, the club would actually fold.
-
agreed for the reasons above and for the reasons you pointed out yourself ade in the post about starting a team.
-
our club has about 25-30 juniors that come to training. they pay £15 for their whole season of junior cricket. the team is run by one of the parents. they get a few drinks and snacks at games and a couple of trophies at the end of the season. im not sure the club actually gets any money out of running a junior section.
it does give us players for the future of the club which is why we run it. i think this year 10 of our colts have played for the adults team and more will play next season.
our club made a profit of £30 last season and are not paying anybody involved with the club any money at all. we needed a new ride on gang mower last year so the groundsman bought one out of his own pocket and fixed it up over the winter. the club are now paying him off in installments which will probably go on for another couple of years
-
I don't know of any clubs that make a profit out of their junior sections. Most clubs profits come from bar takings, fund raising, sponsors, subs etc. Bath for example make the majority of their money from their car park in the city. All this money is then ploughed back into the club for the benefit of their members. After all cricket clubs are not a profit making organisation.
-
Ah good, it's not just us missing a trick ;)
-
I know of one youth section contributing £6k to the club finances and heard about another generating £15-20k. Wish I could remember who! Doesn't take a genius to work out £50 x 200 colts (5 youth teams, maybe two girls teams) equals £10k. That's before social, fundraisers etc. I'm not saying that's typical but many clubs have decent colts numbers.
-
There is a difference from making money and making a profit though.
-
If we tried to charge £50 a year membership for juniors we wouldn't have any! Far too much competition in our local area to get away with that
-
If we tried to charge £50 a year membership for juniors we wouldn't have any! Far too much competition in our local area to get away with that
That's why clubs do clubmark/focus clubs and get in with the local district and county stuff.. Gives them the selling points to parents.
-
Somebody had a great idea in a league topic a while back. It was to limit big clubs to 2 league sides. The idea being that the better players would be spread around clubs or risk playing a poor level of club cricket, or bigger clubs could take on a smaller club and use that as a feeder team, if they wanted to play more than 2 teams in a league at a good standard.
-
Somebody had a great idea in a league topic a while back. It was to limit big clubs to 2 league sides. The idea being that the better players would be spread around clubs or risk playing a poor level of club cricket, or bigger clubs could take on a smaller club and use that as a feeder team, if they wanted to play more than 2 teams in a league at a good standard.
A few of us ventured this idea, limit teams to only 2 adult league teams, and one youth team in each age group..
Unsurprisingly those from big clubs hated it and those from smaller ones liked it
-
Would be harsh on the big clubs that had invested lots of time and money in facilities etc only to be told they could not attract the best players. A
-
Our nearest competition have multiple level 2 and 3 coaches as part of their club and much more modern facilities than us. Junior membership is free there.
Maybe it's just the area we are in where kids/ parents are spoiled for choice but I can't see anyone around us making any cash out of their youth section
-
The youth element has to be encouraged to keep a club growing or at least existing.
I personally feel, the playing of friendlies where half the teams made up of youngsters is key
The transition from youth age group cricket to adult cricket has to be introduced as soon as possible.
It's not an easy thing to manage , but I think that's where a lot of clubs miss out
The children have to realise that the age group teams are just a start
The goal is to play adult cricket at as high a standard as they can
The focus has to be on playing competitively but not aggressively
Football is a joke these days,, I really don't want to see cricket spoilt by the same things that have dragged football down
-
The main reason that clubs have a junior section is that they understand that without a youth section you can't maintain a steady influx of new players into the Senior teams. If it also helps the club finances that is a bonus, which to be honest it should, 50 juniors mean potentially 100 parents for social fund raisers alone.
To me it beggars belief when clubs complain of declining membership, but don't run a junior section. Where do you think all the new senior players are going to materialise from? Are they relying on recruiting players that have previously been juniors elsewhere?
-
Local sport is in terminal decline, anyone that thinks otherwise is deluded. Clubs are dying out rapidly and 'big' clubs who just horde youths (for the cash) are being short sighted. Yes it's great for them to have millions of teams but who are they going to play?? If all the small clubs die out, you will be left with just a few 'big' clubs.. So it'll be team a 3rd xi vs team b3rd xi... Then next month they'll play again as they'll. it be enough in the league.
As for 'big' clubs givin better coaching etc.. I believe that is also a pr load of crap (also with all the club,ark/focus club stuff). Clubs have youth sections for one primary reason, money. It's easy money. He coaching is basic and only the odd one may get actual coaching as most are run by dads etc.. So aren't actual coaches (and the ability of most coaches are over rated, most are purely childminders really).
