5th June 2020

We thought it would be a good time to update you regarding the club and cricket in general. We hope that all of our members and supporters are safe and well and making what they can of these difficult times. With the drop in infection numbers, it does seem that we are now past the worst of the initial Coronavirus outbreak and there does appear to be some light at the end of the tunnel.  

From a financial point of view, the enforced closure of the club’s facilities has resulted in a drastically reduced revenue. A full diary of function bookings have had to be cancelled and currently our only regular income is from the HCC Monthly Draw.  At £5 per number per month we thank everyone who has joined so far, but we are always on the lookout for new members and if you feel able to join in, please let us know (more information on the HCC Monthly Draw is here).

We would also like to thank all of those members and players who have been able to pay their membership fees to support the club at this difficult time. The good news is that we are confident that we are covered in respect of all of our financial commitments in the short to medium term. We have been able to take advantage of the Government Business Rates grant and we have also secured funding from the Sport England Community Emergency Fund and from the Warburtons Community Fund. This enables us to continue to pay all of the bills that we cannot avoid such as utilities and insurances. 

We should now be well into the cricket season and with the excellent weather of late April and May, we would barely have missed a ball so far which is hugely frustrating.  We are entirely in the hands of the government and the ECB for any prospect for cricket being played and with the Lancashire League’s initial plan for a July start being no longer workable, we wait to see when or if we will be allowed to take to the field. However in a more positive development, we have worked hard to implement procedures which adhere to the recently announced strict ECB guidelines to allow players young and old to practice in the nets.  We will endeavour to keep all members updated regarding any further developments with regard to training or indeed play.

On a day to day basis, the club continues to function. Ian Cameron is cutting the grass and keeping the whole ground in fantastic condition so that we are ready for any play we may have this season.

We thank you for your support through these difficult and unprecedented times.  If anyone feels that they need support, the organisation Opening Up promotes positive mental health to clubs, players and coaches and they are offering a number of online resources to support people at this time.

In the meantime, stay safe and look after yourselves and we hope to be back open again soon.

16th May 2020

The committee is looking at the most recently published ECB guidelines (https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/1668576/ecb-guidelines-for-the-use-of-outdoor-cricket-facilities-in-lockdown) regarding the safe use of our net facilities and will communicate with everyone shortly. Until proper plans are put in place and are communicated, the practice facilities at the club remain closed.

12th May 2020

We have received several enquiries about the possibility of resuming cricket practice in light of the updated guidance from the Government issued last night.

The guidance mentions exercise and sport but raises several detailed questions which need to be addressed. Until such time that the ECB issues updated guidance (which they have said that they hope to do later this week see this link: https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/1667951/ecb-update-on-the-recreational-game-12-may) the club and its facilities, including the outdoor nets, remain closed and should not be used until further notice.

Thank you for your continued support and we hope that there will be some positive news very soon.