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Terry · (06-15-2012)

Whilst emptying an old box (storage, not cricket) today, I found my membership card for 1963. How times have changed!
That season, a Town membership fee was 3 guineas (or £3.12). A country membership (15 miles or more) was £2.20 or about £2.08. A car park ticket cost £1.05. If you apply inflation, this makes the cost of a Town membership just over £50.
The other difference is what membership entitled you to. As well as 16 3-day county championship games, there was the Gillette Cup knockout competition, a Women's Test v Australia and also the third Test between England and West Indies as well as a match between Warwickshire and the tourists and another v Pakistan Eaglets. Entry to the Test was free for all members.
There were also of course second eleven matches, Nursery matches and Club and Ground matches against a variety of teams (including the splendidly initialled J. A C. D. B. Wildsmith's XI).
You could also pop along on other dates and see games between, for example, Lloyds Bank and a Gas Officials XI or Doctors v Clergy. So there were probably not many days in the season when some match or other wasn't being played either at Edgbaston or elsewhere within the county. The First Eleven played at both Coventry (Courtaulds) and Nuneaton (Griff & Coton CC). If you wanted to follow the team to away matches, you would see cricket at places as varied as Yeovil, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Eastbourne, Bournemouth and Dudley.
So, all in all, a different age. If you want to know more, just ring CALthorpe 3881 and ask to speak to the General Secretary. I'm sure he will be willing to help.
By the way, some things don't change. 1963 was mostly a cold, damp summer.

Leicester Exile · 15-06-2012, 03:53 PM

Am I right in saying back then most players were amateurs (gentlemen) meaning no wages were paid and they entered the field of play from a separate gate than the professionals (players).

**Paul** · 15-06-2012, 04:07 PM

When i became a junior member about 75/6 it was £5.00 and £20.00 for a senior. Am I correct that a membership book entitled you to free entry to all away games.

Terry · 15-06-2012, 04:34 PM

(15-06-2012 03:53 PM)Leicester Exile Wrote: Am I right in saying back then most players were amateurs (gentlemen) meaning no wages were paid and they entered the field of play from a separate gate than the professionals (players).

1963 was the year when the distinction between amateurs and professionals was abolished. Before then, although Gentlemen were not paid wages, there were various ways of rewarding them such as generous expenses. Also, other roles were found - e.g. for quite a few years, MJK Smith was officially the Club's Assistant Secretary. Other than one or two counties such as Somerset, it wouldn't be true to say that most team members were amateurs. It used to be the case, however, that the captain was always an amateur. Tom Dollery was an early exception to this; and at about the same time, Len Hutton became the first professional to captain England.
As for the separate gates (and changing rooms plus hotels for away matches), this had gradually died out, I think, before 1963.

Terry · 15-06-2012, 04:36 PM

(15-06-2012 04:07 PM)Paul Wrote: When i became a junior member about 75/6 it was £5.00 and £20.00 for a senior. Am I correct that a membership book entitled you to free entry to all away games.

My recollection, confirmed by my 1963 membership ticket, is that you could gain entry for free to the Members Area at away grounds but you still had to pay the ground admission.

**Paul** · 15-06-2012, 04:56 PM

Oh ok

parkfield bear · (06-15-2012)

(15-06-2012 04:36 PM)Terry Wrote:
(15-06-2012 04:07 PM)Paul Wrote: When i became a junior member about 75/6 it was £5.00 and £20.00 for a senior. Am I correct that a membership book entitled you to free entry to all away games.

My recollection, confirmed by my 1963 membership ticket, is that you could gain entry for free to the Members Area at away grounds but you still had to pay the ground admission.

