CHAIRMAN’S REPORT SO CLOSE! out of the second division to FCCs and driving signifi cantly the leagues structure across the It was an unbelievably exciting consecutive County Championship increased audiences for cricket, County. We are also indebted to but ultimately heart-breaking titles, suffering just a handful particularly families. Both of the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation end to the 2016 season at Lord’s of defeats in nearly 80 games these objectives are fundamental and the Yorkshire Schools Cricket but I was incredibly proud of the and making a huge number to the long term future of YCCC Association for their tremendous team’s approach to the game and of friends along the way. Dizzy and we are supportive of the work in driving participation their decision to go for the win. will forever occupy a special new initiative whilst maintaining amongst the younger age groups. Watching Tim Bresnan steer us to place in our hearts and we wish our belief that the continued Finally, thanks to the rest of the bonus point we needed to keep him, Anna and the kids health, integrity and success of the the board and every member our championship hopes alive was happiness and every success County Championship remains of staff for their hard work and one of the most nerve-wracking in their new lives in Australia. paramount. And for the avoidance commitment. You are all amazing! times of my life, but Middlesex of doubt we don’t want any were the most consistent After a wide-ranging and rigorous team that plays at Headingley We are also indebted to our team throughout the season search process conducted by to have Leeds in its name (even sponsors and commercial and worthy winners, further Martyn Moxon I was personally though I’m a LUFC fan)! Please partners who have been with developing some fi ne young talent delighted that Andrew Gale remain open-minded about the us every step of the way and of their own in the process. was chosen to replace Dizzy. proposed new competition and we’re very proud to have No-one embodies the values come along to the AGM where each of them as part of the SEMI FINAL HEARTACHE of YCCC more than Galey and more details will be provided Yorkshire Cricket family. We entered the season the leadership qualities he has and you can join in the debate. determined to win at least one of demonstrated throughout his Steve Mann is stepping down the white ball competitions and so time as captain and the huge HEADINGLEY STADIUM after 10 years as chairman of the Members’ Committee. Steve the two semi-fi nal defeats in 2016 respect he commands throughout I said last year that we are has been a passionate advocate were particularly disappointing. the dressing room mean that determined to make Headingley of members’ interests and the It’s fair to say that we weren’t he is ideally placed to drive one of the best sporting venues board are extremely grateful helped by the constant team further success in the future. in the country and thereby secure for his terrifi c contribution changes caused by international its future as an international I’m equally delighted that Gary and advice over the years. call-ups/releases (just look cricket ground. This remains Ballance has been appointed at the stability in Northants’ a complicated and expensive NatWest T20 Blast winning Club Captain. His experience Finally, a big thankyou to each of goal but one which we and our team) and achieving greater and tactical awareness will be you as members. Your support friends at Leeds Rugby are consistency remains a priority. invaluable, as will the contribution is massively appreciated by totally committed to, despite of Tim Bresnan as vice-captain. everyone at the club. As I write INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS the diffi culties of planning and there has been an 11% increase I was lucky enough to be at THE KOLPAK DEBATE funding. Leeds City Council and in membership compared Newlands last January to see Whether you feel that Kolpak the Leeds City Region Local to the same point last year. Jonny Bairstow’s maiden Test signings in county cricket are bad Enterprise Partnership are Please keep spreading the century in his outstanding for the game or just the result of very supportive but we are in a word about the excellent value partnership with Ben Stokes routine market forces, we have a crucial period if the new North that membership offers! where they scored 399 off 346 clear policy of growing our own : South stand is to be ready for balls, the highest 6th wicket at YCCC. Our number 1 priority the World Cup and Ashes Test So as we look forward to the partnership in Test history. The is to nurture and grow cricketers in 2019. Further details will be start of the 2017 season I rest of the 2016 international of the highest quality and to that provided to members at the AGM. hope you have a healthy and season turned out to be end we invest substantially in exciting year and I wish Andrew THANKYOU exceptional for both Jonny and Joe developing our own talent. The Gale and Gary Ballance every Root who further cemented his production line of players that Everyone involved with your club success in both regaining place as one of the top 3 batsmen have emerged from our Academy, demonstrates a passion and the County Championship in the world. The prospect of broken into the Yorkshire team commitment which goes above and capturing at least one of seeing them both (together with and gone on to international glory and beyond and none more so the white ball trophies. No our other England internationals) is testament to that policy and the than John Hampshire who is pressure there then boys! at Headingley this year is a very unrivalled quality of our coaching an outstanding ambassador for exciting one and ticket sales for staff. Long may it continue. YCCC as our President. John was the ODI against South Africa a wonderful player and umpire and Test Match against the West TWENTY 20 IN 2020 and is a truly exceptional man Indies are going well. Please Much has been written and said and it was an absolute privilege come along and support! about the ECB’s proposals for a and a joy to spend time with new “city based” T20 competition him over the year. Thanks to ALL CHANGE from 2020 onwards. Unfortunately, Mark Arthur for his day to day We said farewell to Jason commentators have often lost management of the Club and Steve Denison Gillespie at the end of season sight of the twin goals of the also for his partnership with Chairman gala dinner. In his fi ve years as new competition: securing Andrew Watson of the Yorkshire 1st XI coach Dizzy led Yorkshire the fi nancial stability of all 18 Cricket Board in transforming 3 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT 2016 was another year of steady perspective. Five Yorkshire Bill Mustoe, and his team for created eight new pitches on progress for the Club, both on players were in the England maintaining the fi rst-class the edge of the square to enable and off the fi eld. Whilst we came team and the atmosphere in experience that we all enjoy so more practice in the middle. agonisingly close to winning the Ground was special. It was much at North Marine Road. These will be in use for 2018. a third consecutive County a tremendous game of cricket This year we are replacing all the The end of the season saw the Championship, and took the culminating in a home victory. balcony seating in the Carnegie departure of our fi rst team season into the last hour of the Pavilion as well as commencing Domestic success was achieved coach, Jason Gillespie. He had last day of the last match, it was improvements in the Long Room. yet again by our age group sides. fi ve outstanding years at the not to be. We were probably not The Yorkshire Girls U13s won Club and immersed himself in We have much to look forward to at our best at crucial times of the their fourth consecutive title, every aspect of Yorkshire Cricket. in 2017 and beyond. A new fi rst season, but the experience will and the U17s were also crowned Promotion in his fi rst year; two team coach in Andrew Gale and only drive us on in the search for County Champions. Sessay CC County Championship Trophies; a a new Captain in Gary Ballance, another Championship in 2017. In won the National Village Cup second and third place is a record will hopefully lead us to more the white ball formats, two semi- Final at Lord’s, and the Black he can be proud of. Additionally, success in the coming years. An fi nals would suggest that we are Sheep Trophy saw York CC Andrew Gale stepped down as fi rst experienced fi rst team squad also improving as a one-day team. triumph. Our Academy won team Captain, as well as retiring - learning to manage with all Off the fi eld, this was our fi rst full the Yorkshire League Knockout from fi rst class cricket. He has the international call-ups, and year of trading without either the Trophy, defeating Sheriff Hutton been a superb leader of a very many young emerging players fi nancial support of our former Bridge CC in the fi nal. The talented group of players for the eager to take their chances when Chairman or the benefi t of a re- inaugural Yorkshire Premier last seven years and his record they arise.