Custom Bats Cricket Forum
General Cricket => Your Cricket => Cricket Teas => Topic started by: thecord on August 04, 2020, 07:46:59 AM
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Been some chat around my area about teas now that people have played a few games where they have had to bring their own due to COVID-19 restrictions.
What do people think should happen going forwards about teas once we get back to some kind of normality??
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the 2 most annoying things I am finding about playing at the moment.
1. Lack of changing room, eg. No showers etc...
And
2. Making and bringing our own tea
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Tesco meal deal does the job just fine but I do miss the curry pies our resident baker used to bring.
Definitely more bothered about changing rooms, toilets and somewhere to hide from the rain being available again.
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It is an institution in the game. Plus At the end of the game last Saturday, our opposition (big local club) Just got their gear together and left. They were invited to stay for some drinks with us (a small and financially fragile club), but they refused and said they wanted to get back to their place. The game was played in a good spirit too.
So, for self-centred short-sighted players, tea is the only social part of the game now.
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my mother in law has been offering a packed lunch for £5 each, has gone down really well so far we had 8 sign up on Saturday.
no changing rooms and not being able to have a shower is one of the worst things, has def had an impact on how late people stay at the bar.
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I had a chat about this on Sat with our team, I have to admit I am happy just sorting myself out. I was in a minority though, most people were keen to go back to normal teas ASAP.
I just do not want the hassle of having to make them or clear up afterwards.
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I can take or leave teas to be honest. For a traditional Sunday friendly game a good spread is definitely part of the attraction, but for a Saturday league game? I don't really get why we muck around with a big food break in the middle of it. Not so fussed that I'd start campaigning to get rid of them, but I certainly wouldn't mourn their loss.
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I wouldn't mind continuing with make your own. Normally I end up batting/fielding after consuming 2000 calories in 20 minutes, which can't be good for performance levels and certainly isn't good for comfort.
In other COVID-change related matters, I'm a huge fan of the 12:30 start, 40 over games we're having. Home by 7ish and actually have time to do something with your evening. Went out for dinner last weekend on a non rainy summer saturday for the first time in years! There are also far fewer 'you're out all day every saturday' moans coming my way which can only be good for my cricket longevity..
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never really understood the 1/2pm start times, most people im sure would be fine to start at 12 or earlier. cant get much done in the morning anyway if you have to go to cricket so why not bring it forward.
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We always start at 12 anyway, loads better than when I was younger and we'd start at 1 or 1:30pm.
In terms of teas we're lucky as have players mums who do a great job, so just turn up, pay and eat. They're great teas and it's always good to sit with your mates and have a laugh. That said if we had to sort them ourselves it would be a different story!
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I thought scrapping teas wouldn’t be a problem at all but having done two games going straight from keeping to opening only eating a nut bar in between I’ve realised just how much fuel the junk I usually eat at tea actually gives me. Definitely won’t miss the cleaning up afterwards but need to start planning the turnaround snack better!
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never really understood the 1/2pm start times, most people im sure would be fine to start at 12 or earlier. cant get much done in the morning anyway if you have to go to cricket so why not bring it forward.
Someone should start a petition to start league cricket games at 11:30a. It would be great to get the game done early and have some time later.The 1:30p is archaic.
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Always thought 1pm starts was so people that work Saturday mornings could still play. I played in a team with postmen and pharmacists and they missed most away matches because of the early meet times.
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Always thought 1pm starts was so people that work Saturday mornings could still play. I played in a team with postmen and pharmacists and they missed most away matches because of the early meet times.
Those with young kids as well. We have quite a few blokes show up after dropping the kids at friends, swimming lessons, etc. It does go both ways though as we regularly have guys unavailable to play away games because of a late finish.
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Those with young kids as well. We have quite a few blokes show up after dropping the kids at friends, swimming lessons, etc. It does go both ways though as we regularly have guys unavailable to play away games because of a late finish.
This.
We moved from 2pm to 1pm a few seasons back and it means I now go straight from collecting my kids from sports clubs to the cricket club, usually meaning lunch en route. But the 2pm start meant some ridiculously late finishing times if there was rain, lost balls etc.
If we started even earlier then a load of dads would miss the start of matches. With travel time it basically means it's taking up the whole day.
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I don't think that there is an easy option re start times. Some people have work or family commitments in the morning others need the time more in the evenings. At my club, we have a young squad so they would prefer to start early then finish in time for work or going out at night. I imagine though that other clubs would prefer the later starts.
I haven't missed teas at all (and as the club chairman, haven't missed the bills for up to 3 of these per weekend). In the modern world, we have to look at the time the game takes to play and a food break halfway though - and one times too late for lunch but too early for dinner - seems a good place to start.
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We've been starting at 12 playing 40 overs - finished at 5.30pm last Saturday, lovely. Time for a drink and a yarn, home before 7 (though as far as the Mrs is concerned, we finished about 6pm....). Our usual Kent League games are 50 overs, meaning we don't finish until gone 7. I think for anything below the top 3 leagues and the 2nd XI, 40 overs might be the way to go - it's enough time for people to bat, and 8 overs per bowler is fine. At the age of 41, I'm quite glad not to be standing out on the field for over 3 hrs.
With regards to teas, for league games I'd be quite happy bringing my own food (did miss having a brew at half time though) - if I were playing friendlies, teas is the best part of the day!
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Interesting. We had this discussion on Sunday. No-one wants to go back to set teas. They're overpriced, generally crap, a waste of time when you could be getting on with the game, and people want to be able to eat when they want to eat, not at some stupid set time just before they're going to go out and bat/field.
I've really enjoyed being able to have my bat and then come down and have a sandwich straight away rather than pointlessly waiting out of politeness.
I'm sorry but if you think teas and showers are the best bits of cricket you're doing it wrong.
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The option to have a shower is important to a lot of people I think. Set teas wouldn't be a huge loss though IMO, one of those cricket traditions that probably don't make a lot of sense to young guys starting out in senior cricket.
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It seems that many of the people who take their cricket seriously could do without teas and I can understand that. For me, I don’t care about personal performances and my best years are a long way behind me. So for me tea is a good opportunity to have a chat with your teammates and the opposition.
I look forward to playing teams with good teas and it would be a further demise of a sociable and gentlemanly sport if this was to disappear.
Doesn’t help when the opposition bugger off at the end of a game without having a drink. 99% of games I have at least a pint after (more if not driving) and have been to some lovely Pubs as a result.
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I played one game under the new Covid rules and retired.
I will consider a return to the game once teas and showers are back. They were the highlight of the games for me, without them I didn't enjoy the game...
