Following the Government’s latest advice around social distancing, it is with sadness and reluctance that the English Cricket Board, Bucks Cricket Board and the Four Counties Cricket League have suspended all forms of recreational cricket. This extends to training, pre-season friendlies and any associated cricket activities.

Whilst this decision will be reviewed periodically, this means until further notice the following for Cublington Cricket Club and our members:

• winter nets have been cancelled;
• no outdoor training will take place;
• all junior cricket is postponed - this includes training, leagues, All Stars and Dynamo junior cricket festivals;
• all senior cricket (men and ladies) is postponed - this includes CCC's participation in the FCCL league, Bucks competitions and Sunday cricket.

.Ground Force Day on 4th April will NOT take place.

CCC will continue, at our cost, to cut the grass for the entire Orchard ground, enhance the overall space and maintain the cricket square to a minimum level allowing a ramp up if cricket is played at some stage. I would like to quantify this commitment. We have a commitment to the village, via the Orchard Committee, to maintain the outfield and peripheral areas, regardless of any play. As a community club we feel villagers will enjoy the sight of a cut ground as Spring arrives.

Cutting every fourteen days until early September (if no cricket) should suffice, but could cost CCC between £950 and £1150 (using our external outfield contractor). Howard Gregory will be asked to maintain the square so we could ramp up at short notice. There is a possibility of getting the hydraulics fixed on our own outfield mower, which would give us some capacity to mow with club resources. In addition, we have already paid £900 for our insurance – which we must maintain as it covers multiple items. As noted above, CCC feels we must continue to maintain the ground, and we will do so to a high standard and hope this brightens the days for villages who walk the ground on a regular basis.

This situation will place a great financial strain on the Cricket Club - with membership subscriptions not being collected and with no match fees being paid. This has a direct effect on the Orchard Ground Association/Committee, to whom the Cricket Club pay annual rental for use of the ground and facilities. If cricket is played later in the summer, membership subscription arrangements will be introduced to reflect a shorter season. However, we have had a detailed assessment of our finances this week and we are well placed to maintain our facilities and equipment. CCC will survive. But worst case scenario is that there will be no cricket season and CCC will be unable to pay the rental to Orchard Ground Association/Committee at end 2020 as our contribution is based on games played and consequent use of all the facilities at the Orchard Ground. Moreover, there will be effectively no membership – therefore no 100 Club levy which we have on all membership as a commitment to the Cublington community.

Sport plays an absolutely vital role in the nation’s mental and physical wellbeing, and it helps people find meaning where there is fear and uncertainty, so one of our goals in the coming weeks, when and if we are allowed, we explore ways that we can support some levels of physical activity in Cublington - particularly at junior level, during what could be a long and difficult summer.

I imagine other village groups will be in correspondence but I felt it important to state the CCC position.

Yours sincerely

Michael Reilly
Chairman
Cublington Cricket Club