So, whilst some clubs and their players will congratulate themselves on having 5xi's and numerous kids teams... How many of those kids get genuine coaching ? How many get a genuine game ? How many keep playing ? Etc etc.. I suspect more Jnrs drop out proportionally from big clubs than the smaller more focused ones.
Just my 2p's worth from someone without a club ego or agenda.
From my own clubs point of view, we have started a 3rds this year, startin youth next year, play 2 Sunday games every week (never been short), never been short on sats and have been leaving out at least 4 each week so I am asking for a 4ths next year. We play t20 cup on. Tues, t20 league on weds and play civil service cups, county cups and lots of touring games,
I'd say it's a strong club BECAUSE it's not got an ego or pretentious ambitions.. Or pay players which a lot of club players actually don't agree with. Only 1xi players do as it digs them out the dirt
I agree the big clubs tend to drag juniors to their clubs from the smaller clubs then spit them out when they don't fit the bill making many lose a love for the game and never play again. it is all about money. clubs pay a lot of money for average cricketers to play for them and find every way possible to fund it never mind the consequences. In my coaching experience since finishing playing I have dealt with many clubs that have struggled for numbers and quality input. I try and work on a 3 year cycle with these clubs with the view it takes at least one season to get the current club members to buy into it and enjoy it and in turn attract new members without chasing them just by reputation, then by the third year you have a great following and the club is prospering because everyone has bought into the regime and they have a bigger membership success on the field. through experience now I know the majority of clubs then think they have achieved and then don't require your services even though you have had great input with seniors and juniors alike and then you see the club decline over the next three years and then they go back to wanting to employ average players again to try and make a quick fix. If you have proper coaches who care and a club that understands that its not all about playing in the premier that matters its about what you provide people and families as a club. yes we all want to win and with patience and by doing the right thing the club will prosper both on the field socially and financially because everything goes hand in hand. I know a lot of clubs play prem but have poor membership and low finances because what they bring in goes straight out again on players. there are a couple of clubs in this area that will have way over 10k wage bills and then sum to win a £1000 if they win the prem. is that good business sense? not in my mind yet I know clubs in division 2 3 and 4 who are financially flying because they have great family support membership and social events and are in a position to move forward with 9 or 10 in their first team coming through the junior ranks. that is what cricket is about, its about people friends and enjoying all those peoples success as well as your own.
-
I agree the big clubs tend to drag juniors to their clubs from the smaller clubs then spit them out when they don't fit the bill making many lose a love for the game and never play again. it is all about money. clubs pay a lot of money for average cricketers to play for them and find every way possible to fund it never mind the consequences. In my coaching experience since finishing playing I have dealt with many clubs that have struggled for numbers and quality input. I try and work on a 3 year cycle with these clubs with the view it takes at least one season to get the current club members to buy into it and enjoy it and in turn attract new members without chasing them just by reputation, then by the third year you have a great following and the club is prospering because everyone has bought into the regime and they have a bigger membership success on the field. through experience now I know the majority of clubs then think they have achieved and then don't require your services even though you have had great input with seniors and juniors alike and then you see the club decline over the next three years and then they go back to wanting to employ average players again to try and make a quick fix. If you have proper coaches who care and a club that understands that its not all about playing in the premier that matters its about what you provide people and families as a club. yes we all want to win and with patience and by doing the right thing the club will prosper both on the field socially and financially because everything goes hand in hand. I know a lot of clubs play prem but have poor membership and low finances because what they bring in goes straight out again on players. there are a couple of clubs in this area that will have way over 10k wage bills and then sum to win a £1000 if they win the prem. is that good business sense? not in my mind yet I know clubs in division 2 3 and 4 who are financially flying because they have great family support membership and social events and are in a position to move forward with 9 or 10 in their first team coming through the junior ranks. that is what cricket is about, its about people friends and enjoying all those peoples success as well as your own.
I so agree with your outlook. Wish you lived near chelt Paul.