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It seems that many of the people who take their cricket seriously could do without teas and I can understand that. For me, I don’t care about personal performances and my best years are a long way behind me. So for me tea is a good opportunity to have a chat with your teammates and the opposition.
I look forward to playing teams with good teas and it would be a further demise of a sociable and gentlemanly sport if this was to disappear.
Doesn’t help when the opposition bugger off at the end of a game without having a drink. 99% of games I have at least a pint after (more if not driving) and have been to some lovely Pubs as a result.
Do you not reckon more sides might stick about for a pint if games didn't finish quite as late? I'd love to stick about for a beer more often but if it's getting on and we're relying on a few folk to drive kit and players back then it gets difficult to stick about for very long.
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Perhaps, but there are teams who never have a beer after whenever they play away. They do nothing to support smaller clubs so when they all fold they will have no opposition. I despise this ‘big club’ mentality and some teams have and total lack of awareness of small clubs and their financial situation, particularly this season.
We often have a beer before the game, not sure we would do that if there was an earlier start time. So for me it wouldn’t make a difference.
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Someone should start a petition to start league cricket games at 11:30a. It would be great to get the game done early and have some time later.The 1:30p is archaic.
Tried putting this forward to our league board the last two years and been rejected both times no reason why we can’t start at 10:30 - 11:00 during the season from May onwards maybe in April a midday start to allow sun to fully rise but no reason why we start in April when September wether wise is normally so much better
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Tried putting this forward to our league board the last two years and been rejected both times no reason why we can’t start at 10:30 - 11:00 during the season from May onwards maybe in April a midday start to allow sun to fully rise but no reason why we start in April when September wether wise is normally so much better
I really think there will be a big push for permanent 12pm starts throughout the season in the 2 Counties next season. Everyone has been playing them now and realising the benefits surely the league must do to.
We played 50 overs from 12pm on Saturday and it was fine, when you consider next season there also hopefully won't be a need for sanitisation breaks etc... it will go quicker as well. Plus actual time limits on bowling the overs.
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Been saying for a while now that teas should be scrapped, turn around break of 15 mins max and start at 11, 1130 or 12.
Simple fact is teas aren’t really social as teams sit apart and you’re just increasing costs, effort for little benefit. Earlier starts won’t suit everyone but it’s a choice between later starts and no evening or earlier starts and an evening.
I quite like having time to have a drink and go home for a few hours with the mrs rather than finish late and basiclaly have no time
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Our 40 over matches start at noon. At the inning change, we have one 10 minute break. Dinner/food is served by the hosting team after the match. People eat , hydrate, and then leave. We wrap up by 6:30-7pm. Big clubs have plenty of food so that families show up after the game and the whole event becomes a family-event/time together. It is good fun if managed well.
I'd personally prefer that we start early . 10:30 /11:00 am would be a good window to start the match. Start early, end early with a quick meal post game.
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Our 40 over matches start at noon. At the inning change, we have one 10 minute break. Dinner/food is served by the hosting team after the match. People eat , hydrate, and then leave. We wrap up by 6:30-7pm. Big clubs have plenty of food so that families show up after the game and the whole event becomes a family-event/time together. It is good fun if managed well.
I'd personally prefer that we start early . 10:30 /11:00 am would be a good window to start the match. Start early, end early with a quick meal post game.
Putting food on post game for players families is something that I’ve suggested to the club before but it’s never been taken up. Anything which ACTUALLY gets players families down will help player retention . If putting on loss leading decent grub or maybe a free wine does that then it’s a win long term
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When I was playing league cricket in the midlands in the 90s, all the clubs would have a deal with pubs who would put on a big tray of sausages, chips and bread and butter after the game for all the players of both teams. Guaranteed you got pretty much every player to the pub for a few pints and most for a few more and the landlord made a killing. I don't understand why this is so rare nowadays. It was just expected back in the 90s.
I hate tea, I never eat any of it anyway. Who wants to eat a big meal halfway through a sporting contest? Its just stupid.
On a Sunday we play 30 over game, no tea, quick turn around, starting at noon. Everyone gets a good game and you can have a couple of pints and still be home for 6.
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Interesting one. I do like a *good* match tea and the chance to socialise - but -
1) I don’t like getting home at 2030 (The long-haired general is actually pretty good about it but I feel guilty if there’s no time for us to do anything nice)
2) As an opener I never feel like I can fill my boots at tea as hate batting/ fielding on a heavy stomach. If I bring my own I have something to take the edge off getting out for sod all or to celebrate a decent score whilst I watch on - I prefer it!
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Putting food on post game for players families is something that I’ve suggested to the club before but it’s never been taken up. Anything which ACTUALLY gets players families down will help player retention . If putting on loss leading decent grub or maybe a free wine does that then it’s a win long term
At least for my club, this has been our unwritten survival strategy: Keep families involved and retain club members. Every effort is made to keep mini-me's and spouses involved. My club organized a women's match for spouses who wanted to play cricket. One team created spots for women to play in.
It is an accepted reality that for us to maintain cricket club participation, we have to maintain opportunities for family engagement.
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Bringing this thread back because the Sussex Cricket League have just voted to do away with teas for next season.
Sussex Cricket League: Clubs allowed to stop providing tea at matches after vote - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/55057080 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/55057080)
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As a Sussex league club we voted to back the suggestion to not offer teas for league games in 2021. We found the experience ok for the games we played in the summer and previously the teas we found at away games were a real mixed bag. Most of our playing members favoured a reduction in match fee and to bring their own plus saves hassle of arranging.
We will offer teas for any Sunday and midweek (will any teams tour in 2021?) games
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I expect other leagues will now follow Sussex, we have been headed towards shorter games in the last couple of years and so this is no real surprise. Have to say for the social part of the game which has been vanishing I will miss it, but if we are honest the social part of the game has been going down for a long time, we can look back at how it was and get all rose coloured glasses but that is not recreational cricket in 2020/21.
There has not been much mention I can see of costs on this thread and this may be worth thinking about. Very generally 100-250 annual Subs and 10 quid a game-it adds up during the season.
As an example we had people charging 75 quid for a tea, then other clubs started charging 85 as a limit and we still had to find 90 per game back in 2018 for someone to do our teas....it became something of a money spinner in the wrong type of way.
It's very hard to put money back into the club funds when 90 quid is out straight away, you are left with match fees-reduced for juniors and the unemployed.
For this reason I think no tea is the way forward despite missing it, all clubs need to make cricket affordable for the members..it's an expensive game anyway and taking out this cost may enable clubs to make cricket a bit more affordable going forward.
Less people are playing ameteur cricket, the average club does not have much money...will this change help retain players?
Let's hope that is the positive from this....
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Proposal in our league is for top tier to continue with teas, everything below will have a shortened 20 min break between innings with no teas provided. Will go to a vote at the County AGM.
