SCC Development Plan 2025 UPDATE

Posted on by speldhurstcc

Exactly one year ago, newly elected Chair, Mark Flemington, released a five-year development plan for Speldhurst Cricket Club. The aim of this was to enforce a long-term direction for the club, and encourage forward-thinking. It’s a living document, and will be updated every year. The first update, below, details areas of success in 2024, and focus for 2025.

Please let me know if you have any comments or suggested additions either here or by email to me at flemington@aol.com

Club Development Plan 2024-2029

Year One Update

REVIEW OF 2024

  • Areas where we succeeded against the Plan
    • Some improvement of communication within the Club and to an extent beyond. Spond, WhatsApp and Website all used.
    • The Committee structure is more aligned with ongoing requirements of the Club
    • We have extended the Vice President group but need to ensure it isn’t just a badge
    • Relationships with other community stakeholders have been improved
    • Finances are stable and improved since last year with significant capital expenditure undertaken as well
    • General infrastructure significantly upgraded during the year
    • The Junior Cricket Section continues to thrive with greater participation at all age groups and the quality being developed a testament to the leadership and coaching within the section
    • A new Girls Only Cricket group starts this summer
    • Sunday cricket became a regular feature during the season enabling parents and young cricketers to play together in a slightly less competitive environment than the League.
  • Areas where we were less successful
    • Both League sides were relegated
    • Social events and tradiƟonal fundraising were limited
    • Engagement between the Senior and Junior Cricket Sections still not widespread
    • The Senior Cricket Section still needs more people prepared to contribute off the field as well as on it

CONNECTIVITY AND COMMUNICATION

  • Stakeholders – who are they?
    • Senior Cricket Section
    • Junior Cricket Section
    • Committee
    • President and Vice Presidents
    • Alumni and supporters
    • Local community
  • How best to communicate?
    • Spond – Primary means within the overall playing group. Generally, seems to work well for admin and payment although speed of match fee receipts is variable.
    • WhatsApp – For smaller groups e.g. the Committee
    • Club website with links from Spond/email for wider interest e.g. Chairman’s Ramblings.
  • Committee structure
    • Expand size and spread workload where possible
    • Prioritise Junior Cricket Section involvement
    • Ex-Co sub-group for day-to-day decision making (Chairman, Secretary & Treasurer)
  • Vice Presidents, Alumni and supporters
    • How to keep involved particularly with extended VP group?
    • Potential role for President
    • Subsidised get-together/events?
  • Local Community
    • Parish Council
    • School
    • RecreaƟon Ground CommiƩee
    • George and Dragon
    • Residents
  • Improve and develop relationships

FINANCES

  • Much improved but still heavily dependent on the Junior Cricket Section (70/30) for cash flow
  • The capital expenditure of over £11k on the new shed and mobile nets has been enabled through member donations and ‘short-term loans’
  • Ongoing needs of the Junior Cricket Section in terms of equipment will continue to be prioritised
  • We need to increase Senior Cricket Section playing revenue through
    • Sunday fixtures
    • Expand senior playing group
  • Sponsorship
    • £700 in 2024 and gradual decline in quantum and number of sponsors
    • Target membership initially with potential access to employer social/community investment budgets
    • Junior Cricket Section parents should be the principal avenue for Junior Cricket Section sponsorship
    • Local businesses – but there must be value for them and the Club need to support them.
  • Fundraising/social events
    • Fundraising limited to crowdfunding for the new shed in 2024
    • Will traditional events still attract? New ideas?
    • Aim to involve more members in individual events rather than it being one person’s role
    • Annual dinner better attended and more diverse than in previous year but still more to do. Proposed change of date and timing relative to season-end should assist

INFRASTRUCTURE

  • Facilities
    • Pavilion – showers replaced, and further plumbing works scheduled subject to agreement with Rec Com
    • Ground – New water supply has improved square maintenance.
    • Ouƞield could be further improved.
    • Nets – Fixed net in need of some refurbishment
  • Relationship with Recreation Ground Committee
    • Generally good and improvements to Pavilion and Ground have been delivered over last 12 months
    • Further internal and external works will be required soon
    • As the primary user should the Club be prepared to invest to help accelerate improvements?
  • Looking ahead
    • Girls Only Section – now being brought forward and facilities will need to move in step with its development.
  • Developments to be proportionate to the requirements of the membership and financial capability of the club

PLAYING OBJECTIVES

  • League relegation for both senior sides in 2024 was not unexpected and a natural consequence of losing a group of very talented players over the last few seasons. However, we did fulfil our commitment to the League.
  • Availability has improved over last couple of seasons and first cohort of All Stars and their dads are now feeding into senior teams and there is cause for optimism regarding our general playing strength as a club
  • The current playing objectives could therefore be;
    • Maintaining two senior sides in KCVL
    • The 1st XI to reclaim Division 1 status and within the plan period challenge for a top three finish
    • The 2nd XI to challenge for promotion within the next two seasons and have an ambition of a sustained status at no lower than Division 4
    • The Sunday XI to play regularly through the season and provide an opportunity for young cricketers and their parents to play senior cricket and those that are not available or selected on Saturday to still be able to play cricket for SCC
    • The Junior Cricket Section teams to participate at all available age groups and be competitive against their peer group
    • Over the plan period to increase the participation of girls within the club
    • The Junior Cricket Section to provide a minimum of four young cricketers to make their senior club debut each year
    • Consider reviving the process for obtaining ECB Clubmark status within the plan period

MSJF 310325