I believe 1984 was the last year free entry was available to members for Tests. Also there were member's nets. New members needed a proposer and a joining fee was applicable. As in football, supporters have gradually been asked to pay more and more and been given less and less. The players union have gradually reduced the number of overs to be bowled in a day and seem to want their members to play fewer games. In contrast theiir salaries continue to rise. Sportsmen seem to be immune from the realities of life. The new Premership TV deal means each game is worth over £6 million, what benefit will that be to the average punter? We will be asked to pay higher subscriptions to Sky to preserve their profits. The extra money will surely go to the players. The tipping point will soon be reached and people will simply not stand being constantly treated like mindless sheep who will pay anything to support their clubs, has anyone in sports administration heard of the recession?

**Paul** · 15-06-2012, 06:19 PM

(15-06-2012 06:02 PM)parkfield bear Wrote:
(15-06-2012 04:36 PM)Terry Wrote:
(15-06-2012 04:07 PM)Paul Wrote: When i became a junior member about 75/6 it was £5.00 and £20.00 for a senior. Am I correct that a membership book entitled you to free entry to all away games.

My recollection, confirmed by my 1963 membership ticket, is that you could gain entry for free to the Members Area at away grounds but you still had to pay the ground admission.

I believe 1984 was the last year free entry was available to members for Tests. Also there were member's nets. New members needed a proposer and a joining fee was applicable. As in football, supporters have gradually been asked to pay more and more and been given less and less. The players union have gradually reduced the number of overs to be bowled in a day and seem to want their members to play fewer games. In contrast theiir salaries continue to rise. Sportsmen seem to be immune from the realities of life. The new Premership TV deal means each game is worth over £6 million, what benefit will that be to the average punter? We will be asked to pay higher subscriptions to Sky to preserve their profits. The extra money will surely go to the players. The tipping point will soon be reached and people will simply not stand being constantly treated like mindless sheep who will pay anything to support their clubs, has anyone in sports administration heard of the recession?

I'm not sure about that

Warleybear · (06-17-2012)

For the last few years I have been on special deals with Sky..... basically it reduced my Sky sports package from forty odd pound to £ 20. In December they said the offer had to come to an end. I said it wasnt worth paying £ 40ish to watch Wayne Rooney be paid a quarter of a million pound a week to run up and down the pitch. My Sky service was 'switched off'. Strangely they are now writing to be every other week offering me the £ 20 deal. Unfortunatley they dont realise that after six months without sky I dont miss it and wont renew it. This happened with football. In the 1980's in London I used to go to three games a week to watch different teams. Now its three games a year. I see plastic seat syndrome appearing every where.

However everything must be rosey in the garden as Sky and BT have paid a lot of money for premiership football. Interestingly their shares went down after the announcement.

Soon the bubble will burts and a major name that lives on TV money will go bust. Who would have thought ten years ago that Rangers would be in their current position.

Sooner or later I'll deam International cricket tickets not worth it. Sooner or later I may deam my membership not worth it. Once you walk away you fing other things to do. £ 60 for a test too expensive, over £ 200 for membership (number of games watched in this weather?) wont be worth it. Sky at £ 40ish not worth it.

I want MORE for my money......... not less. If I dont perceive value then I walk away.....

parkfield bear · (06-17-2012)

(15-06-2012 08:47 PM)Warleybear Wrote: For the last few years I have been on special deals with Sky..... basically it reduced my Sky sports package from forty odd pound to £ 20. In December they said the offer had to come to an end. I said it wasnt worth paying £ 40ish to watch Wayne Rooney be paid a quarter of a million pound a week to run up and down the pitch. My Sky service was 'switched off'. Strangely they are now writing to be every other week offering me the £ 20 deal. Unfortunatley they dont realise that after six months without sky I dont miss it and wont renew it. This happened with football. In the 1980's in London I used to go to three games a week to watch different teams. Now its three games a year. I see plastic seat syndrome appearing every where.

However everything must be rosey in the garden as Sky and BT have paid a lot of money for premiership football. Interestingly their shares went down after the announcement.

Soon the bubble will burts and a major name that lives on TV money will go bust. Who would have thought ten years ago that Rangers would be in their current position.

