Somerset
The Main AGM
By Grockle
January 25 2010
Apologies for the downtime. A lack of electricty can do that to your plans to update on a Sunday! The AGM is in the Brewhouse tomorrow (Tuesday). I don't think there are any real surprises in store but you never know. Below is the info from the main official site until later in the week when I'll replace it with a report on the events of tomorrow evening
The AGM – Brewhouse 26 January 2010
Thatchers cider, plusher seats and a warmer venue for the Annual General Meeting at the Brewhouse. A big stage with 6 on it – Richard Gould, Andy Nash, Brian Rose, Andy Hurry, David Gabbitas, and Alex Tetley (Rory’s replacement).
The official stuff is first – approval of the minutes etc. Chairman’s Report – Andy Nash(with slide show – showing Gilchrist leaving the field at Hydrabad)
· Dramatic turnaround from our 2006 season.
· Third in the championship and pushing for the second year running is a huge difference.
· Much improved one day perfromances in all formats with the white ball
· Craig and Peter are in the Lions squad for the Middle East
· Women’s World Cup – well done to Mr Gould and his staff
· Opening of the Somerset Stand – on time and on budget – every time a flat is sold we get 1% of the income (for the next 125 years). The two retail units are in contract – one is going to be a deli and the other is a retail outlet
· Opening of the Caddick Pavilion – again on time and on budget
· New conference and Banqueting pavilion (the new CA)
Objectives
· Compete in all forms of the game
· Develop our own players
· Increase the club’s financial strength
· Improve player, member and spectator facilities
It was a very good season – almost a great season but no silverware meant we fell short and hope to do better in 2010. Mentioned in dispatches as prospects; Shrubsole, Trego, Kieswetter, Buttler, Waller, Burke, Dibble all of whom have been picked up by the International representative teams.
Our record gate last season was 8300 against Gloucestershire. This season we can host 10,000. Our financial strength has improved – we aren’t going to be the biggest but we hope to be the best in financial management. There will be radio based commentary on the ground this season (new to me I have to admit) – hmmmm. The CA will be late opening because our first builder went to the wall and the cold weather didn’t help. It will open mid May.
The Outlook
· Free to air Ashes would mean 18 counties will not survive (ECB will lose 60% of TV income)
· The domestic structure is congested even though we’ve lost a competition
· Somerset feel they can survive the economic downturn
· Test cricket is struggling outside of England
· The end of the ‘kolpaks’
BUT…
· Young players in the England setup
· Pollard, Compton, White and Kartik
· We are solid in term of financial stability
The benefit will go to the Children’s Hospice South West and we aim for at least £50,000 for it (generous applause for that). We’ve made progress in a changing cricket environment and we are confident on further progress.
Warm thanks to the club officers and volunteers. The annual report was proposed and seconded and passed.
Alex Tetley - TreasurerHeadlines
· Turnover up 10%
· Match receipts hitting half a million for the first time has to be good in the situation the world finds itself in.
· Last year’s figures were unusual and could not be repeated but we are in a break even position.
· Costs have risen but rather less than turnover
· We have a good asset base in cricket and we continue to generate income through those which is how it should be.
· The CA will require us to take on debt to get it finished. This has been assessed and is a sound decision but it is something we have to manage.
· We are benefitting from good decisions made earlier and investing the money in the most sensible way possible for our business. The CA Pavilion will take 5 to 6 years to pay that debt back (cost is £1.45 million). The rate of interest has been fixed at the current rates. The bank is very supportive and the resources and funding are in place for the playing activities for the season.
Q and A
How much did we get for our IPL involvement?
We got half a million dollars for being there. Another 200,000 for getting to the second part. All that money has come in now. A considerable amount was shared with between the players.
Alex was elected as Honorary Treasurer for the next year. Dixon Walsh were proposed as auditors and passed.
The election of the committee then went on. Results were read. (Sorry it went really fast and I’m sure they will report them on the website)
Nice words for Martin Powell who is standing down in Bath and nice words about Colin Dicken who died in the winter (the reason for the black armbands in the second part of the CL).