-
Paul we are trying to do this at my club, bring through the youth players with good coaching and good values. We play in the Essex league and some of the wage bills other clubs in our league are paying are ridiculous 20k plus! We only pay travel costs for those players who came through our youth ranks and are currently at university, so they can come back to play every Saturday. Every winter we have other clubs calling our best players to join them for money, fortunately we haven't lost any players as yet, i think mainly because of the way we run our club. And don't get me started on mercenaries who call clubs during a season looking for a club next season >:(
-
It drives me mad. People still ask me to pro. I am coming up 46 and play rarely. Sadly not wanting to blow my own trumpet but could still do a job which is not testament to my cricket skills it's a marker point for the quality of a lot of the cricket played now. But the games I have played I have payed my match fees like everyone else paid my annual subs like everyone else and them people still get on my back accusing me of taking money to player cricket, purely because it is just expected now and secondly it's obviously what they would do if offered as opposed to turn it down, even umpires have accused me of it. I do have words to say to them about it. People are not doing this for the right reasons. In Derbyshire the top teams are the ones full of ex pros and a current pro and then good old club players who are clinging on just to play with the ex pros and then people to make the numbers up. If it was me I would bring in a stipulation that 6 out of the team have to be under 26 and then for everyone over that number that's older you will lose so many points each game it happens. This will give the chance of the ex pros who want to keep taking money from the game to be spread around the league instead of all at the most affluent and then the clubs to play on a regular basis the younger players along side the senior good club players and grow as a club not as a bunch of mercenaries who when the money stops bugger off to the next club who's going to pay them. If I ran a league I would have a rule that you can't pay players that are not ex county or first class cricketers. I know clubs would give backhanders but the rule would be there and if found out they would be relegated two divisions. That would stop it straight away because the clubs that clammered to be at the top wouldn't want to be down in div 3 and they would then have to to start putting the work in and giving something back to the game
-
It drives me mad. People still ask me to pro. I am coming up 46 and play rarely. Sadly not wanting to blow my own trumpet but could still do a job which is not testament to my cricket skills it's a marker point for the quality of a lot of the cricket played now. But the games I have played I have payed my match fees like everyone else paid my annual subs like everyone else and them people still get on my back accusing me of taking money to player cricket, purely because it is just expected now and secondly it's obviously what they would do if offered as opposed to turn it down, even umpires have accused me of it. I do have words to say to them about it. People are not doing this for the right reasons. In Derbyshire the top teams are the ones full of ex pros and a current pro and then good old club players who are clinging on just to play with the ex pros and then people to make the numbers up. If it was me I would bring in a stipulation that 6 out of the team have to be under 26 and then for everyone over that number that's older you will lose so many points each game it happens. This will give the chance of the ex pros who want to keep taking money from the game to be spread around the league instead of all at the most affluent and then the clubs to play on a regular basis the younger players along side the senior good club players and grow as a club not as a bunch of mercenaries who when the money stops bugger off to the next club who's going to pay them. If I ran a league I would have a rule that you can't pay players that are not ex county or first class cricketers. I know clubs would give backhanders but the rule would be there and if found out they would be relegated two divisions. That would stop it straight away because the clubs that clammered to be at the top wouldn't want to be down in div 3 and they would then have to to start putting the work in and giving something back to the game
With you on most of that Paul, other than the 'under 26' thing. Why should youngsters get the chance to play and not say 28-32yr olds in their 'prime'? Surely your top teams will mainly be made up of that age group? (assuming we exclude paid/pro types). I totally agree with the fact no players should be paid (and that includes 'player/coach' type roles which are just a way of getting around it. Leagues should see detailed accounts from clubs too at the levels where players get paid (will change depending on area). You could of course go further and say all clubs should field at least 4 'home grown' players in their firsts? (say players that have been there since <20 or something??)
Lots of things you could do, top clubs won't like it because paying people, hording youth and getting ex pro's in is their main Modus Operandi to keep them at the top.
-
Well yes maybe 32 yrs but it needs to be done because the quality of cricket is falling miserably and it needs some people who know what it's about through all levels to stand up to what's happening. The ECB haven't a clue and the people who run the leagues are just in it for the kudos they think it brings them.
-
Well yes maybe 32 yrs but it needs to be done because the quality of cricket is falling miserably and it needs some people who know what it's about through all levels to stand up to what's happening. The ECB haven't a clue and the people who run the leagues are just in it for the kudos they think it brings them.
So why do people (including some on here), believe the quality is better than ever? Why are they so blinkered? Is it really just because they like the thought of them being able to say 'I played ECB Prem cricket'?
-
The quality of my local league is shocking compared to 20 years ago
-
The quality of my local league is shocking compared to 20 years ago
I don't really get why the level is lower though. I mean in theory, equipment is far better, grounds are far better, training facilities are better, there is more money in teh game than ever, more 'coaches' (both crap ones and ex players in the game than ever)...... That should really mean the standard is better
However, is it purely down to less people playing? limited overs? win lose? limiting bowlers to set overs? etc etc.. Is it purely because people aren't interested in say batting 'properly' and just want to biff it at 100+ Strike rates.. meaning less skills develop both on the batting and bowling sides??