I bring my own anyway so not too bothered!
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No reason that both teams can't socialise between innings while also bringing their own teas.
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If that happens in my league that will be the final nail in the coffin for me. Maybe an old fart but it’s a big part of the game for me.
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As a chairman who has also been a captain they have been a sizeable expense over a season that is just one more thing that has to be sorted in order to get a game on. With club finances stretched and volunteers always in short supply, it is one less thing to worry about. There are some very good teas about but most are very ordinary and I preferred turning up with my own food this year.
On a social side, I would personally prefer a quicker game with more time for drinks after the game than stopping for food between innings.
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Personally found this really easy last year. I always bring a back up for tea anyway as I'm gluten free. The ladies who do the tea at home always had something for me but away matches were a gamble. I think most people didn't mind as they either pre prepared something or enjoyed nipping to McDonald's or Subway. In terms of organisation, as a former captain it will be much easier to organise a Saturday game. Maybe keep it for a couple of times a year and make it a special occasion with a local rival or your usual 'marquee' fixture. For the regular season why not bring your own, it's time the game modernises and although it might not seem it to most, this is a good step in the right direction. We'll done Sussex league!
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Personally I could take it or leave it. I think there are definitely discussions being had in our league about it.
Last season I found it ok bringing my own sandwiches but an extra hassle sorting it out TBH. And whilst sorting lots of other stuff out, spending time with family etc... on Saturday morning, there were 2 games I completely forgot to take food!
I can see the benefits though I have been a captain and know the hassle it is etc... but I will be interested to see what clubs will do with match fees if there isn't a tea.
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Good riddance, as cricket teas are a pain to organise and do properly. Never understood the fascination with a big spread half way through a sporting event, as full stomach’s only encourage a CBA attitude on the field. I’d rather bring my own food and the match fees go towards remunerating scorers and umpires. As it’s far more frustrating having to find players to fulfill these roles within a cricket match, than bringing your own packed lunch.
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As a chairman who has also been a captain they have been a sizeable expense over a season that is just one more thing that has to be sorted in order to get a game on. With club finances stretched and volunteers always in short supply, it is one less thing to worry about. There are some very good teas about but most are very ordinary and I preferred turning up with my own food this year.
On a social side, I would personally prefer a quicker game with more time for drinks after the game than stopping for food between innings.
This. Absolutely this.
Any dinosaur threatening to quit playing cricket because old Sandra isn’t going to make them a sandwich at half time, frankly won’t be missed.
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Good riddance, as cricket teas are a pain to organise and do properly. Never understood the fascination with a big spread half way through a sporting event, as full stomach’s only encourage a CBA attitude on the field. I’d rather bring my own food and the match fees go towards remunerating scorers and umpires. As it’s far more frustrating having to find players to fulfill these roles within a cricket match, than bringing your own packed lunch.
Or match fees actually fully cover pitch hire costs and subs can be used to improve the club's facilities, kit, coaching, etc.
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This. Absolutely this.
Any dinosaur threatening to quit playing cricket because old Sandra isn’t going to make them a sandwich at half time, frankly won’t be missed.
Any player playing amateur cricket will be missed. The game is shrinking year on year
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Yes we move on into 2021, things change and time waits for no man....
Time for a last 1994 moment I feel
The sandwiches from old Sandra have all gone, then the butchers best sausages come out in a bun with mustard and ketchup.
Just when you think it can't get any better out come the scones and jam.
First slip please skip! :)
Ps I am(was) a serious cricketer.
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I was concerned this summer about how the game experience would be with no teas etc. but it was the no shower rule etc. that was the biggest annoyance plus constant need to hand sanitise.
I found we all still brought a tea of some kind, sat outside and chatted as normal...…we shortened tea to 20 mins, started earlier and with the shorter games we found that players socialised more (granted lucky with weather as not allowed inside bar).
My hope is next year you get what you want e.g. bring your cheese and pickle sarnies,...or not, save a few quid on match fee but everyone stays for an extra beer. The game is evolving, it always has and will always need to. Lets hope its the overdue return of the post match social where we all reminisce about those amazing innings, the unplayable deliveries and the comedy fielding errors.
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I have to say I am shocked by the amount of people, in my team and seemingly also on this forum, that find it such a chore to feed themselves!
Its my number 2 priority every day after not stopping breathing.
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I have to say I am shocked by the amount of people, in my team and seemingly also on this forum, that find it such a chore to feed themselves!
Its my number 2 priority every day after not stopping breathing.
It is a strange one with the prevalence of supermarket meal deals. I don't tend to eat much more than the equivalent amount of food at tea, especially not if I'm opening the bowling second innings, and £3 isn't exactly putting me out of house and home. Knock a couple of quid off match fees and I don't see it as a big issue.
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Hope we do the same in Bristol, was much better this season having a short break and getting on with the game. Do love a proper Sunday spread, but too many times tea ends up being a 45 minute waste of time over some crap sandwiches!
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Teas is all part of the game and experience.
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Personally when playing 46-50 over per innings i would much rather bring my own lunch or food and have a 20min turn around time between innings. Teas used to be really good but all to often now are that great anyway. This should also incorporate at max 12pm midday start so players can get some sat evenings with family or still go out
Sunday friendly cricket i would still be happy to gave a tea laid on and a longer interval in between but if they scrapped teas all together i cant say i would be to bothered
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I am interested to hear from the Sussex League forumites.... along with the new rule of no tea, did the league shorten the length of time between innings, change your start times etc....?
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I am interested to hear from the Sussex League forumites.... along with the new rule of no tea, did the league shorten the length of time between innings, change your start times etc....?
It would be interesting to see. I can't see the point of removing tea if you're still going to have more than 15-20 mins break. Better off doing a quick turn-a-round so it's an early finish
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I am interested to hear from the Sussex League forumites.... along with the new rule of no tea, did the league shorten the length of time between innings, change your start times etc....?
Plan is to keep 30 mins tea time next season - personally would like it to reduce. Depending on your division - think there are 12, there were always slight variance in start time as top divisions played longer format. For the August cup we all started at 12pm
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Personally I could take it or leave it. I think there are definitely discussions being had in our league about it.
Last season I found it ok bringing my own sandwiches but an extra hassle sorting it out TBH. And whilst sorting lots of other stuff out, spending time with family etc... on Saturday morning, there were 2 games I completely forgot to take food!
I can see the benefits though I have been a captain and know the hassle it is etc... but I will be interested to see what clubs will do with match fees if there isn't a tea.
We kept our match fees the same this season and the plan would be to so the same for 2021 even if teas are scraped. Once umpires, scorers and match balls are paid for (and we have a Saturday 3rd XI so also have pitch hire costs for this team), match fees don't cover the direct cost of games before the cost of teas is taken into account. Then there are the indirect costs of maintaining a ground, insurance etc.