A vote was then made to give the committee to right to decide the financial year end. Election of the Honorary Club President (Roy Kerslake current holder) went through and Roy was re-elected. A statement was read from him (he’s in Perth) – very positive.
That’s the formal business done.
Presentation – Brian Rose and Richard Gould
Brian first
SQUAD 2010 – main player squad of 22 with the addition of Pollard and White for the T20 Tribute to Justin Langer and Andy Caddick for their contribution This was a disappointing season because we didn’t win something.
Warm words for Andy Hurry and the players. Stronger side each year and some very good quality players are coming through the younger levels. We have to hit peaks – not second third or fourth. We have to hit peaks at the right time to win something. We played some outstanding cricket with poor performances when it mattered.
We were the best side in the 50 over game and had a poor quarter final. We’ve been working this winter with 8 or 12 players at any one time (lots overseas).
Everyone has to be responsible for everything and measure themselves against their achievements. Trust our leadership and we’ll look to win trophies. We can’t stand still with our squad and we expect to increase the quality and competition of the squad all the time. We are starting to see some real quality in our younger sides. There are 15 to 17 year olds who may be first team players in the next two years. Enormous contributions of some of our Kolpaks (Alfonso got some good press), Kartik is a quality player. Cam White is tremendous but it depends on Cricket Australia how many games he’ll play. Pollard will hit the ball down Taunton High Street!
The change in structure makes no difference to the amount of cricket but it does affect where they are played.
Our development of young players includes the whole of the South West and we are getting there with Waller, Jones and our Devonians.
Then Richard
The mission?
To win trophies and compete consistently in all formats of domestic cricket in order to promote Somerset and England throughout the cricketing world. This has moved on (we hoped to be in the top 50% a couple of years ago). Every session of Somerset cricket mattered in 2009 – we were the only club where that was the case.
The vision?
We want to enjoy international recognitionTo be acknowledged nationally for providing an intimate, welcoming and supportive environment for staff visitors supporters and membersTo be in the economic vanguard of the Taunton devlopment
Our Values?
Pride in our club and our heritage
One winning team with a strong team ethic
Responsibility – our representatives are role models applying the highest standards
Promotion of the Spirit of Cricket in the manner in which we play and work
Objectives?
Compete everywhere
Provide the best possible platform to develop talent
To see a Somerset player make his full England debut in 2010
Complete current projects to improve facilities
Maximise attendances in the new T20 competition
Deliver on commercial opportunities that the ground redevelopment has provided
Exmoor will be back on tap next season guys and gals!
3 Year Objectives
Somerset to be in top 6 performing clubs
Produce 2+ players for England with a pipeline of 8+ in the age group levels
Somerset as the biggest sports brand in the South West
Pathway to Category B status for the ground
Major contribution to the formulation of ECB strategy
Provide commercial environment to allow the club to flourish irrespective of ECB revenue
Q and A
The wicket in Championships?
It’s an issue across global cricket. It’s partly the problem of the definition of a ‘good wicket’. We’ve been working on the wicket since September to get ‘more in it’. Gouldy passes this to Rosey….Rosey tries to pass it to Marksy. Vic contributes – we do not have a good championship wicket but we do have some good selections for next year.
Depth of cover for Craig?
Jos Buttler has been keeping at U19 in the England setup – he’s played three games for England and when he comes back in February. We’ll also keep an eye on the inter-county loan system should there be injuries to both men.
Why isn’t there a 50 over competition with international cricket having one?
Commercially our crowds at 40 overs are twice that of 50 overs. The ICC is reviewing its one day format. Brian doesn’t reckon that it matters. England haven’t exactly been good at any of it and he likes the shorter one and he thinks the ICC will change their view.
Who is involved in team selection?
First criteria – you have to be good enough. We are now seeing second team players (look out for Lewis Gregory and Alex Barrow named in dispatches – 16 year olds).
How are Durham so successful?
Their cricket budget is far higher than ours so they have larger quality in depth because they can afford to pay them not to play. We want that depth but it costs. It is critical therefore that we can get our guys through – Haggett, Burke, Stiff, Turner
The Spirit of Cricket – do we have a policy of walking?
