Whilst February is usually a dismal month weather wise, it’s brightened up by the fact it’s my birthday in eleven days – something to warm you up with cheer I’m sure!! Anyway, onto UCC business and January has been another busy month.

You’ll have hopefully seen we have secured three new sponsors for the playing shirts. I’m absolutely thrilled to continue our relationships with Woodford CNC Machining, Kodi Lucas Estate Agents and Gravity Health & Fitness Club, all of whom have signed three year sponsorship deals with the club. Not only is great to have them on board but their logos on the shirts make the kit look absolutely superb. My thanks also go to Ellice Francis Group as our outgoing shirt sponsors for their support over the years. Whilst on the subject of shirts, myself and Tom Marsland have had some good fun designing the T20 kit that is supplied as part of our deal with Macer. I’m sure you’ll think it’s an absolute belter – if you don’t, then it was Tom who designed it, if you do, it was me who designed it!!

Last week, we had a very positive meeting with a couple of the trustees from Leverhulme Estates to discuss the current lease position. Whilst there isn’t anything more confirmed I can report at these stage, discussions are ongoing and we are looking at having a follow up meeting in the coming weeks. I’ll keep you updated as to any developments.

We have also received the formal report following the visit of the ECB pitch advisors in relation to our outfields. As we expected, the report was extremely comprehensive and thorough and gives us plenty to review and formulate an action plan to ensure our playing members have the best possible facilities we can achieve.

Closely linked to the work on the grounds you’ll have seen via the website that we have published v2.0 of the 5 Year Strategic Plan. This document and vision it provides is proving invaluable in the running of the club and hopefully demonstrates to our membership and the wider public the direction the club is moving in. Should anybody have any questions about anything contained in it, please give me a shout.

Last week, myself, Madeleine Ward and Faizan Ahmed sat down and discussed the clubs social calendar. We’ve come up with a great series of events which cater for everybody and we should be in a position to publish these in the next week or so. However, these events will only succeed (and in fact go ahead) IF we get enough volunteers to help out with them. So please, if you feel you can help please step forward – all the details of what help we need will be published in the article which will go on the website.

To conclude, I was reading recently an article published in Wisden about the state of club cricket throughout the land. There were no real surprises in the article as it called out the declining numbers, the pressure on everyone’s time these days, the fact that ‘friendly’ cricket was dwindling and the likelihood that the 100 ball game will be a major player going forward. Whilst all this is interesting and relevant, what stood out for me was the Alan Partridge quote – “Fernando, you’re twenty-two years old and you’re spending your Saturday afternoon in bed with a girl. You’re wasting your life. It’s a beautiful day. Take her out to a local fort or a Victorian folly”. Obviously in the context of cricket, this relates to the challenges of keeping the younger guys interested in the game, where the fort/Victorian folly is a game of cricket. You get the idea!!!!

Cheers
Jez