Sooner or later I'll deam International cricket tickets not worth it. Sooner or later I may deam my membership not worth it. Once you walk away you fing other things to do. £ 60 for a test too expensive, over £ 200 for membership (number of games watched in this weather?) wont be worth it. Sky at £ 40ish not worth it.

I want MORE for my money......... not less. If I dont perceive value then I walk away.....

Since 1992 ticket prices have risen 1100%, as per Daily Mail yesterday. In 1991 Sky was about £3 per month now you can pay £50 plus. The austerity measures of the government have yet to be felt by most people, when they are i believe sport will suffer. Before the recession hit, people were living beyond their means on credit. Seemingly willing to pay whatever to enjoy themselves, those days are surely over. Living standards are not going to rise automatically as in the past, sport will have to face reality as ordinary people have to do. The financial good times for many are over. Those sports quickest to grasp this will surely benefit by increased attendances, if prices are more affordable. People still want to go to things but are being priced out. Those with their greedy snouts in the trough hopefully might see sense, once people give up on something they do not always come back.

Warleybear · 17-06-2012, 04:08 PM

Adapt and survive - get the pricing right or face the consequences.

Leicester Exile · (07-03-2012)

I attended the Lancs game in the middle of May. Since then, mainly due to the fixture list, but also due to a holiday and not wanting to pay inflated prices to see the ODI on Wednesday I have not seen any live cricket. Given the weather forecast for this week it is doubtful I will bother driving down for the T20 games. And so I am looking to the middle of July to see another CC game. Two months away from Edgbaston!!!!!!!!!
The point I am making is if I was not a member would I, by now, have forgotten all about going to see a cricket match? I know it's been said many times but cricket really does need to sort out a customer friendly fixture list. It has also shown me that setting aside a whole month for T20 in the middle of summer is not a good idea.

DaveC · (07-03-2012)

(02-07-2012 02:47 PM)Leicester Exile Wrote: I attended the Lancs game in the middle of May. Since then, mainly due to the fixture list, but also due to a holiday and not wanting to pay inflated prices to see the ODI on Wednesday I have not seen any live cricket. Given the weather forecast for this week it is doubtful I will bother driving down for the T20 games. And so I am looking to the middle of July to see another CC game. Two months away from Edgbaston!!!!!!!!!
The point I am making is if I was not a member would I, by now, have forgotten all about going to see a cricket match? I know it's been said many times but cricket really does need to sort out a customer friendly fixture list. It has also shown me that setting aside a whole month for T20 in the middle of summer is not a good idea.

I can beat that LE. I haven't set foot inside Edgbaston yet and the only live cricket I've seen was the T20 at New Rd!

I think I'm right in saying that after the D/N CB40 v Kent on August 13th - unless you're able to get down in the week to catch some CC cricket - that that's just about it.

So I've got about 6 weeks left to get some benefit from my membership this year.

jack1 · 02-07-2012, 04:17 PM

But, Dave - You have contributed to the finance of the brand...!

Jon · 03-07-2012, 11:33 AM

(02-07-2012 04:17 PM)jack1 Wrote: But, Dave - You have contributed to the finance of the brand...!

Unfortunately if you go into the Club shop now the brand is "Edgbaston" and not "Warwickshire CCC" which says everything about where priorities lie.

Leicester Exile · 03-07-2012, 01:31 PM

Jon it does have some merit using Edg instead of WCCC. A test or ODI visitor from another county is not going to purchase a WCCC item but may buy a memento of their time at Edgbaston. In addition a WCCC supporter would purchase an item with Edgbaston on it.
It's a wonder our creditors have not insisted the brand be "Birmingham".

Terry · (07-07-2012)

Why not a mix of both?
I get the point about visitors - I have a Newlands sweatshirt from Cape Town but wouldn't have bought a Western Province one. But as a Warwickshire member, I'm far more loyal to the team than the stadium. Flesh and blood beats bricks and mortar any day.

Jon · (07-07-2012)

Surely somebody purchasing an item with a bear and ragged staff on it is likely to expect it to say Warwickshire?

Its not even an emblem of Edgbaston.