Sarge – Would you rather play Ireland or France in the World Cup? We have no policy. When you are talking to professional cricketers – that is a different situation to playing amateur cricket and it does offend the morals of some. These things happen. Most professionals are honest but they have an umpire to refer to make decisions
Are we going to try and get back the fine imposed on Craig for not being ‘English’?
Yes – Arul Suppiah is also fined which is ludicrous since we’ve had him since he was 11!
Are we still looking for a replacement for Kartik in the early season?
Yes we are but we need quality and if we can’t find him then we’ll look for the younger players to grab the opportunity and make it theirs!!
What do we need for Category B status?
We need 15,000 seats first and foremost there are other media facilities etc. We are just aspiring and will keep it in mind.
The meeting ended at 9:00
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:02:02:18:20:29 by Grockle.
I will leave it to Grockle to make his usual report; I may make the odd comment on what I hear.
1. Grockle how early before the start do you suggest I get there?
2. Will it be all seating?
3. Is there any use in taking my camera – will I be allowed to take any photo if I did?
Most people start to congregate in the bar about 7:00. It will probably be in one of the rooms off the main theatre and I'd expect there to be plenty of seats. Not sure about cameras. I've taken mobile phone type ones in the past. Don't know about flash photos.
I also need to mention that the next part of Nathan Jones' articles about Marcus are in the paper today.
On
Marcus Trescothick
No difficult question the only surprise was when Mr Rose was asked about the soil being use on the pitches, he wouldn’t say anything because he didn’t want the other counties know what we are doing. This seemed a bit too late when it has already been reported what we are going to do.
Two photos to go with Grockle’s report.
Top Table.
Andy Hurry “Head Coach” – Brian Rose “Director of Cricket” – David Gabbitass “Vice Chairman” – Andy Nash “Chairman” – Alex Tetley “Hon. Treasurer” – Richard Gould “Chief Executive”
Not a bad crowd but not 250 they were expecting.
All we need now is Mike's photos to illustrate it!
Is Mr Gould looking to his left and smiling at football score?If any of you missed it Tractor's beloved sh**heads lost 6-0 to Cardiff City.
What cracking news "Exmoor is back!!"
Cheered up my morning no end. As I shall make one or possibley two home matches with my £99 membership I feel that its value has increased several fold with the reintroduction of this delightful liquid. Thank you Mr Gould.
The cricket should be good too.
) optimistic for the coming season.
Roll on Summer!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:01:27:09:46:48 by Frome Exile.
Roll on the new season.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Everyone knew what the messages were and what they meant. Everyone was positive and upbeat and the audience were appreciative of the thought that had gone into making it clear to people what was going on. Thanks for the comments on the clarity. I just wrote it as it came so the credit has to go to the top tables and those who prepared the information.
I was personally very interested in the glowing way in which Rosey and Roy Kerslake talked about the youth prospects in their parts of the evening. They think we have some real gems coming through from the early teen groups to the seconds.
The best cheer of the evening Will came with the Exmoor announcement and it deserved to because that is the people in charge LISTENING to customers and doing something about a minor but important aspect of a supporters experience.
It looks like the powers will also be looking to improve the commentary for games so that it will be accessible to more on the ground and possibly even local people through the radio. It seems they will be using the SKY media centre when they are not there so it should be easier on whoever is doing it as well. It may not be us though because one would assume they will be looking to improve the professional nature of the commentary at the same time...but who knows.
Good meeting, good questions, meatyy and informative answers and some real honesty at times. But the summer will tell how much of this early year optimism is founded on rock rather than sand.
If they are looking to improve the professional nature of the commentary, I hope that means Grockle will get the odd penny for his excellent performance in this area. No need to throw him out just cos he's not a "media" man.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Quote:bloke
Was there any mention of the disappearing treat of cricket at weekends, a decision which seems to be charmed with a total lack of economic sense.
Quite so, the Sunday league was supposed to bring weekend cricket back to the fans, but it's almost as bad as last season. Sheer lunacy.
