Members ballot

[Valentines Park]

Anyway the idea of corporate jollies has changed.

People don't get falling down drunk anymore?

[mawallace]

Today's Cricinfo report is rather odd - can't make up my mind if it is meant to prove a point - or if it's got some points!

(let's play spot the insults to the club)!

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/county-championship-2021-1244186/essex-vs-warwickshire-group-1-1244266/match-report

[nat]

Today's Cricinfo report is rather odd - can't make up my mind if it is meant to prove a point - or if it's got some points!

(let's play spot the insults to the club)!

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/county-championship-2021-1244186/essex-vs-warwickshire-group-1-1244266/match-report

Wow the reporter was not a happy bunny. Many a truth....

The club has certainly lost its way off the field. I'm suspecting some internal wrangling over how best to move the club forward. Hence the departure of Mr Bowden (not missed by me) and the confused/antagonistic match day arrangements.

[golden duck]

We really do need some evidence based facts here, everything coming out of the club has a huge smell of bull****.
I'll back the club to the end of the earth but they're dealing with a relatively smart support community and something is wrong in all this. Sure the ground is tight but is it really that much worse than Derby? Who has insisted this must be a test event? No other club across football, cricket, rugby has had to been told to have a test event at 25% of 25% but we are expected to trust this has been inflicted from outside.. if the club has got this wrong, no worries.... tough times; but be big enough to be honest or show us a document from a health and safety body.
Oh and have the decency to send a mail to those who are unsuccessful in the ballot.

[stewyww]

Is there any truth in the rumour that in 2022 members will have an option of paying their membership but rather than being able to see any cricket, they can have a new floodlight named after them?

[vim]

Who will be the 2022 members? They can go back to publishing names and addresses in the Yearbook.

[Postman]

The chairman seemed intent on Thursday in getting his retaliation in first, as Bill Shankly would have said-both in going round the ground talking to members and in what he apparently said on the radio/live stream. In other words the problems were all imposed on the club by the ECB/PHE and local authority. I agree that he needs to produce chapter and verse to demonstrate this. It was his decision to impose a 200 limit for the CC, and he also needs to demonstrate exactly how it would have cost £20K extra a day to have 600 instead. But he doesn't seem keen on letting anyone see exactly what is going on at the club, any more than he is keen on having an AGM, producing accounts or appointing a new CEO. This is the way bad governance develops in any organisation.

[stewyww]

The chairman seemed intent on Thursday in getting his retaliation in first, as Bill Shankly would have said-both in going round the ground talking to members and in what he apparently said on the radio/live stream. In other words the problems were all imposed on the club by the ECB/PHE and local authority. I agree that he needs to produce chapter and verse to demonstrate this. It was his decision to impose a 200 limit for the CC, and he also needs to demonstrate exactly how it would have cost £20K extra a day to have 600 instead. But he doesn't seem keen on letting anyone see exactly what is going on at the club, any more than he is keen on having an AGM, producing accounts or appointing a new CEO. This is the way bad governance develops in any organisation.

Agree with all of that Postman. However even if it was going to cost an extra £20k a day, then the club should be prepared to write that off as a gesture to the financial support they have received from members over the last two seasons for (as of May 19), a return of zilch.
Just to demonstrate the thoughtlessness of the club towards its loyal members, I drove to the County Ground last July/August to purchase a 2020 yearbook. I was still charged £3 for the pleasure of this; surely as a goodwill gesture members could have received a free yearbook last season?
The whole situation just leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

[Andy]

Anyway the idea of corporate jollies has changed.

People don't get falling down drunk anymore?

Not unless it involves climbing a mountain to help ‘team building’.

[Oldhasbeen]

Anyway the idea of corporate jollies has changed.

People don't get falling down drunk anymore?

Not unless it involves climbing a mountain to help ‘team building’.

The very mention of ‘team building' sends a shudder through my bowels.

Egg and spoon races in the office. Three-line whip to get the whole team out to a karaoke night. Team "it's a knockout". Team golf - whether you can (or want to) play or not.  Getting across a seven-foot river with two 3 foot planks. Compulsory group hugs. Monday morning 9AM brainteasers session

And those were some of the better ones.

Makes me SOOOOO glad I'm retired.

[Andy]

At least the compulsory hugs are a thing of the past. Unfortunately.

[Stringbok]

As one who was lucky (?) enough to win a booby prize for Saturdays play here’s my feedback for anyone interested.

Firstly unlike the poor souls who got Fridays prize at least we saw some play despite the best efforts of the umpires to make it otherwise.

If you are concerned about COVID I would say the experience was significantly safer than shopping in primark.  You are given a timed arrival slot based on your seat which will disappoint those used to turning up three hours before the start of play. But then again there is no need to reserve your seat with bags and cushions as you have an allocated seat which you can’t leave on pain of death. Plus you can’t nip back into town for a spot of breakfast as that is not allowed either.

Contrary to rumour you only have to wear a mask for the few occasions you are allowed to leave your seat - toilet breaks and getting a drink from one of the two food outlets.

All credit to the chairman who made a point of talking to every group of members. Quizzed on the attendance policy his stance was that he is not the bad guy and wants as many allowed in as possible but is restricted by the lack of common sense of the council whose health and safety officer appears to be a thirteen year old.

For me the most puzzling thing was the number of members attending. I counted them and there were about seventy five , which means either many had chosen not to collect their prize or the 200 limit includes some freeloaders and the security staff.

At the end of play you were supposed to have a timed departure slot based on your seat block but there were only about ten of us left so they didn’t bother.

In summary though it was just nice to see some cricket.  Although a day at a county game is not the same without the background sound of middle aged men discussing non league football or the time of the last bus back to Witham.

[nat]

...
In summary though it was just nice to see some cricket.  Although a day at a county game is not the same without the background sound of middle aged men discussing non league football or the time of the last bus back to Witham.

Quite. Glad you enjoyed it! I guess it was better than going shopping with the missus.... or was it?!

[Slogger]

I've just got back from Lingfield races. About 1500 there I would guess. Apart from wearing face covers to get in many people were not really bothering in the inside aress, especially as the beer flowed. Not a lot of social distancinh either and little sign of non cash betting.I'm off to London rugby league tomorrow. No problem getting tickets for either event.
 

[nat]

Sounds like Chelmsford Council have got a right jobsworth who is also responsible for the bag search policy too.

Do we know who is this person? Can we give them some 'publicity'?