The Taunton Area AGM

County Ground 7:30

Wednesday 18 September 2009

I was hoping they would give me a couple of days grace so that I could get this story in.  Almost set this up last night which might have stopped the automatic system closing us down....but I was a morning too late.

Anyway.  Richard Gould and the boys will be finishing their tour of the regions tonight with their home fixture at the County Ground.  It won't be in the Colin Atkinson because it no longer exists except as a shell of the Long Room to come.  I assume it will be held in the Old Pavilion.

The major questions we are interested in are;

• The future of Wesley Durston as a Somerset player - I'm hoping that we may get an update tonight because today is supposed to be the day that negotiations are finalised in whatever form they will take.
• The chances of the county going for another pace man to bolster the new ball attack.  This seems to be highly unlikely if we look at comments made by those in command up until this point.  Rosey seems to be only interested in a real out and out pace bowler - not a lot of them about.

If anyone else has questions they might want putting to the committee then please put them on the forum and I'll do my best.  However, I am only an observer so I will only ask questions if members are not asking.

Top Table was Richard Gould, Andy Hurry, Mary Elworthy, Peter Wallis (Acting Chairman – Taunton). 

Vice Chair Brian Enticott was in the audience along with Roy Kerslake and Andy Nash. There were between 50 and 100 members in the Old Pavilion bar for this “AGM Roadshow 2010” and quite a buzz within that crowd – more than one person asking about Wes and whether he was staying. The draft fixture list was provided but you can’t see it until Friday. Brian Rose sent his apologies as he was involved in another commitment in Bridgwater. 

The minutes of the last meeting were taken as read. The Taunton committee raised £10,000 - £12,000 for funds.  ARC got £3,500 and the rest went into the pot with some allocated to a new “waterhog”. 

Peter Wallis gave an interesting speech including a couple of little gems that may raise comment; 

·         There will be a “Hall of Fame” behind the Somerset Stand sometime next year – at least 37 names for post-war players were suggested (not sure how many they are planning).   

·         It seems that not even members of the main committee know all the details of all player’s salaries. 

The Presentation

The 2009 Season

FPT – Lost in Quarter Final to Sussex but we topped our table with 7 out of 8. Something happened during the winter of 2008.  Andy H explained how they altered their strategy for this season.  Good team performances got us to the top but we didn’t turn up in the QF and learning to WIN the big ones is the winter emphasis. CC1 – we came third rather than fourth but we won’t win the trophy on 3 victories.  We have to win on our own turf.  Many things have been tried.  Now we are trying a different loam – we’ve gone for a Mendip loam to hope that the pitch will deteriorate over 4 days.  Different mixes are being used at different ends in the hope that Kartik can work on it.  We have an excellent one day pitch so we are looking for a balance but the games won is a big issue.  The weather was an issue as well. 

Andy Caddick has gone so we expect Turner and Stiff need to come to the party. Lots of faith in Haggett, Burke and Dibble coming through. Kartik gives us more balance and Compton also helps with that but we have to raise the bar again. 

We are the only non Test match ground in the first 7 of the Championship which also has to be kept in mind.  We can’t compete with funds but we can play the game a little smarter. 

Did we consider Cholla?  We looked at a lot of options and at the time Kartik was the best option.  He’s very clever and has a lot of control.  There were issues about the younger man off the pitch. 

Pro40 Sussex again!! We were the second best out of 18 but we are still only second best and we need to find the difference between competitors and champions – again the winter emphasis. 

20/20 Trophy – we weren’t very good and got through by the skin of our teeth and in through the bowl out.  Good performance against Kent and again it wasn’t there in the Final….against Sussex! 

The Indian Experience. It was a great atmosphere which none of the players (except Tres and JL) had gone through before.  They now know what is expected to go to the next level.  We are miles away from being the best 20/20 team in the world!  We thought we were a good side and we were nowhere near some of the others.  We’d like to do it again next year.   

Kartik will play in the 20/20.  Cameron White and Greame Smith would like to come back and an invitation has been offered to them both and it depends on diary dates but we’d like one of them back. 

