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**Paul** · 17-02-2010, 11:37 AM

The future of English Cricket

Warleybear · 09-03-2010, 01:13 PM

Interesting article - Things will change............ speed of change, what change and the casualties being the big questions to me.

The quote "Worcestershire’s membership fell by 12% last year" is indicative of the problems. Saying that, their membership had a lot of cricket scrubed out the previous year due to "high tide" at New Road. The ground may be beautiful - but are the membership voteing with their feet?

George · 09-03-2010, 01:23 PM

(09-03-2010 01:13 PM)Warleybear Wrote: Interesting article - Things will change............ speed of change, what change and the casualties being the big questions to me.

The quote "Worcestershire’s membership fell by 12% last year" is indicative of the problems. Saying that, their membership had a lot of cricket scrubed out the previous year due to "high tide" at New Road. The ground may be beautiful - but are the membership voteing with their feet?

Hi,

Not at Warwickshire, though. I've just finished edition of BtB in which the club have published the membership figures for the first time in a while. You may be surprised to see that they've held up very well. No real change from mid-90s. It's maybe not right of me to go into details before it's published -will be with you in a couple of weeks, I guess - but I found the figures very interesting and quite comforting. But then I need to get out far more.

My own view is that Worcs and Warks will merge within a decade. I hope they don't, but I fear they will. Maybe Leics will be in there, too.

GD

Warleybear · 09-03-2010, 02:06 PM

Hi George.

Thanks for that snipit of information. It is certainly good news to hear that the membership numbers have held up well......... something that reminds me that I need to pay up for 2010 in the next couple of weeks........... I await BTB with eager eyes Smile

On the subject of change. We know that change is coming (and its probably been coming for some time). I sadly doubt that we will have 18 first class counties in the next decade. Some amalgamations will be sadly necessary - and perhaps to some extent a good thing (although painful and against the rich history of the game). Its been a point of view I have heard on and off for a couple of decades with a growing voice. The catalyst or starting gun has never been in place to start this process. Perhaps we are now near that time? Warwicks / Worcs? Derbys / Leics / Northants ? etc. Difficult times - but lets hope the game comes out of the tunnel stronger. The journey for the domestic game over the next decade will be difficult to predict.

Cheers

WB

**Kim** · (This post was last modified: 09-03-2010 02:15 PM by Kim.)

(09-03-2010 01:23 PM)George Wrote:
(09-03-2010 01:13 PM)Warleybear Wrote: Interesting article - Things will change............ speed of change, what change and the casualties being the big questions to me.

The quote "Worcestershire’s membership fell by 12% last year" is indicative of the problems. Saying that, their membership had a lot of cricket scrubed out the previous year due to "high tide" at New Road. The ground may be beautiful - but are the membership voteing with their feet?

Hi,

Not at Warwickshire, though. I've just finished edition of BtB in which the club have published the membership figures for the first time in a while. You may be surprised to see that they've held up very well. No real change from mid-90s. It's maybe not right of me to go into details before it's published -will be with you in a couple of weeks, I guess - but I found the figures very interesting and quite comforting. But then I need to get out far more.

My own view is that Worcs and Warks will merge within a decade. I hope they don't, but I fear they will. Maybe Leics will be in there, too.

GD

Think that calls for another meeting of the George Dobell Fan Club (Worcester Branch) :

[Image: 5791907-md.jpg]

Bloody hell, packed out!

Warleybear · 09-03-2010, 02:27 PM

Now that made me chuckle Lol

Leicester Exile · 10-03-2010, 02:10 PM

George, wasn't the membership figures in the mid-90s around 12 to 15000 - being the Lara intake? I hope you are wrong about mergers but I suspect you're not.

George · 11-03-2010, 03:20 PM

(10-03-2010 02:10 PM)Leicester Exile Wrote: George, wasn't the membership figures in the mid-90s around 12 to 15000 - being the Lara intake? I hope you are wrong about mergers but I suspect you're not.

Hi John,

Hope all well.

I don’t think so. The club have changed their method of calculating the figures several times which has probably caused some confusion.

The like-for-like figure (or as close as possible, anyway) declined 1% from 1992 to 2007. Now that doesn’t mean that it didn’t spike for a while in 94-95 (it would be a bit odd if it didn’t), but probably not in such a dramatic way. It really has been very steady, but perhaps fewer members - or more casual supporters - attend these days. Attendances have dropped visibly in the last few years, haven’t they?

As I say, have a look at BtB (should be with you by end of month) and draw your own conclusions. Figures used exclude juniors and half-year memberships etc. As far as Colin Povey is concerned, by the way, half year membership was a success. I know members’ opinion is divided on that.

I very much hope that all 18 counties survive independently. But I don’t think they will. And, to be honest, I don’t think quite a few of them even want to. I’d suggest Kent’s desire to play a 'home' match at The Oval gives a fair indication of the direction the game could go.

GD

**Kim** · (This post was last modified: 11-03-2010 04:36 PM by Kim.)

(11-03-2010 03:20 PM)George Wrote:
(10-03-2010 02:10 PM)Leicester Exile Wrote: George, wasn't the membership figures in the mid-90s around 12 to 15000 - being the Lara intake? I hope you are wrong about mergers but I suspect you're not.

Hi John,

Hope all well.

I don’t think so. The club have changed their method of calculating the figures several times which has probably caused some confusion.

The like-for-like figure (or as close as possible, anyway) declined 1% from 1992 to 2007. Now that doesn’t mean that it didn’t spike for a while in 94-95 (it would be a bit odd if it didn’t), but probably not in such a dramatic way. It really has been very steady, but perhaps fewer members - or more casual supporters - attend these days. Attendances have dropped visibly in the last few years, haven’t they?

As I say, have a look at BtB (should be with you by end of month) and draw your own conclusions. Figures used exclude juniors and half-year memberships etc. As far as Colin Povey is concerned, by the way, half year membership was a success. I know members’ opinion is divided on that.

I very much hope that all 18 counties survive independently. But I don’t think they will. And, to be honest, I don’t think quite a few of them even want to. I’d suggest Kent’s desire to play a 'home' match at The Oval gives a fair indication of the direction the game could go.

GD

Odd that it hasnt been repeated then Sneaky2

Warleybear · 12-03-2010, 10:05 AM

(11-03-2010 03:20 PM)George Wrote: It really has been very steady, but perhaps fewer members - or more casual supporters - attend these days. Attendances have dropped visibly in the last few years, haven’t they?

I think that is a good point George. On the gate prices have certainly stoped a few in my office attending T20 during these difficult economic times. Last year (due to health and waether) I attended only a handful of games for my £ 150. I'm not saying the value is poor - but there are people who take out their memberships and get to very few games.

I wasn't against initiatives (like the half year memberships), but the fact it was offered in May with the Ashes add on did make be whinge at the time.

I share your views over the 18 counties.............