Bearing in mind the time of the year that the AGM was held, and in particular the venue, I may have been tempted to call aloud to the ‘Big 6’ at the top table: -
“Look out, he’s behind you”, and upon them all possibly turning around, I can imagine one of them saying: -
“Oh, no he isn’t.”
“Oh, yes he is.”
I think it was mentioned more than once that the number of competitions had decreased but the amount of cricket hadn't - and yet they manage to miss the weekends. How does that happen?
Thanks for the photos too Mike - really helps with picturing the scene.
All sounds a very positive event. Just need that countdown timer to tick down to zero!
It seemed pretty clear to the 6 on stage.
And who are 'they' who have all this leisure time? I think the staff at the ground work a full week irrespective of whether there is cricket or not.
If so then I agree - "someone" (whoever that may be) does need to tell the ECB that weekends are the best days for most supporters to get to the cricket. Based on the fixture list that message does not appear to have got through.
Therefore the thanks stand!
Then again it isn't exactly 'rocket science' is it?
From my personal point of view, the marginalisation of Championship games using the working week would be moderately acceptable if the Saturdays had effectively been used for other games. But instead of Day 4 of a CC1 game we have nothing in many cases- how is that better for the supporter?
The 'weekend' could be viewed as from Friday evening to Sunday. On this basis, 6 of the 8 T20 games are on a weekend plus 5 of the 6 40 over games. That's one hell of a change from last season.
So is the issue the lack of County Championship games at a weekend or something else?
Cheers Grockle,cheers Mike.
Very much appreciated.
I expect you have other things to deal with.
It’s Grockle I appreciate, he might say he only report what he hears, the typing would take me all day to do.
Quote:Bath Bob
Could someone please clarify the 'weekend' issues raised by a number of posters (I'm either confused, slow or both!).
I was moaning with particular reference to the basic membership ticket, which does not give access to any of the 8 T20 games. Below is a spreadhseet I produced which lists the weekend cricket in 2010, including those on Friday evenings.
If, like me, you are a working person, a £99 membership is going to get you into 4 40-over games, and possibly two days of a 4 day game (unless you take time out of work). It's simply bad economics, and I shall be paying on the gate until the membership offers better value for working people.
Simple as that innit?
Even if the constraint is to just Sat & Sun, there are 5 x 40 over games available (one in Bath) and 2 x County Championship days. At gate prices (announced on website today) that would come to £134.
Overall it does seem a little harsh, on this basis, to state that the pricing is 'a decision which seems to be charmed with a total lack of economic sense'.
I'm sure that this response comes from a specific set of personal circumstances but trying to manipulate the Rubik's cube of individual preference to take account of working patterns, leisure time, type of cricket and geography (e.g. being able to get to Bath) cannot suit everyone.
And in a wider context, the £99 membership is exceptionally cheap. After a quick trawl of some other counties, the very same type of membership is anything from £130 to £160 at Hampshire, Essex, Kent, Lancashire and Yorkshire. I can't find a club at a lower price than Somerset for the same package of games.
I won't complain for long though because I am one of those from the cricket supporters profession....teaching.
However, I'm with the clubs (and even the EC
on this one as I've mentioned on a different thread about the huge difference in income from playing a one day game (especially on a weekend) compared to CC.
And if the club really does aim for a 10,000 capacity game (as mentioned at AGM), then that one day could be worth north of £100k in admission revenue compared to £1-2k for CC. And that's before the food & drink, hospitality etc etc.
The one-dayers at weekends also bring younger supporters in to the game as it's the format they'd prefer (at that age) at a time when they can attend.
So would anyone really advocate switching say T20 on a weekend to a CC game? Wouldn't the club leave itself open to cries of gross mis-management?
It may be seen as pandering to the masses but what else can be done? The fixture list does aim to put both T20 and 40 over on a weekend (11 out of 14 for SCCC) and there are only so many weekends.
I suppose it's probably worth pointing out that with a job and two ankle-biters, my attendance at cricket tends to be intermittent - but the membership gives me the luxury of 'popping down' to the ground, so I shall miss it. In fact, last season I managed to pop down to the ground as the last over was being played out.
