2020 Yearbook Troubling Times
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Inspiring cricketers to enjoy a lifelong love of cricket 2020 YEARBOOK TROUBLING TIMES t would be irresponsible of us not to say something about the present circumstances in which we all find ourselves. In the cricket world, we have only a minority part to play: there are far more serious I issues in the wider world. With sporting events being dropped like flies it was only a matter of time before cricket joined the list of those suspended by the spread of the Coronavirus. When sports all across the world suspend their playing schedules, you know that sport is not the prime consideration. This pandemic has been spreading at an alarming rate. It’s a very contagious virus. It’s a clear case of being safe, not sorry. The cancelling of major cricket matches is a rare occurrence and casts the sport back to the dark days of the two world wars. Test matches were suspended in early 1914 and didn’t resume until late 1920 because of the First World War. The gap in competition was slightly longer during the Second World War, stretching from August 1939 until March 1946. In the early stages of this pandemic, plans were being made to cancel everything for two weeks and then see if resumption would be possible. Now, as you know, all social cricket is suspended until further notice. In addition all schools were told to close with effect from the weekend of 20 March. Our first priority is the health and safety of our members and our colleagues. Perhaps this situation will clear itself up before the end of the season: perhaps it will last into next year. We simply have to go with the flow – and let’s stay positive and optimistic about reclaiming the same fixtures, and perhaps some new ones, in the next available season. The schools will surely return as strong as ever. On the other hand, given the potential for significant loss of income this season, there is concern that the number of clubs around next season may not be as great as it is today. A further challenge will be the efforts to maintain the interest and enthusiasm of cricketing youngsters who may not pick up a bat and ball outdoors till April next year. A net in the back garden – for those who have one – must be a great advantage! The golfers are not having it any easier as all the golf courses have been closed. This is not just about sport. There are lots of people out there with problems far more significant and dangerous. We may have cancelled some cricket, some meetings, some golf and some social events. We may have to reconsider the Quadrangular Tournament in Spain in October, and even the Annual Dinner and AGM in November, if this pestilence continues. However these issues fade into insignificance compared with the challenges that others face. Hopefully we can all stay positive and look on the bright side of the outcome of this period. May we never take for granted a handshake with a stranger: full shelves at the shops; a crowded theatre; the taste of communion; a school run each morning; the stadium roaring; life itself. May we find that we have become more like the people we wanted to be, we were called to be, or we hoped to be. May we stay that way – better for each other because of the worst. Isolation doesn’t mean you have to feel isolated. Being alone doesn’t mean you have to feel lonely. Keep in touch with your friends and family. Stick to your social distancing. Stay well. Stay healthy. Wash your hands. Barry Aitken Honorary General Secretary April 2020 https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 3 REPORTS PRESIDENT’S NOTES CHAIRMAN’S NOTES or the most part, Forty Club members and cricketers are generous-spirited and well disposed s we place 2019 in the archive section, we can reflect on much achieved. 2019 gave us so much, from towards those with whom we play – both teammates and opponents. And yet I wonder the Club’s first tour to the Gambia and the 50th anniversary of the Triangular, now Quadrangular, F how many of us will arrive at a lovely school ground and consider as a first priority how A Tournament at Neston in Cheshire, and of course the achievements of England in the World Cup and much pleasure and happiness we can instil in the opposition. What might we do to enhance in another remarkable Ashes series. the potential of those just starting out whilst, at the same time, deriving satisfaction and fulfilment ourselves through the highest level of excellence we can attain. Your Executive Committee and District Chairmen have evolved, with a number of new faces developing the communications field and modernising our platform with the playcricket.com website, alongside Facebook This may seem a strange notion to some. After all, we are instinctively competitive and like to do some and with Twitter. There is undoubted positivity in creating an awareness of our Club on a broader base and the winning along the way; yet ours is a most generous club and, amidst the rough and tumble of a day’s move in this direction is enabling dividends to be realised. cricket, we like to see our opponents, the young particularly, do well just as we love to see our own children succeed. Passing something on to a future generation is a precious gift. An attitude of mind, Our ambition is to create balanced cricketing XIs wherever possible and that these XIs always play with our intent upon giving something to each day rather than merely taking from it, is a positive and generous spirit in cricket uppermost – Inspiring Cricketers to Enjoy a Lifelong Love of Cricket. one and, above all, gives the Forty Club, a great club, with its wonderful list of fixtures on some of the best grounds in the country, a sense of purpose that can be matched by few others in the world. On a broader look at the club game, we can all observe a troubling decline in the numbers of participants and the folding of a number of established clubs. We, as members of the Forty Club, are in a position of co- Thank you all for the special contributions you make, which in turn have an influence upon so many responsibility in helping the game maintain its presence, with our mantra to be involved in schools cricket. This people in schools and elsewhere. responsibility requires us at all times to put out quality teams and to play our cricket in the best spirit. Good luck, may the sun shine, and have a happy and rewarding summer. The game from top to bottom needs to regenerate, ensuring that club cricket in general is played by the rising generation. While some senior players are possibly needed to lead the group, others need to step aside to allow John Barclay youth to come through. Seniors cricket has fine age group competitions – but it is investment in the future game that counts. The Forty Club should demonstrate that lead in investment. I wish you as safe a passage through the coming months as possible; our game has the ability and drive to regenerate when this is all done and will allow us to all come together agaIn, hopefully later in 2020. Phil Fawkner-Corbett 4 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 5 GENERAL REPORTS SECRETARY’S TREASURER’S NOTES NOTES ow ironic it was that just as England clinched that riting this report serves a few purposes. Initially, I been recorded as income in the wrong financial exciting victory in South Africa on the fifth day can introduce myself as your new Treasurer and year. This has now been adjusted and we are back H of the second Test, the ECB and South African W then I can take a few lines to briefly explain the on track with collections. We decided 15 years ago Cricket formally endorsed the proposal for four- disappointing 2019 accounts. to abolish the opportunity for life membership for day Tests. However, better news reached us more recently UK members. Whilst life membership payments were as the MCC Committee voted in favour of the five-day Test. Some of you will know my history with the Forty being collected, there was no real pain in assessing Club. I took over my father’s position on the Dinner the receipts as 100% current year income, but once It is the era of radical ideas to change the first-class game, Committee 20 years ago and after six years serving stopped there has been no way of adequately either to make it more interesting to the vast majority of under the Chairmanship of Dr Fred Imms, I was asked servicing the annual costs that are expended for a people who never watch it, at grounds or on TV, or to its role, its purpose and its ambitions in cricket. Do we need to be Chairman of the Dinner Committee. This role gave group that now contributes no annual income other improve the standards of skill of those who play it. Sadly to take the opportunity to undertake some fundamental me a position on the Executive Committee, on which I than perhaps the occasional match fee. it seems to some of us that this plethora of ideas is being research to develop what is the right response to [some of] have served since 2006. As well as Dinner matters, I have driven by the market-maker and the money-man, and not today’s school needs for matches against adults? been able to support the Executive with reviews on the Subscriptions collected year on year have stayed by the cricketer.