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We kept our match fees the same this season and the plan would be to so the same for 2021 even if teas are scraped. Once umpires, scorers and match balls are paid for (and we have a Saturday 3rd XI so also have pitch hire costs for this team), match fees don't cover the direct cost of games before the cost of teas is taken into account. Then there are the indirect costs of maintaining a ground, insurance etc.
I thought this would happen a lot, expect complaints from the more casual players if that’s the case
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I thought this would happen a lot, expect complaints from the more casual players if that’s the case
There were a few questions and yes there were from the more casual players who don't help out with any of the jobs around the Club! At the start of the year at the AGM we did break down costs to show that match fees don't actually cover the cost of playing
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There were a few questions and yes there were from the more casual players who don't help out with any of the jobs around the Club! At the start of the year at the AGM we did break down costs to show that match fees don't actually cover the cost of playing
With the greatest of respect, you probably need to re-adjust your membership and match fees then - to be relying on additional income just to cover costs is a dangerous place to be in (this year being prime example!!)
For what it's worth I'm still firmly in the scrap Saturday teas camp - skippering this season without having to worry about teas was a dream (we don't have the luxury of a tea lady!)
Although for touring sides/timed games I'd fully advocate a proper tea, just not on the regular week to week. Half the food ended up in the bin anyway last year.
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With the greatest of respect, you probably need to re-adjust your membership and match fees then - to be relying on additional income just to cover costs is a dangerous place to be in (this year being prime example!!)
We charge £120 registration and £10 per game which isn't the highest around us, but isn't the cheapest either.
I am not sure what the experience is of other Clubs around the country, but I am not aware of a Club in our immediate area playing at our level that meets the costs of senior cricket through subs and match fees. There are clubs - of which we are not one - with the costs of overseas and domestic based paid players which will never be met through the contribution of senior players. For rest, the gap is made up from a surplus from junior cricket, fundraising, sponsorship and clubhouse income.
This year has been more profitable than normal for us. Of course income is down but expenditure has fallen greater. When it costs more to play senior games than you bring in from them, you save money from games not going ahead. Conversely it has been the problem for professional sport in this country outside of Premier League football that they can only meet their overheads through match day income
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As someone else mentioned on here, I'd be happy to scrap the teas but instead if possible have some food after the game like a lot of football clubs do to encourage the opposition and players families to hang about and spend a few quid behind the bar. If I'm opening I don't really want a lot to eat before hand, usually a banana just to keep the levels up, when I'm out there is nothing left for me unless I bring Tupperware etc... bringing my own grub suits me personally.
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There were a few questions and yes there were from the more casual players who don't help out with any of the jobs around the Club! At the start of the year at the AGM we did break down costs to show that match fees don't actually cover the cost of playing
Sure, but that's why you have sponsorships and fundraisers, right?
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We charge £120 registration and £10 per game which isn't the highest around us, but isn't the cheapest either.
I am not sure what the experience is of other Clubs around the country, but I am not aware of a Club in our immediate area playing at our level that meets the costs of senior cricket through subs and match fees. There are clubs - of which we are not one - with the costs of overseas and domestic based paid players which will never be met through the contribution of senior players. For rest, the gap is made up from a surplus from junior cricket, fundraising, sponsorship and clubhouse income.
This year has been more profitable than normal for us. Of course income is down but expenditure has fallen greater. When it costs more to play senior games than you bring in from them, you save money from games not going ahead. Conversely it has been the problem for professional sport in this country outside of Premier League football that they can only meet their overheads through match day income
Smaller clubs can - one of my clubs simply charges £5 per player and gets £45 off the opposition, and this covers ground hire and a match ball. What else do you need? Putting on a cricket match doesn't have to be expensive and complicated.
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Smaller clubs can - one of my clubs simply charges £5 per player and gets £45 off the opposition, and this covers ground hire and a match ball. What else do you need? Putting on a cricket match doesn't have to be expensive and complicated.
It's the exact opposite for many clubs who need to hire council pitches to play. This cost has risen substantially in the last 20 years as local councils no longer see cricket clubs as providing a service for the community and instead look to rateable income from the grounds they own. That rateable value has increased dramatically especially in London where my old club is.
There are many others in our area struggling and have folded or merged with others for this reason.
So your experience is not necessarily applicable elsewhere.
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It's the exact opposite for many clubs who need to hire council pitches to play. This cost has risen substantially in the last 20 years as local councils no longer see cricket clubs as providing a service for the community and instead look to rateable income from the grounds they own. That rateable value has increased dramatically especially in London where my old club is.
There are many others in our area struggling and have folded or merged with others for this reason.
So your experience is not necessarily applicable elsewhere.
How much are you paying for a pitch?
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3rd and 4th 11 pitch hire is in excess of 120 per game.
It’s not just pitch cost..insurance,electricity etc. It’s a long list of additional costs.
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3rd and 4th 11 pitch hire is in excess of 120 per game.
It’s not just pitch cost..insurance,electricity etc. It’s a long list of additional costs.
That's expensive - is there nothing cheaper? Its still easily covered with a slightly higher match fee though.
If you're just hiring the pitch, why are you paying for electricity?
and insurance is less than £100 per year, unless you're getting totally stiffed.
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That's expensive - is there nothing cheaper? Its still easily covered with a slightly higher match fee though.
If you're just hiring the pitch, why are you paying for electricity?
and insurance is less than £100 per year, unless you're getting totally stiffed.
If you play on public parks you need public liability insurance. That's a bit more than £100 a year, can't remember what my club pays but it's not insignificant.
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If you play on public parks you need public liability insurance. That's a bit more than £100 a year, can't remember what my club pays but it's not insignificant.
Last time I checked a few years ago we paid £81 for 12 months cover. It might be marginally more than that now but its hardly an enormous sum, you can easily cover it out of membership fees.
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Smaller clubs can - one of my clubs simply charges £5 per player and gets £45 off the opposition, and this covers ground hire and a match ball. What else do you need? Putting on a cricket match doesn't have to be expensive and complicated.
I guess there is a massive difference between hiring a pitch or if your club has there own ground. Based on your figures that’s £100 income per game, match ball £10-£15 an which leaves £85odd for a pitch hire. Now we have only had to hire a pitch twice at my club as our venue was being used by the County age groups one weekend and that was £200 for a single game. I’m not an expert but I can’t imagine getting many pitches for £80 but clearly you can.
However £100 income per game for us owning our own ground just wouldn’t be sustainable. Annual costs of the wicket and grounds keeping is approx £4K per year excluding any maintenance on the machinery for the wickets or the gang mower for the outfield.
