Chairman’s review Oct 2024
Occasionally, Geoff Evans (Chairman 2014-2022) and I wistfully reminisce on the days when Club cricket saw teams turn up, change on the boundary, play a game, and end with a pint or three in the local pub. Of course, things were never quite that simple but running a cricket club is much more demanding these days. Shenley Village Cricket Club (SVCC) is a significant business with an annual turnover of around £100,000, approaching 300 members, touching hundreds of local households, making us one of the largest community hubs in Hertsmere.
With the memories of the 2024 Summer season still strong and before we nestle into the straw for Winter hibernation let me share some thoughts.
Junior section thriving
We played well over 100 Junior games in the 2024 season across 8 age groups and 11 teams. Add to these the regular practice sessions each week throughout the Summer and you can see the extraordinary level of Junior cricket SVCC provides. I attended several junior games through the season, including County finals day, and it was heartening to see the excitement, camaraderie, fun and pride among the teams and from the supportive parents on the boundary. It really brought home to me the important role we provide for so many youngsters and families in the local community.
We are also one of a very few clubs in Hertfordshire that provide all year round activity with our busy indoor programme from Oct to March split into several age groups.
Kris Nissen does a wonderful job structuring and coordinating the Junior section, supported by a team of qualified coaches (Graham Seymour, Mo Rizvi and Paddy Dooley), and a growing army of volunteers who manage the age group teams and officiate at matches. This volunteer force is vital for the Club and I encourage others to contact Kris and offer their help.
The real value of our Junior section is the healthy activity, social engagement and time away from screens, but it is also nice to report success on the pitch. SVCC won 70% of the junior games played, and our U11s, U14s and U15s all made County finals day with U11s becoming County champions.
Mixed fortunes for adult teams
We field four adult teams in the Herts League, the second largest county league in the country with 29 divisions.
Danny Manzi stepped in at the 11th hour to captain the 4th XI team and did a great job in marshalling the mixed age group of promising colts and seasoned adults to a mid-table finish.
Will Poynton took on the 3rd XI at just 20 years old, showing great maturity and did a fantastic job in getting the team so close to promotion from Division 7a. Will led from the front scoring two centuries, but it was the positive spirit of the team including many of Will’s contemporaries that was especially encouraging.
The prime accolade goes to the 2nd XI who won 12 out of 16 league games played in becoming champions of Division 4a. Led by Alex Thomson, and closely supported by some wise old gits, they put in some really strong performances and were deserved champions. The 2s go up to Division 3b next season.
The 1st XI had a frustrating season. We finished second from bottom just 2 points behind Bishops Stortford and survival in The Premiership so are relegated back to The Championship. But we won 5 games which is one more than Bishop Stortford and the same as 7th placed Hertford, and had several more winning positions that we couldn’t quite convert into victories. Overall, we showed that we can compete in the topflight although we need to be more ‘savvy’ in our game management. I admired as a chairman and father the leadership of captain Morgan Stanley in a challenging season against the ‘big boys’.
A friendly, welcoming Club
It is lovely and a key measure of progress that we can celebrate on-field successes for our Junior and Adult teams, but the most important thing about our Club is that we provide a friendly, inclusive and supportive environment for many. It is perhaps the thing I am most proud of.
Club finances
The aspect of our Club that disturbs my sleep the most is our financial survival. We are a big operation with an annual cost base of around £100,000. It costs a lot to provide extensive all year round coaching, and to provide some of the best playing and practice facilities in the County.
We work hard and successfully to cover this cost base but things are very tight and there is a long list of things we would like to do but do not have the money to do so.
I am pleased to report that after two years of painful operational deficits which have used up our reserves, we are on course to make a small surplus this year. I have made stronger financial management and more active fund-raising key priorities this year since taking over the Chairmanship in Feb 2024.
