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| LATEST NEWS |
10 February 2010 |
Threat to Continued Investment in Cricket in Worcestershire |
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Worcestershire CCC has today written to local MPs to express their concern at the threat to continued investment in County and Recreational Cricket. A consultation currently being held by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport into sporting events which should be listed could mean an income loss to cricket in England and Wales of at least £100m during a four year period. With losses of this magnitude the impact would be felt at all levels of the game.
Increased investment at all levels of cricket has generated impressive results with year on year increases in participation, focus clubs, volunteers and coaches in Worcestershire. Added to this at a national level the Men's, Women's and Disability teams have won their respective Ashes and last year the England Women's team won the ICC Women’s World Cup and the ICC Women’s World Twenty20.
Worcestershire Cricket Board’s ability to make significant investments in the grassroots and community cricket throughout the County and establish a successful performance pathway from schools and clubs through to the county teams and on to the England set up has been in large part due to the fact that ECB has been able to negotiate a fair market price for cricket with broadcaster who have demonstrated a desire and commitment to our sport. Accepting recommendations by the Davies review to list the home Ashes Test Series and the subsequent loss of income to the ECB, the Club and the Cricket Board would have a disastrous impact on our ability to support and develop cricket in Worcestershire.
Peter Radburn, Chairman of the Worcestershire Cricket Board, said “Since 2007 cricket
participation within Worcestershire has increased by almost 70%, club membership has risen by
24% and the number of qualified coaches has risen by 34%. Worcestershire currently has 105
affiliated clubs and last year alone 15,492 people participated in some form of cricket activity,
whether it be from school children in the playground to adults in the 7 competitive leagues of
which there are a total of 25 separate divisions currently running. In addition there are now
almost 800 qualified coaches and 1,619 volunteers continually working hard to support the
game. We are very worried that the Davies proposal could seriously threaten the recreational
game and undo the fantastic progress we have made in recent years”
David Collier, ECB chief executive, said: "We are extremely concerned that should the government choose to accept the recommendations in the Davies review the entire structure of the game in this country could be undermined. Cricket is currently thriving across the country with more coaches, improved stadia, cricket returning to State schools through the Chance to Shine programme and world class support structures for the men's, women's and disabled teams. A loss of income of at least £100m over four years would have a devastating impact on our ability to maintain and improve cricket in this country and we would urge the Government to consider these wider implications before making any decisions."
Over the coming period Worcestershire Cricket Board and Worcestershire CCC will be working with stakeholders to ensure that the future of cricket in Worcestershire is protected and are hopeful the Government will consider returning to the current arrangement which allows quality coverage of cricket on paid for and free to air media platforms and ensures a level of investment to support and improve cricket.
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