Insurance is approx £300 per year based on our last financial report from
Our AGM which was 2 weeks ago.
Cricket is just not a very cheap sport and as has been said the “community spirit” that was given to cricket clubs in years gone by has long gone from a few clubs I know that relied on this. Other sports that make more income now have the priority on council or sports club owned grounds.
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I guess there is a massive difference between hiring a pitch or if your club has there own ground. Based on your figures that’s £100 income per game, match ball £10-£15 an which leaves £85odd for a pitch hire. Now we have only had to hire a pitch twice at my club as our venue was being used by the County age groups one weekend and that was £200 for a single game. I’m not an expert but I can’t imagine getting many pitches for £80 but clearly you can.
However £100 income per game for us owning our own ground just wouldn’t be sustainable. Annual costs of the wicket and grounds keeping is approx £4K per year excluding any maintenance on the machinery for the wickets or the gang mower for the outfield.
Insurance is approx £300 per year based on our last financial report from
Our AGM which was 2 weeks ago.
Cricket is just not a very cheap sport and as has been said the “community spirit” that was given to cricket clubs in years gone by has long gone from a few clubs I know that relied on this. Other sports that make more income now have the priority on council or sports club owned grounds.
This is accurate, it very much depends on whether you own your ground, in London apart from the rich clubs this type of ownership is pretty rare.you have to rent from the Council.
'Community spirit' indeed gave many clubs I know a leg up-linking to local schools and reflecting the make up of the local area.
Councils squeezed for money will look at any option to raise funds, that means the old way Chris refers to is outdated,the rateable value of pitch/facilities hire will include as an example-hiring out for a wedding, lots of people and an expensive event.
The rateable value of the facility therefore has changed whether cricket is played on it or not.
Anyway this thread is about teas and not to get too far from the subject let's hope for some clubs this cost is now taken out completely, let's hope that does one or both or the following:
Reduces overall match fees to make the game more affordable.
Enables clubs to put some money funds back into the club-or perhaps a combination of the two.
Ameteur cricket is in a dire situation, lets hope despite teas going there is a positive going forward...
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With our own ground I would estimate we need around £5k to £7k per year to be just about sustainable, we have many additional hoops to jump through to satisfy council and neighbours but with a bar and hiring out club during week to a small pre-school we can just cover these costs. Our membership is in decline and those existing members don't want to pay more or help out with jobs e.g. pay groundsman. We charge £60 membership and £8 match fee.
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A better option going back to food is our. T20 league. Games are normally played midweek with a request that some. Form of food is provided at the end of a game. Common options are a bbq or chil/curry normally with a cost of. £3-£4 this tends to be taken up well by both sets of players and spectators alike.
If it’s given that teas are no longer as important to the masses as before maybe a work round would be a simple bring your own lunch to allow a quicker turn around and then to encourage more people to stay and the social element more of a ficus on the after match element
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I guess there is a massive difference between hiring a pitch or if your club has there own ground. Based on your figures that’s £100 income per game, match ball £10-£15 an which leaves £85odd for a pitch hire. Now we have only had to hire a pitch twice at my club as our venue was being used by the County age groups one weekend and that was £200 for a single game. I’m not an expert but I can’t imagine getting many pitches for £80 but clearly you can.
However £100 income per game for us owning our own ground just wouldn’t be sustainable. Annual costs of the wicket and grounds keeping is approx £4K per year excluding any maintenance on the machinery for the wickets or the gang mower for the outfield.
Insurance is approx £300 per year based on our last financial report from
Our AGM which was 2 weeks ago.
Cricket is just not a very cheap sport and as has been said the “community spirit” that was given to cricket clubs in years gone by has long gone from a few clubs I know that relied on this. Other sports that make more income now have the priority on council or sports club owned grounds.
As I say - it is possible to run a cricket club on a relatively shoestring budget. I've played for several such teams.
If you're at a larger club, presumably you have a sponsorship and fundraising committee? My Saturday club raise around £5,000 a year with relatively minimal effort.
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Smaller clubs can - one of my clubs simply charges £5 per player and gets £45 off the opposition, and this covers ground hire and a match ball. What else do you need? Putting on a cricket match doesn't have to be expensive and complicated.
My comment was made in reference to established cricket Clubs that operate a site rather than teams that hire pitches as and when required. I can see that if your costs are limited to paying for individual games in the way local league football operates then it is easier to budget using match fees to cover the costs.
When you operate a site you have many fixed costs irrespective of whether games to ahead or not. During the season, it costs my Club around £200 per week in consumables (fuel, grass seed, loam, fertiliser etc) and equipment servicing to maintain the ground alone. Over the year the cricket budget is c.£20k. Then there is CapEx when equipment needs replacing or facilities are improved. Cricket is not a cheap sport to deliver.
In this context, providing teas costs £2-3k per year depending on how many games are rained off which is a material costs that could be better invested in my view in other areas
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My comment was made in reference to established cricket Clubs that operate a site rather than teams that hire pitches as and when required. I can see that if your costs are limited to paying for individual games in the way local league football operates then it is easier to budget using match fees to cover the costs.
When you operate a site you have many fixed costs irrespective of whether games to ahead or not. During the season, it costs my Club around £200 per week in consumables (fuel, grass seed, loam, fertiliser etc) and equipment servicing to maintain the ground alone. Over the year the cricket budget is c.£20k. Then there is CapEx when equipment needs replacing or facilities are improved. Cricket is not a cheap sport to deliver.
In this context, providing teas costs £2-3k per year depending on how many games are rained off which is a material costs that could be better invested in my view in other areas
Wow, how many pitches do you have? Maintaining our ground costs between £3000 and £4000 a year.
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As I say - it is possible to run a cricket club on a relatively shoestring budget. I've played for several such teams.
If you're at a larger club, presumably you have a sponsorship and fundraising committee? My Saturday club raise around £5,000 a year with relatively minimal effort.
Just checked the financial statement from our AGM fully
Fundraising, grants and subscriptions which are the majority of our income with the exclusion of bar income was just short of £20,000 fundraising was £2.7k which is a lot lower as a lot of functions couldn’t happen last summer. Most came from sponsorship agreements for advertising boards at the ground last year as they are on a 3year rolling agreement and 2020 was the start of a new 3year period. There has obviously been zero social events since the end of the season and looks like it could well be the case there will be none until the start of the 2021 season (assuming we get a 2021 season in full)
Grounds costs were £5800 including the maintenance on the grounds equipment.
Insurance was £2400
Balls were £600 take a little change.
This sounds like a great position to be in but we are in the middle of a large renovation project on our pavilion to increase size to hold larger social events.
