subject: A Strategy for Sussex Cricket (WWS402135) [print this page] A Strategy for Sussex Cricket (WWS402135)
A Strategy for Sussex Cricket (WWS402135)
Further to the consultation during the Spring, the three year plan for Sussex Cricket has now been finalized. The Boards of Sussex County Cricket Club and Sussex Cricket Board appreciate all comments made and will create a revised programmed for the period 2010 to 2012 towards the end of the year. Sussex CCC was the first First-Class County formed in 1839.http://www.sussexcricket.co.uk
The Club has used four cricket grounds in Brighton & Hove - matches were played on a ground donated by the then Prince Of Wales and the ground was fittingly called 'The Prince of Wales Ground (where Park Crescent now lies), Temple Fields (where Montpelier Crescent now lies), Royal Brunswick Ground (where Third and Fourth Avenues are situated) and finally in 1871 the ground in Eaton Road was acquired from the Trustees of the Stanford Estate. Turf from the Royal Brunswick Grounds was transferred and re-laid on the square.
The first County match was played at Eaton Road on 6 June 1872 against Gloucestershire. As well as the County Ground, Hove, the Club's First and Second XI regularly play around the County, the grounds at Horsham, Eastbourne and Arundel Castle playing host to First XI fixtures.
The Club won its first County Championship in 2003.
The Sussex crest depicts the mythological bird the Martlet, famous for having no feet! Capped players have six martlets on their sweaters whilst non-capped players have just the club crest on the left breast. When it comes to caps the capped players have a crest with gold trimming whilst non-capped have white trimming.
A Strategy for Sussex Cricket 2009-2011
1. The Vision of Sussex Cricket
It is the vision of Sussex Cricket "to be the leading county in England and Wales in the provision of opportunities for cricket participation and the development of high standards of performance at all levels, both on and off the field of play".
2. Purpose of Strategy
The purpose of this initial 3-year Strategy is to produce a definitive pathway, by which to convert into reality the vision for Sussex Cricket.
This will be, as the ECB has described it, "the cornerstone of a co-ordinated and objective planning process for all aspects of cricket in the county, supported by best practice management and innovation".
The Strategy identifies the activities that are necessary to ensure that there is full integration, liaison and co-operation between all aspects of the sport within the county, in order to improve the overall effectiveness in the use of available manpower and financial resources.
As such, it will be the basis on which major decisions are made within the Sussex County Cricket Club (SCCC) and the Sussex Cricket Board (SCB) and provides clubs, leagues, associations, sponsors and other groups and individuals involved, with a clear strategic direction for the game of cricket in Sussex.
The Strategy will be reviewed every year and be modified, as necessary, to provide a rolling 3-year working programme. It needs to be alive and entirely relevant at all times, as well as being seen as guidelines and not tramlines.
3. Ownership of Strategy
The Strategy for Sussex Cricket 2009 2011 has been produced by the Sussex Cricket Strategic Group, which is the governing body for strategic development of all aspects of cricket in the county.
The Strategic Group comprises representatives of the SCB and the SCCC, both organisations of which have been consulted fully during the preparation of this Strategy.
However, it is of vital importance that every part of the Sussex Cricket Family has a real sense of understanding of and a commitment to all aspects of the Strategy, which is why it is now being issued for consultation.
4. Current Position
The past 10 years period has been the most successful era in the history of Sussex cricket, within both the professional and recreational parts of the sport. The successes of the SCCC 1st XI have been achieved not least because of a very strong work ethic and outstanding team spirit; however, this has been aided greatly by the strong and well ordered support structure throughout the county. On this basis, there could not be a better time at which to develop this new strategic approach, to build on the recent successes and develop an even more robust framework for the future.
This Strategy is intended to maximise the effects of the recent Building Partnerships in Sussex Cricket initiative, by continuing to correct any deficiencies and ensuring that opportunities are provided upon which to develop even greater success.
It is recognised that the sport of cricket is undergoing major changes, both domestically and globally. Sussex Cricket needs to be well positioned to meet the organisational challenges that will result from these and this Strategy holds the key to achieving this.
It is also of great importance to the SCCC and the SCB that Sussex Cricket plays a major role in the local community, as a sport for social good, particularly in respect of health improvement and social inclusion.
5. Integration of SCCC and SCB
In producing this Strategy, the Strategic Group has found it useful to distinguish between the organisation and purpose of professional cricket on the one hand and those of recreational cricket on the other. The following are some differences:
Professional = Relies on paying supporters for its continuation.
Recreational = Relies almost entirely on volunteers for its existence;
Professional = Spectating
Recreational = Participating;
Professional = Paid staff at SCCC
Recreational = Unpaid volunteers within clubs.
It is, of course, important to note that professional cricket relies heavily on recreational cricket clubs and other organisations for the production and development of players with the potential to become first-class cricketers.
The common themes between the two are that:
everyone involved gains enjoyment from playing, watching or helping;
whichever the form of cricket played, it has great potential for achieving social good.
6. Values
The following values are fundamental to the positive pursuit of excellence within all aspects of Sussex Cricket throughout the county:
high ethical standards in the behaviour of all participants, officials and others;
social, physical and gender inclusiveness, regardless of age, race and religion;
strong support for and valuing of volunteers and employees;
best deals for supporters and business partners;
best business practice and governance;
transparency and accountability;
effective communications; and
genuine belief in the positive benefits of building partnerships.
7. Objectives
This Strategy has two appendices, which outline the specific objectives for the Sussex County Cricket Club, in respect of professional cricket in the county (Appendix 1), and the Sussex Cricket Board for the recreational game (Appendix 2).
These appendices have been drafted to set out the "WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE".
As soon as the final annual version of the Strategy has been finalised in each year, a detailed, but realistic Annual Business Plan (for the Sussex CCC) and the annual Improvement Planning Process (for the SCB) will be prepared, which identify the individual action points that are needed to achieve the above stated goals and objectives "HOW WE DO IT".
8. Programme of Action
The first important step is the distribution of this document to all parts of the Sussex Cricket Family for consultation. Every member, sponsor, club, league, organisation and individual is invited to send in their comments on any aspect of the document.
Comments are requested by 31 May 2009, following which these contributions will be taken into account by the Strategic Group and amend the Strategy as it considers appropriate. This task will be completed by 30 June 2009, with the final document being placed on permanent display on the Sussex Cricket website, www.sussexcricket.co.uk.