-
With regard to big clubs having all the juniors there are 4 clubs Within 15 miles of where i live who have them and put out five or six teams There are two more ex works clubs backed financially by social clubs that have around three or four juniors but are struggling to put two sides out.
All the other works teams and one team clubs around twenty five clubs in the area along with there grounds sadly no longer exist.
-
With regard to big clubs having all the juniors there are 4 clubs Within 15 miles of where i live who have them and put out five or six teams There are two more ex works clubs backed financially by social clubs that have around three or four juniors but are struggling to put two sides out.
All the other works teams and one team clubs around twenty five clubs in the area along with there grounds sadly no longer exist.
This is what the ECB have promoted with clubmark though, a few 'big' clubs.. Rather than lots of smaller ones. It's not all their fault but they are massively to blame. Villages struggle as their age demographics are older now, it's too expensive for normal people to live so only oldies tend to be there.. They don't tend to make overly good communities or anything sport related..
-
I was off all summer. I often walked around the estate to get some fresh air, it's where I was brought up. It was like a ghost town. 25/30 years ago there would have been at least 20/30 lads ranging from say 6 to 15 years old playing a full in football match starting at 10am on the dot. If someone was missing we would go and call on them. Once the footy finished we'd play a game of cricket.
My 18 year old step son has been playing his play station, xbox. Listening to iPods and fannying around on the internet all summer.
That's the reason.
As well as youngsters having everything on demand, they don't have to wait or work at something to get it these days. If they do have to work at it or aren't getting what they want they move onto the next thing.
The very few that aren't like this stick at it, but there are very few of them
-
Harsh
But unfortunately all too true
-
I was off all summer. I often walked around the estate to get some fresh air, it's where I was brought up. It was like a ghost town. 25/30 years ago there would have been at least 20/30 lads ranging from say 6 to 15 years old playing a full in football match starting at 10am on the dot. If someone was missing we would go and call on them. Once the footy finished we'd play a game of cricket.
My 18 year old step son has been playing his play station, xbox. Listening to iPods and fannying around on the internet all summer.
That's the reason.
As well as youngsters having everything on demand, they don't have to wait or work at something to get it these days. If they do have to work at it or aren't getting what they want they move onto the next thing.
The very few that aren't like this stick at it, but there are very few of them
Everything you say about kids here is true.
One of them had to explain to me what a 'FIFA Legends Team' is and what 'Prestige' is in Call of Duty... I'm 30 - not collecting a pension!
Try teaching them when computer games, and society, tells them to seek instant gratification from what they do.
-
I don't think I could teach teenagers, reckon id end up smacking them across the head with a wooden one metre ruler .... Do they still use them or is it all electronic these days?
Do teenagers actually have conversations or is it all by text now?
-
I don't think I could teach teenagers, reckon id end up smacking them across the head with a wooden one metre ruler .... Do they still use them or is it all electronic these days?
Do teenagers actually have conversations or is it all by text now?
As I was a teenager not long ago myself I can say I still have conversations.
Love going down the pub and actually talking to people, my mates don't all feel the same about real life conversation though!
-
At my club we have experienced an increase in numbers and I think there are a few reasons; the pitch is well maintained, we have nets twice a week, people convince their friends to come and play, we are friendly people and largely want to have a laugh and not take it too seriously. Out subs are 25 quid a year and 5 quid match fee. We don't have covers or sight screens but the opposition are always complimentary on the quality of the pitch.
however, a club nearby, who played in a different league, folded at the beginning of last season due to a lack of players and we were grateful to pick up a few of their players. Many Sunday friendliest were cancelled as the opposition couldn't field a side. There are some answers to this. Firstly, there are clubs with 'spare' players, why don't they loan them out. Secondly, why doesn't someone set up a local database where clubs that have been let down by their opposition be put in contact with teams looking for a game.
As for kids. We are looking to set up,a youth team/practice. The issues of CRB checks, insurance etc. mean it may be too much hassle. I know that sounds bad but we struggle to stay in the black each season and we would not use them to prop up the finances.
In my experience, many kids would like to play and don't because: they don't get to bat/bowl, are intimidated as they have not played much, want to join with their friends so they know someone and parents have concerns about playing with men. So when you get young lads in the club be nice and give them a chance.
-
No cricket on terrestrial TV is also a major reason for the decline in participation over the last 10 years. The ECB sold their sole to the devil and don't care because they are now rich men. I'm a PE teacher and very few pupils I asked know who Alistair Cook is, which I find shocking for what is supposed to be our number 1 summer sport. Without seeing cricket and being inspired by players how are they going to get into loving the sport. I was 11 when I watched Botham's Ashes in awe and have been hooked on cricket ever since. Who are the youths cricket heroes now?