However we are a well established club with our own ground and finance takes a lot of managing to ensure we are always in a healthy to fairly healthy position.
However teas makes no financial benefit to us as in our league you do not charge for teas. We okay league cricket on both Saturday and Sunday so you provide and receive a tea for and from each side you play.
If you are a smaller club you in my opinion need to have 1 or 2 people that have a very good grasp of budgets and on the figures you quoted of £100 per game income from match fees and teas ( excluding if there is any cost to actually provide the teas ie players actually bring a tea for two system) based on say 30 games a season with half of these being at home would give an income of £1500 per season. You mention grounds costs are £3k-£4K so worst case this leaves a loss of £2500 which if you can generate £5000 per year only leaves £2500 profit.
It wouldn’t take much to eat that up so would leave a club in a potentially vulnerable position as this excludes costs for balls, and other such expenses although agree these can be kept to a minimum
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Wow, how many pitches do you have? Maintaining our ground costs between £3000 and £4000 a year.
How many pitches on your square and how many matches per season?
And does this include machinery repair and maintenance?
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Wow, how many pitches do you have? Maintaining our ground costs between £3000 and £4000 a year.
We have 15 pitches on the square and run 4 senior teams and 7 junior sides so the ground gets used most days/ evenings for games or training.
It would be a rare year when our equipment maintenance, servicing and replacement falls below £3k.
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How many pitches on your square and how many matches per season?
And does this include machinery repair and maintenance?
7 pitches and maybe 40-50 games? We're probably an average size, 2-team club about halfway up the pyramid. About as average as average can be.
The roller is serviced every year for free as part of a sponsorship deal. The groundsman brings his own mower.
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Only the big clubs are turning a profit or those with outside interests (bar's etc, outside of cricket). Cricket can make money but generally only through Juniors (that includes parents bar takings).
You can run a club on a shoe string but generally that's with a lot of good will from someone and rarely produces a good ground/team (it will from time to time through luck but not regularly). Big clubs can simply then fund their way to the top via poaching, paying players and then it becomes the cycle we see in smaller clubs dying and bigger clubs just farming players up.
Anyway.. Tea's aren't required now.. cut the break to 15 mins turn around, scrap tea's.. You've just shorted the day by 30 mins which probably suits more players than it'll harm time wise and cuts costs.
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7 pitches and maybe 40-50 games? We're probably an average size, 2-team club about halfway up the pyramid. About as average as average can be.
The roller is serviced every year for free as part of a sponsorship deal. The groundsman brings his own mower.
Id love to see a full breakdown of these expenses but as the owner of a Sport Turf and Landscape business I smell bovine manure
6 or 7 games on each pitch would require an awful lot of repair, loam, seed etc?
And the groundsman brings his own mower, for free?
What about scarifying? Aeration? Mowing the outfield? Fertilising? Watering? Paint? Surrounding area?
We have 8 match pitches plus 2 practice pitches on the square but overall less than 40 fixtures. Our costs are very close to Soulmans and that is after the free use of the equipment I own plus voluntary hours from 3/4 of us.
On the original topic - our county AGM voted in the No Teas and it will continue as last season. So we have a tea break but must bring our own. Water, hot and cold must be provided for the away team!
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On the original topic - our county AGM voted in the No Teas and it will continue as last season. So we have a tea break but must bring our own. Water, hot and cold must be provided for the away team!
I quite like the sound of that, bring your own food and we'll provide water and a cuppa. Suspect the food I'd bring is nicer than a lot of the teas in our league as well.
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Id love to see a full breakdown of these expenses but as the owner of a Sport Turf and Landscape business I smell bovine manure
6 or 7 games on each pitch would require an awful lot of repair, loam, seed etc?
And the groundsman brings his own mower, for free?
What about scarifying? Aeration? Mowing the outfield? Fertilising? Watering? Paint? Surrounding area?
We have 8 match pitches plus 2 practice pitches on the square but overall less than 40 fixtures. Our costs are very close to Soulmans and that is after the free use of the equipment I own plus voluntary hours from 3/4 of us.
On the original topic - our county AGM voted in the No Teas and it will continue as last season. So we have a tea break but must bring our own. Water, hot and cold must be provided for the away team!
6 or 7 games per pitch is fine. Prepare it for Saturday, play on it again Sunday, repaint the lines midweek, play midweek, repair for Saturday, then repeat.
This summer the groundsman only wanted to use half the square and we had lots of games in a short space of time so we ended up using some pitches 10-15+ times. They did get a bit slow and low towards the end of that.
He's a good groundsman and he clearly knows what he's doing and we have good pitches, and so do some of the other clubs he does pitches for. One of the other pitches he maintains is regularly claimed to be the best batting pitch in the county. He provides everything except the roller.
I'm sorry you are not able to do your ground so efficiently. I'm not sure what additional advice I can give you.
As for the smell in your nose, maybe you should have a shower.
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I quite like the sound of that, bring your own food and we'll provide water and a cuppa. Suspect the food I'd bring is nicer than a lot of the teas in our league as well.
and you can eat it whenever you want!
I normally eat in 3 bursts - an bag of crisps about 20 minutes before the start, a sandwich when I come in from batting, and then an apple when I come in from fielding. I don't want a whole plateful of food, and the one time I don't really want anything is in the changeover when I'm either putting my pads on or getting ready to field.
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6 or 7 games per pitch is fine. Prepare it for Saturday, play on it again Sunday, repaint the lines midweek, play midweek, repair for Saturday, then repeat.
This summer the groundsman only wanted to use half the square and we had lots of games in a short space of time so we ended up using some pitches 10-15+ times. They did get a bit slow and low towards the end of that.
He's a good groundsman and he clearly knows what he's doing and we have good pitches, and so do some of the other clubs he does pitches for. One of the other pitches he maintains is regularly claimed to be the best batting pitch in the county. He provides everything except the roller.
I'm sorry you are not able to do your ground so efficiently. I'm not sure what additional advice I can give you.
As for the smell in your nose, maybe you should have a shower.
While it sounds like a great arrangement, it sounds like your club and the other clubs this bloke does work for have struck gold a bit. Wonderful for your club but not really applicable as advice or as a good gauge of what costs can/should be for other clubs not so fortunate.
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6 or 7 games per pitch is fine. Prepare it for Saturday, play on it again Sunday, repaint the lines midweek, play midweek, repair for Saturday, then repeat.
This summer the groundsman only wanted to use half the square and we had lots of games in a short space of time so we ended up using some pitches 10-15+ times. They did get a bit slow and low towards the end of that.
He's a good groundsman and he clearly knows what he's doing and we have good pitches, and so do some of the other clubs he does pitches for. One of the other pitches he maintains is regularly claimed to be the best batting pitch in the county. He provides everything except the roller.
