Update

[neil]

Because it involves watching T20 in Canterbury.

Next you'll be telling me you'll have a couple of pints of Master Brew to wash it down with. 

And that's wrong because?

I'd be drinking in a Shep Neame pub near Canterbury West Station. The Bishops Finger

Decent choice of ales (and ciders) and excellent food. A goodish walk to the ground but worth it - especially given the queues you get inside. Not a lover of MasterBrew but some of their other ales are really good

But, of course, Essex beer is better - because it comes from Essex (or is it brewed in Suffolk) ? 

[Andy]

Ah, Canterbury, my old stamping ground.  I hear they've built on the old greyhound track 

[neil]

Ah, Canterbury, my old stamping ground.  I hear they've built on the old greyhound track 

I was only there the Saturday before last. The Marlowe Theatre is very good!

Not my favourite place - a bit touristy and the restaurants are a bit samey - although there are one or two gems if you know where to look

[Andy]

Ah, Canterbury, my old stamping ground.  I hear they've built on the old greyhound track 

I was only there the Saturday before last. The Marlowe Theatre is very good!

Not my favourite place - a bit touristy and the restaurants are a bit samey - although there are one or two gems if you know where to look

I was a student there, hence I knew where to get the best Cod/Chicken and Chips. Walked up Tyler Hill many, many times and it never seemed to rain...

[essexfan548]

The cricket ground at Canterbury has been utterly ruined.

Many trees have been felled and the part by the road has been sold off for McCarthy and Stone retirement flats [handy for the Kent team?]. No parking for visitors these days - I used the Park & Ride as it's cheaper than parking in the school next door [£10 a day]. 

[bwildered]

Did anyone attend Chairman's Q & A session during lunchtime on Sunday during Lancashire ?

[Blocky]

Because it involves watching T20 in Canterbury.

Next you'll be telling me you'll have a couple of pints of Master Brew to wash it down with. 

And that's wrong because?

I'd be drinking in a Shep Neame pub near Canterbury West Station. The Bishops Finger

Decent choice of ales (and ciders) and excellent food. A goodish walk to the ground but worth it - especially given the queues you get inside. Not a lover of MasterBrew but some of their other ales are really good

But, of course, Essex beer is better - because it comes from Essex (or is it brewed in Suffolk) ? 

sorry mate, we put up with shitandscream's awful beer for about the last 8 years at the county ground.  I don't care where it comes from, it's awful.
The St Lawrence Ground lost it's last nice feature when they built a massive block of flats on the Hill.  ground looks terrible now.  Even the tree is outside the boundary. 

[Daren Mootoo]

Speaking of beer, are we all aware of this funraiser coming up on the 25th May?

http://www.lordstaverners.org/a/js/third_party/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/files/ESSEX_LORDS_25_MAY_EVENT.pdf

[golden duck]

Did anyone attend Chairman's Q & A session during lunchtime on Sunday during Lancashire ?

Yes was there - from memory..
In the main same message as before. The club are continuing to vote against but accept it will happen.
As it is going to happen the club will have no choice but to move forward based on the decision.
Club would have liked a two tier county T20 with promotion and relegation and maybe more overseas to beef it up.
The 50 over competition will be played during the franchise tournament but no Championship cricket.
The club have to release players if selected. Same with coaches, so if Silverwood was selected we would release him.
Grounds hosting will get £300k-400k on top of the £1.3m plus hospitality beer etc. I wasn't sure about the gate money?
No talk to date about further reducing County Championship.
A member made a good point about impact on long format due to it all being played early and late season, no turning wickets etc.
Chairman agreed membership was badly devalued by 2nd rate 50 over comp and thought many would choose to pay on gate.
ECB sent a delegation to Chelmsford to try to get us on board two weeks ago... left in no doubt that wouldn't happen.
Show of hands was unanimously in favour of club

My thoughts -
A good effort by the chairman and the club to meet the members, it ran over into the start of the afternoon session.
There was much nodding when chairman referred to T20 as bish, bash, bosh.. but by nature we were lovers of long format. The match attendance yesterday was 1100 people and I would say at least 75% were 50 years or older, that is not sustainable anymore than bish, bash, bosh. Tricky!

[essexfan548]

It's good we are continuing to oppose it. The Lancashire members I spoke to [some ex-Committee] told me they have not been consulted and were envious that we have been asked our opinion.

[nat]

Did anyone attend Chairman's Q & A session during lunchtime on Sunday during Lancashire ?

... and I would say at least 75% were 50 years or older, that is not sustainable anymore than bish, bash, bosh. Tricky!

Why unsustainable? The population is ageing and they are the group with the most money to spend. I would have thought going after the grey pound was a sound business objective.

We need to stop being defeatist about CC cricket. With a little effort more people could be attracted to watch CC cricket.

[essexfan548]

I agree that the 4-day game could be marketed better - it is popular with many people.

I had to queue to get in on Friday and there were over 2000 people there. 

[Blocky]

Did anyone attend Chairman's Q & A session during lunchtime on Sunday during Lancashire ?

Yes was there - from memory..
In the main same message as before. The club are continuing to vote against but accept it will happen.
As it is going to happen the club will have no choice but to move forward based on the decision.
Club would have liked a two tier county T20 with promotion and relegation and maybe more overseas to beef it up.
The 50 over competition will be played during the franchise tournament but no Championship cricket.
The club have to release players if selected. Same with coaches, so if Silverwood was selected we would release him.
Grounds hosting will get £300k-400k on top of the £1.3m plus hospitality beer etc. I wasn't sure about the gate money?
No talk to date about further reducing County Championship.
A member made a good point about impact on long format due to it all being played early and late season, no turning wickets etc.
Chairman agreed membership was badly devalued by 2nd rate 50 over comp and thought many would choose to pay on gate.
ECB sent a delegation to Chelmsford to try to get us on board two weeks ago... left in no doubt that wouldn't happen.
Show of hands was unanimously in favour of club

My thoughts -
A good effort by the chairman and the club to meet the members, it ran over into the start of the afternoon session.
There was much nodding when chairman referred to T20 as bish, bash, bosh.. but by nature we were lovers of long format. The match attendance yesterday was 1100 people and I would say at least 75% were 50 years or older, that is not sustainable anymore than bish, bash, bosh. Tricky!

thanks for this, very useful.  Unfortunately, I was unable to get there before lunch, but I agree, we should continue to oppose, and I agree with the clubs proposal.  I actually don't mind T20, but I shan't support Franchise cricket.
The age demographics should worry anyone with even half a brain.  We have to get younger, working membership numbers up.  The move to Friday starts and a Day night championship game is a start, but we have to get away from the mindset that 4 day cricket is only for the privileged few and our OAP members. I'm 52 and I have been the youngest person in the ground at times last season.  Really a concern.

[mawallace]

I agree that the 4-day game could be marketed better - it is popular with many people.

I had to queue to get in on Friday and there were over 2000 people there. 

I agree - it would help if the ECB thought about the working public. I work Monday to Friday. As I have said elsewhere I was able to get to the game this weekend - next time I will get to the ground will be for the One Dayer at the end of the month. Then there is another weekend in May I can get to.

As I am on holiday over the May bank holiday that is five days cricket for my membership.

[Blocky]

I'd disagree entirely Nat.  With respect, the OAP members generally, bring a packed lunch, a flask of tea and rarely go near the bar unless its to use the ablutions or to refill the flask.  Not all, but many.

Most of them are life members who bought their package many years ago, and the club gets little  annualised income.

The age group you really want to get after are the 40+ group, who will pay an annual membership, use the bars, buy t20 tickets and bring their kids along.