THREAT TO INVESTMENT IN CRICKET IN STAFFORDSHIRE

Investment into grassroots cricket could be decimated if proposals of the Davies Report are upheld and the domestic Ashes series is available to only free-to-air TV broadcasters. The implications could effectively see income into our game at a national level reduced by at least £100m over a four year period. The knock-on effect to grassroots, community and recreational cricket in Staffordshire would be disastrous. Potential directly impacted areas could be :-

• Reduced availability of ECB facilities funding for club improvements, practice facilities and machinery.
• No local provision of coaching courses and coach education.
• No subsidies to offset coaching fees
• No Funding to cricket development groups
• No Quality provision of representative cricket for CDG, district and county age groups.
• No Support for programmes working to deliver cricket in our schools (both mainstream and special schools)
• No Support for programmes working to develop girls cricket and hard-to-reach groups
• No Development officer support for club development to provide safe, welcoming and well-structured clubs, funding advice, Clubmark and volunteering.

In short, the work that has been enabled in recent years to grow the game of cricket in Staffordshire as a result of the increased investment would be undone.

To ensure our game is sustainable, more youngsters are being attracted to the game of cricket through the improved infrastructure and efforts enabled by the current levels of investment. The sustainability of grassroots cricket as we have come to know it in recent years would be called into serious question.

The shorter formats of the game (T20 and One Day cricket) are key to attracting time-poor participants; the current availability of Ashes highlights via free-to-air broadcasters, aired after school hours in a bite size one hour programme fits the needs of busy youngsters, whilst still allowing Cricket to receive a market rate for its subscription based airing to enable to continue its high levels of grassroots investment.

What can be done?

Staffordshire Cricket – with the support of Staffordshire County Cricket Club – is circulating the details of the threat to ongoing investment into our game to as many interested and affected parties as possible –Cricket development groups, leagues, clubs players and parents. We have already written to the county’s MPs for them to be made aware of the adverse impact in their constituencies, but we would ask you to support us.

click here for M.P's contact details and click here for a template letter

Thanks for your support in protecting our game.

Jason Britton
Cricket Development Manager
Staffordshire Cricket

Staffordshire Cricket Board
c/o Himley Cricket Club, Stourbridge Road, Himley, Staffordshire, DY3 4LB
Telephone: 07827307745 Email: jason.britton@ecb.co.uk