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President’ s Welcome
In my introduction to last year’ s magazine I wrote that Sleaford Cricket Club faced two major challenges which, expressed simplistically, were the cricket aspect of the club and the financial side of the business. In 2015 there is no doubt that we succeeded spectacularly as far as the playing side is concerned, but equally certain is the fact that the business affairs of the club have deteriorated rather than improved. The fact that other voluntary organisations are suffering in a similar fashion is of no real comfort;. We have to find our own solutions to the financial pressures we face.
First and foremost we exist to promote and enjoy the game of cricket and therefore it is only right that we should all enjoy and savour the achievements of last summer which, in terms of overall cricketing success, could well be regarded as the best ever in the club’ s history.
All of the four senior teams played some outstanding cricket both individually and as their respective units throughout their campaign’ s and the consistency shown throughout the season brought reward in the form of both league positions and personal honours. Individual articles in the magazine will pay due tribute to all of those whose statistics were rewarded by trophies but from a personal perspective I derived great pleasure from the overall depth of success and the manner in which that success was achieved, proving yet again that winning cricket can be played in the true spirit of the game and not in the boorish manner of certain other sports. Should any of our teams ever descend to the behavioural depths of certain of our opponents then I shall certainly want no part of Sleaford Cricket Club.
Unfortunately, I cannot report with equal satisfaction on the business side of our club; there can be no hiding the fact that the financial position has deteriorated. I was quite forthright in my remarks at the annual general meeting and I make absolutely no apology for the message that I gave to the members present. I will
take this opportunity to repeat that we have to make a ten thousand pounds annual improvement to our budget to reverse the gradual decline that has occurred during recent financial years.
I am heartened by the fact that our management committee are taking positive steps to address the potential initiatives that I suggested as possible remedies to the problem. A successful voluntary element has been added to our bar rota during the winter and it is hoped that this will continue in the summer months. This voluntary labour will make an important saving to our expenditure. An equally important saving will be achieved as a result of the substantial amount of voluntary work that has gone on in the pavilion during the winter months. I am pleased that each of the teams have committed to fundraising targets and that there are initiatives in place for a number of other schemes, each of which have the potential to raise much needed funds. Please support those individuals who will be publicising their own fundraising ideas as we need them all to succeed. I am pleased to report that we have managed to increase our sponsorship base and are planning to introduce a vice president’ s membership scheme. There are also a number of other business improvement ideas being considered, all of which have the capability of making a contribution to help solve our financial difficulties.
I am keen not to paint a negative picture, but a realistic one. We must be aware that a concerted effort is required by all of us who have an interest in Sleaford Cricket Club to enable us to make the necessary improvement to our finances and I am confident that there are a meaningful number of people making a real contribution to that cause at the present time. I said in my introduction last year that I believe there are two forms of currency, goodwill and money. We may still be short of the latter but I firmly believe we have a plentiful supply of the former. Please help your club by making a contribution to either or both component parts.
I wish everyone connected with Sleaford Cricket Club an enjoyable summer and I hope to be able to report on equal success for both aspects of the club’ s affairs, playing and financial in next year’ s magazine.
Chris Travers- SCC President
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