I'm sorry you are not able to do your ground so efficiently. I'm not sure what additional advice I can give you.
As for the smell in your nose, maybe you should have a shower.
So your Saturday team will play on a wicket that has previously been used 3 times? Sounds tinpot to me
As I said Id be interested to see a breakdown of the costs for the extra things i mention.
Or the amount he charges and for what services.
This chap must work an awful lot of hours given how long it takes to get just one square and outfield up to a good standard! And for a measley wage by the sounds of it!
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So your Saturday team will play on a wicket that has previously been used 3 times? Sounds tinpot to me
As I said Id be interested to see a breakdown of the costs for the extra things i mention.
Or the amount he charges and for what services.
This chap must work an awful lot of hours given how long it takes to get just one square and outfield up to a good standard! And for a measley wage by the sounds of it!
We pay between £3000 and £4000 per annum for him to maintain the square and prepare pitches for each game. He does maybe 6-8 hours a week during the summer preparing pitches? From asking around, that's about standard. if he does 4 grounds that's £16 grand for 5 months work, its hardly a measly wage.
"Tinpot"? What's that meant to mean? We could do with less arrogant snobs on here, thanks.
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While it sounds like a great arrangement, it sounds like your club and the other clubs this bloke does work for have struck gold a bit. Wonderful for your club but not really applicable as advice or as a good gauge of what costs can/should be for other clubs not so fortunate.
TBH, as an average-sized club we're quite privileged in having enough money in the bank to be able to afford to pay a professional groundsman - we only started doing this 5 years ago during my stint as treasurer. Before that, we did it ourselves - and most of the clubs we play against still do that. Its much cheaper (less than £1k a year in seed, loam and equipment hire etc), but obviously you're not experts so the pitches aren't so good, and its a massive burden on the players.
If you're struggling to pay for your pitch upkeep, are you aware that most county boards have equipment they will lend you for a nominal fee? We used to borrow a scarifier every October and a heavy roller every April. I think it cost £50 for the weekend.
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We pay between £3000 and £4000 per annum for him to maintain the square and prepare pitches for each game. He does maybe 6-8 hours a week during the summer preparing pitches? From asking around, that's about standard. if he does 4 grounds that's £16 grand for 5 months work, its hardly a measly wage.
"Tinpot"? What's that meant to mean? We could do with less arrogant snobs on here, thanks.
6-8 hours per week. We do 50 plus all told. You can see why im intrigued as to the discrepancies.
You've made your bed with many nonsense statements on club topics in the past so pardon me for treating you with cynicism
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6-8 hours per week. We do 50 plus all told. You can see why im intrigued as to the discrepancies.
You've made your bed with many nonsense statements on club topics in the past so pardon me for treating you with cynicism
What on earth are you doing for 50 hours a week? All you have to do is cut it, roll it and paint the lines, and then maybe cut and roll next week's pitch for it to start to dry out. Are you sure you're making the best use of your time?
Your propensity to resort to personal insults says far more about you than it does about about anyone else.
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If you're struggling to pay for your pitch upkeep, are you aware that most county boards have equipment they will lend you for a nominal fee? We used to borrow a scarifier every October and a heavy roller every April. I think it cost £50 for the weekend.
Interesting as that is, unfortunately not an option up here in Scotland. My club is really fortunate that we have regular volunteers who do a lot of work keeping the pitch in order and a sponsor who provides a roller for use each season. Without those we'd probably incur some pretty significant costs on top of the maintenance fees paid to the local council as we play on a public park.
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What on earth are you doing for 50 hours a week? All you have to do is cut it, roll it and paint the lines, and then maybe cut and roll next week's pitch for it to start to dry out. Are you sure you're making the best use of your time?
Well I have previously given you a list in this thread. We do all those things. Plus verticutting & draining. Maintaining the surround of the outfield etc. Between 40 and 50 per week is minimum required just to maintain standards let alone improve them.
I think your last comment tells me all I need to know about the standard of your ground and the cricket you play.
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What on earth are you doing for 50 hours a week? All you have to do is cut it, roll it and paint the lines, and then maybe cut and roll next week's pitch for it to start to dry out. Are you sure you're making the best use of your time?
Your propensity to resort to personal insults says far more about you than it does about about anyone else.
Do you have a web link to your club so we can see pictures of the ground/square.
That might assist, there is clearly a huge difference between your outlay and some of the rest of us
It may help physically seeing it.
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Blimey, this one has drifted!
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Just to let you know that now there is going to be a re-vote on the topic of teas in 2021, due to some issues of numbers voting on the night and I think the fact it made BBC news. Will keep you posted - our club will still support the idea of no teas (at league games) in 2021.
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What on earth are you doing for 50 hours a week? All you have to do is cut it, roll it and paint the lines, and then maybe cut and roll next week's pitch for it to start to dry out. Are you sure you're making the best use of your time?
Your propensity to resort to personal insults says far more about you than it does about about anyone else.
Can we all please stop giving this member our time and thoughts and then maybe just maybe he will go away.
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Are they doing teas after covid-19?
Depends what the league decides. I think we'd vote to scrap teas and just have a 10 minute turnaround and simply have drinks and biscuits on hand throughout the game.
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Yes mate, its average club cricket at an average cricket club. Like most people here play for.
If you want a specialist semi-pro forum for cricketing heroes I suggest you try somewhere else.
I volunteer a lot on our ground, doing maybe 8-10 hours a week by myself. Our head groundsman and his team are there day in, day out, probably doing 35-40 hours a week. Our deck is very good, as is our outfield, but it isn’t the best in the area.
You need to flood the pitch, cut at least 3x, roll for hours, paint the lines, mark the 30 yrd circle, cut the outfield, mark the boundary, put in the stump holes, water the outfield and that’s just for one strip/ game. If you factor in repairs, seeding, top dressing, spiking, and scarification, then suddenly it’s looking impossible to do in 8-10 hours or whatever you said he spends on it.
I’ve played at one ground previously, where the groundsman said he put in 5 hours of work a week, and the outfield and deck were absolutely pony.
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Off the original topic but I was just speaking to our groundsmen about a different matter but thought I would ask out of interest how many hours per week he spends on our wicket and outfield alone. His response was approximately 40hours per week from sometimes 6am (he lives 25yrds) from the club gates. If he wants to water the pitch for a few hours in peak summer before the sun is on it all day. He also mentioned the outfield needs cutting at least twice a week to keep it at a level he is happy with and that’s about 6-8hrs alone
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The only way you are playing 40-50 home games a season on the back of a groundsman doing 6-8 hours a week is if you are playing them all on an artificial wicket.