There's no need for the club to make allowances for me, and my moans are strictly limited to Grockles. Were I able to go to the cricket whenever I chose, the membership would represent remarkable value.
I'm sure, like everyone else, you'll make it to the County Ground whenever you can.
P.S. Hope the ankles recover.
Maybe making it so that it was a bit like in the old day where the Championship side would play a one dayer ion the same period or a one day side would play the T20 during the same two days.
League splits of course muck this about but they don't seem to have taken it into account even when it would be possible.
It surely would also help with travelling fans because they would only have to make the trip once and would be contributing to the local economy at the same time.
But ya takes what ya gets and any cricket is fine by me.
If I attend 20/20 on weekdays, I have to pay staff to cover my business and struggle with the traffic and parking, so I hope more games get televised.
In recent years I have watched all the home 20/20, but it has become more stressful, so I'll have to pick and choose, buy tickets in advance and get there early, or cycle the last few miles.
If a business were to hire an executive suite, marquee or whatever on a Saturday or Sunday, their clients, customers and indeed the staffs of the hosting companies, would find eating, drinking and indeed watching cricket a much less attractive option than it would be on a weekday, because to all intents and purposes they would then have a day's rest from their normal working pattern.
Watching cricket is not the principal concern of such corporate hospitality, so perhaps it is of financial benefit to the club to play more midweek games than at the weekends. I have not studied closely the fixture list for 2010, but in previous years the lack of cricket at weekends has been very apparent.
“It’s a business don’t you know?”
Members? Since when have they ever featured in any equation?
But to suggest off-hand that members are somehow insignificant pawns in the great scheme of things is not exactly true or fair in County Cricket.
And yes, it is still a business. Thank goodness that Somerset is rather good at that too when compared to some other counties.
The move to improve catering and give the punters what they want seems to be moving that way and there was no mention whatsoever of corporate clients in any of the plans discussed at the agm - lots of discussion about improving the supporters experience though.
There were a number of grumbles on here at the start of last season about the managers not listening. I heard a couple of things last week that actually showed that someone was listening and was even working to improve things.
The emphasis was on earning from CRICKET during the season and using the place for more corporate stuff in the off season. We shall see I'm sure but I doubt we'll be seeing marquees all over the place and empty seats missing their drunk ligger occupants
By the way, the Durham package for the same matches but reduction for "Senior and Spouse" is £160.
The Somerset £190 is for any two adults from the same household, irrespective of whether you're an existing or new member.
At Durham, both adults have to be over 60 on January 1st 2010 to qualify for the £160 rate and, for new members, this category is £300 and not £160.
A standard Joint membership for two adults at Durham is £240 (existing) and £350 (new).
So at its most extreme, it's £190 for two new Joint members at Somerset but it could be up to £350 at Durham.
More cricket in Bath, a 20/20 game to coincide with the Glastonbury festival, Exmouth. A little imagination would go a long way.
Why focus on turning Taunton into the big city Stadium it never can be when we can't win there very often in any case?
Therefore outground cricket or not (and I'd love to see a match at Exmouth),the club needs a base and in a large county without huge population centres and with few wickets that could be defined as anything that first class cricket could be played on to a large audience of 5 to 10K, we have Taunton.
Your premis that we can't compete on that ground is not based on fact for any short format game and the Championship issues are being dealt with and we'll all have to see if that bridges tha gap between runners up and Champions.
Maybe the weather will also let us have a better go in 2010
And it would mostly involve pulling the plug out and burning their instruments.
The smell of the herbal cigarettes would mix nicely with the candy floss and lager you normally associate with T20,so it wouldn't be all bad.
On second thoughts it would.
It would be a nightmare.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
The people of these out-towns are more interested in a tub of Flora than watching cricket these days it would seem.
A shame.
I'm sure the county would have loved to have given them a few games.
If that is true, my goodness that's 6 years that have just flown by....
Quote:Frome Exile
Apologies for my absence. Ironically, now that I'm not working, I seem to have much less time for surfing!
There aren't too many waves in Cambridgeshire, either!
Road still closed due to flooding.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
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