The Ground – The Somerset Stand is open.  Gimblett’s Hill has been adopted by the members.  Joel Garner was welcomed back to open his gates and enjoyed every minute of it. “We should do more of this” (Richard Gould) because the county has a rich history. 

The Caddick Pavilion – Yes we know there have been comments but there were issues because of Barnicott’s being listed – it had to be a ‘building of its time” so there were constraints on it.  The point was made that we hardly see the players now because they stay in the pavilion.  But the club will be more proactive about that.  Also they don’t get the same acclaim when they do well. The bottleneck issue will be sorted when the Gates either side of the flats are open next season. It was also suggested that the club could put a set of stairs and a walkway above the pedestrians for the players which could solve the problem and give the incoming and outging batsmen more status.  Richard will discuss this with the architect. 

Performance Management 

Richard went through the statistical assessment of the club’s benchmarks of success. For example – the pitch had a score of 6/10 (the umpires would have given it 9/10).  This is based on evidence and perceptions etc.  Customer Services were 5/10 (catering wavered at the end and the loudspeakers were awful) the list looks interesting and worth publishing to the membership. 

English Qualification

The rules have changed.  Married players (to English women) don’t need permits so all three SA players are not affected by these rules.  Arul Suppiah will have completed 5 years with a work permit in October next year and then can have leave to stay permanently.  He is not English qualified but he has a permit next year.  “If we can marry him off that would be wonderful!”. He is eligible to play next season….as long as he gets back into the country (no worries). 

Money

This year is a break-even year with a possible single figure thousand variation one way or the other.  The recession may decrease our membership so there is no expectation of an increase.  Gate receipts shot up – more capacity better seats.   We have more 20/20 matches but we have 5 home matches in 14 days so we may not see the increase we would like.  We want to put expenditure into playing costs as the nature of cricket changes. The conference pavilion should generate extra revenue streams along with the Pegasus buildings. We’ve tried to give more choice to members – there is a Championship package this year. 

Richard then explained the fixtures.  The ECB recreational XI (Ireland in disguise) they may play at Exmouth for two of their home fixtures!!  (other four – two in Norwich area and two in the Midlands) 

The Squad 2010

The one Tim missed from his list besides Chris Jones was the other 20/20 specialist.  Compton arrived to look around today.   

Wes will not be issued a contract for this season – reason?  He’s 29.  Hasn’t hit the level we’d like.  Lots of young players coming through and Wes  was in the way.  We need to support the younger players. 

Mark Turner will be back in training in Janaury after back rehabilitation 

Jos Buttler will be the reserve wicket keeper if Craig goes to the ECB  

We don’t have a replacement for Andy Caddick as a strike bowler.  We haven’t had him for two seasons really.   Could we have got Hoggard? Well yes but it isn’t something we do well.   We do pick up people and push them on and we have to work on that but we do that well. There aren’t many good bowlers out there and we are very keen to develop out own to become a second Durham.  If there is anyone out there who can set the world on fire then we’ll be looking.  Hayman has something – he’s a punt but he may have something and it has set the club cricket sides on fire. 

No VC picked at the moment. 

Is Nick Compton a possible future captain of the county?  Very impressive person but he has to come and prove something. 

Will we be inviting Ian Blackwell back?  Who knows? We don’t turn our backs on anyone who may improve the side but there are no plans presently. 

Marcus Trescothick is identified as the captain for next season.  No-one asked which was wonderful. 

CA Pavilion is well underway but it is about a month behind because of contractor issues.  Still hope it will be ready for the start of the season.  The whole front is being dug out for more pronounced terracing because the old seats were a bit flat. 

Focus 2010 

·         Compete in ALL forms of cricket – no specialisms·         Develop and nurture our young talent

·         Support the new captain (and leadership group)

·         Continue to improve facilities and develop additionl income streams

·         Provide first class customer experience 

Q and A

Other ground developments?  We have planning permission but there is no money.  We are looking for partners but there aren’t many with money 

And that was it.

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