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The only way you are playing 40-50 home games a season on the back of a groundsman doing 6-8 hours a week is if you are playing them all on an artificial wicket.
I think I've been pretty unambiguous - its a regular grass wicket - he prepares and maintains several club's wickets and still plays senior minor counties at the weekend. Obviously he couldn't do this if he was spending 30+ hours on each, could he?
On a more general note, I think you all need to ask yourself why you feel the need to go on the internet and argue with people about how their club is run, something you can't possibly know anything about. You just look like a bunch of cranks.
I don't argue about how your clubs are run, or make childish, snobby remarks about the standard of club cricket below the ECB premier league levels, so why don't you show the same level of respect for other forum users?
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Keep it civil please folks. Different clubs spending wildly different amounts of time on pitch prep really shouldn't be a surprise, much less something to get upset about.
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What on earth are you doing for 50 hours a week? All you have to do is cut it, roll it and paint the lines, and then maybe cut and roll next week's pitch for it to start to dry out. Are you sure you're making the best use of your time?
What club do you play for?
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A quick calculation from me if anyone is interested.
Cut outfield 2hrs twice a week
Cut square 2hrs twice a week
Roll square 2hrs
Prepare match day strip 2hrs midweek & 1hr on match days (inc next strip)
Cut and mark boundary 1 hr
Repairs, watering & 40 yd circle 2hrs
Edges, hedges & around the nets & pav 2hrs
Generally faffing around with fuel, things breaking, opening up and locking up at least 1hr
We are a very village club and I would say 18ish hours a week - normally shared between the same 2 or 3 people.
Same people also end up sorting teas - so to bring it back to topic I’m happy to bring my own food and have a traditional tea for showpiece games only.
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A quick calculation from me if anyone is interested.
Cut outfield 2hrs twice a week
Cut square 2hrs twice a week
Roll square 2hrs
Prepare match day strip 2hrs midweek & 1hr on match days (inc next strip)
Cut and mark boundary 1 hr
Repairs, watering & 40 yd circle 2hrs
Edges, hedges & around the nets & pav 2hrs
Generally faffing around with fuel, things breaking, opening up and locking up at least 1hr
We are a very village club and I would say 18ish hours a week - normally shared between the same 2 or 3 people.
Same people also end up sorting teas - so to bring it back to topic I’m happy to bring my own food and have a traditional tea for showpiece games only.
ok, sensible post, but now adjust for:
the council cut the grass, not the groundsman
we don't have a 40 yard circle (not required in our league)
we have a boundary rope, not a line.
groundsman has no responsibility to maintain the pavilion, the hedges or the mobile net. As I've explained, he just does the square.
According to your numbers, I make that 9 hours per week actually working on the pitch- so we're completely in agreement.
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I think the confusion has come from the term groundsman. I think most would read into that term, rightly or wrongly, more than just cutting, rolling and maintaining the square, particularly given that this individual is paid a fair chunk of cash.
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I think the confusion has come from the term groundsman. I think most would read into that term, rightly or wrongly, more than just cutting, rolling and maintaining the square, particularly given that this individual is paid a fair chunk of cash.
Only at a club big or lucky enough to have a full time groundsman. I've played for/against plenty of clubs that pay someone who knows what they're doing to look after the square while members take care of donkey work like cutting the outfield and tidying hedges. Would have thought for a 2 team club with their own ground it's probably a very common arrangement.
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Possibly just my experience of Scottish club cricket talking but very few clubs I know of are paying in the multiple thousands for someone just to handle the square. Different situation with it being a parks club on a small budget I would guess. Interesting stuff.
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Only at a club big or lucky enough to have a full time groundsman. I've played for/against plenty of clubs that pay someone who knows what they're doing to look after the square while members take care of donkey work like cutting the outfield and tidying hedges. Would have thought for a 2 team club with their own ground it's probably a very common arrangement.
The "does your club have a fulltime groundsman" discussion is very much like the "does your club have a bar" discussion, or the "does your club have an annual turnover greater than £20,000", or the "does your club pay professional umpires" discussion.
There are a few members on this forum who clearly pay for very big, rich clubs who for some reason become extremely angry when it is suggested that actually, the majority of cricket clubs are not like that.
The majority of cricket clubs around the UK are actually pretty small, with either 1 or 2 teams, and they either don't have their own ground or if they do, its just a field with a glorified shed next to it. If you play for a big premier league club, good for you, but you're the exception here, 90% of club cricketers don't.
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I think the confusion has come from the term groundsman. I think most would read into that term, rightly or wrongly, more than just cutting, rolling and maintaining the square, particularly given that this individual is paid a fair chunk of cash.
Careful...us groundsmen can be awfully grumpy at times!!!
Groundsman = Someone who ensures all the necessary work to a cricket ground is either carried out or contracted out to professionals, who will undertake the necessary work required.
Professional Groundsman = Someone who is paid to do the above.
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Careful...us groundsmen can be awfully grumpy at times!!!
Groundsman = Someone who ensures all the necessary work to a cricket ground is either carried out or contracted out to professionals, who will undertake the necessary work required.
Professional Groundsman = Someone who is paid to do the above.
I agree with your definition, but I'm not sure in the case described previously that the bloke in question ensures that any work is contracted out to professionals if it's the council showing up to cut the outfield. Think that's maybe where wires got crossed about amounts of money involved, etc.
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Tea-gate update!
After a re-vote, all Sussex league cricket teams will be required to provide teas for league matches. Its all been a bit of a farce TBH
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Tea-gate update!
After a re-vote, all Sussex league cricket teams will be required to provide teas for league matches. Its all been a bit of a farce TBH
It is a bit of a farce, tbh I can't see teas lasting much longer. Its a significant expense, a massive hassle and a huge waste of time in the middle of each match, for something that only a small proportion of players actually want!
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Tea-gate update!
After a re-vote, all Sussex league cricket teams will be required to provide teas for league matches. Its all been a bit of a farce TBH
That's crazy..... was the vote that close in the 1st place?
I wonder if the re-vote result will make the BBC website 🤔
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Very surprising.....where Sussex go others will follow I'm sure. :)
Much as I like the tea break as a chance to chat/vape/sandwich and have a rest(!) I can easily see no tea breaks as the way forward to shorten the game...it's heading to shorter matches isn't it...
Have the old members come out fighting in the Downs? tradionalists win the day after all. We must find out more.
I foresee an EGM :(
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WEPL are canvassing clubs currently. Hopefully teas are scrapped but doubt they will be. Our team was 9-2 to keep teas
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After a summer off the tea ladies (and gents) might be the hardest of all to get back to cricket...
They have glimpsed a summer without sandwiches, sausage rolls & washing up.
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What club do you play for?
@SLA