RICHARD CLARKE
AKA The Grumbler
My local non-league football club were eyeing promotion before the winter flooding. But between Boxing Day and the last week of March, Storm Henk and his pals ensured they hosted just three games at their… err... homely little ground. They have been playing Saturday-Tuesday-Thursday throughout April to make up the shortfall.
As a result of this inconsistency, crowds have dwindled by 25 per cent but costs have remained constant and, of course, constantly higher than previous years. For a business based on bar takings, the lack of cash and cash flow could have closed the club.
So, they have decided to install a 3G artificial pitch. This not only solves the immediate problem of restoring existing revenues, but pitch hire will become a major new income stream.
Of course, the initial investment is significant, the sporting integrity is diminished and, while they play on fake grass, that dream of joining the Football League will be lost. However, Potters Bar Town will not only exist but potentially thrive.
Unfortunately, Worcestershire CCC have no such room for manoeuvre.
For many years, the ‘flooded pitch at New Road’ snap has been a sign that the new campaign is close. We smiled, we shared, and we smirked at the groundsman’s nightmare in a rather-you-thanme way.
But the dark humour has run thin. This winter, the pitch on the floodplain of the River Severn and in the shadow of Worcester Cathedral was submerged between October 1 and March 31. The first two Championship games have been moved to Kidderminster and, crucially, the Blast fixtures are under threat. So, this week, CEO Ashley Giles wrote to members saying: “As a board, we will make it our key priority to explore every option, including a move from New Road”.
It is one of a growing cluster of question marks surrounding county grounds.
In December, Gloucestershire announced plans to sell Nevill Road, a plot in Bristol originally gifted by WG Grace over 130 years ago and now valued at around £25m, to move to a site in the south of the county. The decision was surely related to the news, this week, that they had lost £1.2m during the last financial year.
Essex have two options on the table – a 10,000-capacity revamp of New Writtle Street, which would include a hotel and student accommodation, or a move away. Again, the city centre venue would surely bring a sizeable price from property developers. A year ago, Leicestershire announced plans for a £60m development of Grace Road, an expansion that would include a formal link with Loughborough University. Meanwhile, Lancashire and Northamptonshire have new second-team venues on the way. Ground development is one way that sports teams can change their story. Hampshire might have been one of the counties fighting for their future but for their Rod Bransgrove-funded move to the
