By Dave Buxton
December 2 2002

The popular Ilford Festival has been dropped in favour of the Southend Festival for the 2003 season. The decision, made on financial terms, will come as a blow to many who live within the Valentines Park ground area.

Ilford Festival Dropped

The popular Ilford Festival has been dropped in favour of the Southend Festival for the 2003 season. ECCC had previously confirmed that one festival week would be staged at Colchester, but was awaiting proposals from both Redbridge and Southend Councils before confirming the second venue.

Ilford had been staging festival Essex cricket at it's Valentines Park ground for many a year, but financial terms meant that only two festivals could be staged and with Colchester an automatic choice, Southend is to be the second thanks to a substantial contribution from Southend Council.

For many fans this is a major blow. For Essex fans living within walking distance, like myself, and those within the East London area of Essex, losing the Ilford festival will be disappointing, as this is their local ground to watch county cricket. It could mean that these fans decide not to travel to Chelmsford, which is now the closest ground for the East London Essex fans.

David East, Essex's Chief Exec, said: "All our festivals have been experiencing financial difficulty over the last few years and our Committee decided some time ago that the Club could not continue to sustain three festivals in 2003. Colchester had been confirmed at an early stage due to a commitment from the Council to support the event financially next year and Southend has also made a substantial commitment for 2003 and is prepared, in principle, to consider undertaking the staging of the event from 2004.

"It is obviously a great pity that we shall not be returning to Valentines Park in Ilford next year and Essex should like to thank both Ilford Cricket Club and Redbridge Council for all their support over the many years of our association. The decision to drop Ilford has been made on purely financial grounds and in no way reflects on the commitment either Ilford Cricket Club or Redbridge Council has made to Essex in the past."

So the end for Ilford for staging Essex cricket has unfortunately arrived. It was thought that the festival might even have been lost a few years ago, but financial help meant it kept it, but the cost of bringing in new players to leap Essex up into the First Division of both competitions and the fact the Ilford week was not bringing in the crowds it used to, has meant this outcome. It's a great shame for Essex and it's fans, but one day, the Ilford week might return. Unfortunately, for next year at least, Valentines Park will just be staging club cricket.

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Date: 2/12/02

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