-
Good call on the TV rights. However, The IPL seems to have encouraged more interest in at least one aspect of the sport. However, I was considering taking the kids to watch Somerset play, I looked up the prices then thought again. In Wellington, New Zealand we could walk into the 4 day games for free, a 1 day game was about 10 quid and a day at the test 15 quid. Some grounds look empty, would cheaper tickets help fill them and them encourage more interest in the sport. I remember seeing Botham, Garner, Richards play for Somerset and although I was a bit young to fully appreciate what was going on, collecting autographs, learning how to score and eating iced cream resulted in a great day out and an appreciation of the sport.
-
before we go too much on individual reasons why cricket is dying, it's safe to say it's a mix of a lot of reasons, each as valid as another. Is the IPL really that big a deal in the UK? I know a lot of very keen cricketers and very few take the IPL seriously and barely watch any.. IPL is for indian fans only tbh
-
It was the only live cricket left on the television that you didn't have to pay for, which counts for something. That's gone now too.
Cricket will be gone to all intents and purposes in the real word in the next thirty years. Itll become like polo or WWE.
-
All the above points are all valid but don't underestimate the point raised by beaver,two thirds LESS people watched England's ashes victory in 2009 than in 2005 because of TV rights
I'm afraid as much as some of us-myself included-slam the BCCI, the English cricket board sold out and now they are in the 'big three exclusive club ' that means they back each other up because that's where the dollars are.So we(england) hold the nail while the indian board hammers cricket in the West Indies
Incidentally,I ran home to watch the ashes of 81 after school and was inspired,that's with me to this day
Luckily my PE teachers started a team and some of us got places at a local club thru them.
For which I will be forever grateful
Keep up the good work.
-
I'll watch the IPL sometimes but I don't get drawn into the tension. It's the same with football, La Liga maybe offering higher standard football than we have but I don't watch it as it has no meaning to me. I don't actually care who wins. We want to support teams local to us or at least in our leagues. There is still plenty of football on freeview TV so it helps to sell itself, while cricket has nothing to promote it.
-
No cricket on terrestrial TV is also a major reason for the decline in participation over the last 10 years. The ECB sold their sole to the devil and don't care because they are now rich men. I'm a PE teacher and very few pupils I asked know who Alistair Cook is, which I find shocking for what is supposed to be our number 1 summer sport. Without seeing cricket and being inspired by players how are they going to get into loving the sport. I was 11 when I watched Botham's Ashes in awe and have been hooked on cricket ever since. Who are the youths cricket heroes now?
People stopped going to watch county cricket when central contracts started. People used to go to see Alan Donald, Curltley Ambrosee etc steaming in and seeing a dean jones , mark Waugh play against them let alone our own international superstars. It was exciting for not only the older ones but for junior cricketers to see the best competing against county players who perhaps originate from their club side were a massive influence on there ambitions.
-
I'm certain it's mainly down to demographics and the labour market. Back in the day when we were an industrial nation guys worked at the factory or forge all week and their wives largely stayed at home doing an equally important job. They also realised that their other half needed some fresh air in his lungs at the weekend. In my old area the league teams were largely the big employers and competition was fierce.
But now that both halves need to work to have a decent standard of living, and employers tend to have smaller workforces, there just aren't the numbers. Add to that the disappearance of works sports and social clubs, some of which had county standard grounds (I bet Mr Aldred might have played at a few) and there is your answer. The same thing happened with match angling, which, similar to cricket, is the best part of a day gone from the weekend. Nowadays our fresh air comes from visits to garden centres or doing the weekly shop. It's a clock that ain't ever going to turn back.
-
I wonder what s stats say about amateur cricket and pro cricket in 2015 season.
-
No cricket on TV kills it for me.
I fell in love with cricket watching it as a kid with my nan and granddad and then going outside to learn the 'Vaughan' Cover Drive. If it was last summer I wouldn't have seen any of it and probably never taken cricket up.
Cricket needs to be free to air. If the ECB want to continue to sell out the men's game to Sky why not put the women's games on free to air?
-
learnt today that in my area another couple of clubs including a wepl club are on the brink of folding due to losing grounds and simply no way to get a new one of required standards. I know from one team, the wepl one... out of their normal squad of 14... 6 have said they won't bother finding another club, 2 more say they will probably stop as they are in the early 30's and have young families and only keep going because it's 'their club'.. the rest are early/mid 20's so will probably more and continue.. THat's a fair loss to the game really though
sad times