I attach a couple of graphics to share the overall picture of our costs and income, and to list the ways those involved with our Club can help. To twist JFK…..”Ask not what your Club can do for you, but what you can do for your Club”
Groundwork
It costs a lot to maintain the practice and playing facilities at Shenley Cricket Centre. We do not own the cricket centre. We are paying tenants. As well as paying an annual rent, we pay for the groundsman Arthur, and all ground maintenance costs including repairing and replacing the equipment, regular cutting of the outfields, and putting the squares ‘to bed’ in the Autumn. This accounts for over a third of our total cost base. We get considerable support in meeting these costs from Ray McLennan. Ray not only provides financial support but also spends a lot of time and oversight to ensure we have first class playing facilities. Thank you, Ray, the Club is very grateful. I would also like to say thank you to Oli Andrews who repaired the framework of the roll-on covers.
Always looking for match officials
To run a cricket game you need match officials, namely umpire(s) and scorer(s). These are vital for all games at all levels. We are so fortunate to have several volunteers, but we could really do with more. It is a wonderful vantage point to either umpire or score a game, you feel so involved with the team and the match.
There are courses and qualifications available, and you can start at a level you feel comfortable with and get lots of support. If you interested in having an exploratory chat, please let me know (chris.stanley04@gmail.com)
Move to Play-cricket website platform
For many years our Club website has been run on a platform provided by Hitscricket, and we pay them an annual licence fee. The ECB who oversees all cricket in this country have been encouraging Clubs to move to their platform. There are distinct advantages in doing this; It has no fee, and match details and stats etc are integrated with Play-cricket. So, over the next 6-12 months we aim to make this transition. We will send out more detailed information about this project in due course.
Challenges ahead
We are a big operation with a broad spread of activity, but I see the main challenges ahead as;
- Finance
- Strengthen team of volunteers
- grow our Junior section including increasing the pathway of talent that feeds into our adult teams
- improve the infrastructure within the club, getting much-needed new equipment like roll-on covers for the Nursery ground, and restoring heavily used facilities like the outdoor nets and perimeter fencing.
- carefully preserve our fragile relationship with The Cricket Centre
Thanks to all who help the Club
We are an amateur sports club that relies heavily on the commitment and helpfulness of many people. Firstly, the Club really appreciates the support of our three sponsors; Southall Travel, CEX, and Frontline Health and the individuals who make these sponsorships happen; Jaymin Borkhatria, Frank Orchard and Miral Nandani.
We could not exist without the thousands of hours given voluntarily. On behalf of our Club I thank;
- The Junior age group managers and their coaching/umpiring/scorer assistants
- Our skilful, qualified coaching staff managed by Kris Nissen
- The parents who find time in their busy lives to get their children to practice and games, and support from the boundary.
- The regular supporters of our adult teams, it means a lot to the players
- Our Committee who manage and steer the Club
Some happy memories…
Finally, let me share some warm memories from 2024….
Junior County finals day, including the nervous boundary pacing by U14s team manager Kim Chuah while scorer Alison Waller kept her cool.
Some fun and successful social evenings in the bar, especially Coombsy bingo
Spirit among the teams, 4th XI supporting each other with young teens teammates with sixty year olds.
Will Poynton and other twenty-somethings laughing on the upstairs balcony
The affection and commitment that people like Nick Vance, Anooj Vadgama and Richie Evans have for the Club
The burgeoning interest in the Junior section with Neil and Kim joining Club Committee
Rahul Gajjar’s memorial day at Watford in late August was uplifting. It was heartening to feel the warmth for a special guy
A really exciting play-off game for our 1st XI at Welwyn Garden City on 14th Sept, oh so close in our chase of 326 runs, and Mo Rizvi’s wonderful 161
And a sad one….. Saying goodbye to Leroy Theophile who helped the Club as umpire for over 20 years at his funeral in March was sad, but seeing his widow Eula at our final League game sitting on Leroy’s bench was consoling.
I hope everyone keeps well over the Winter and look forward to more cricket enjoyment and togetherness at SVCC in times to come.
Best wishes.....Chris Stanley