[Cricket] Sussex CCC - 2024 edition

[vegster]

The Duchess of Norfolk Lavinia games were special. i remember when “the rest of the world” xi played there in the 80s. all of the world‘s best players gathered in arundel . one page of my autograph book has Alan Border, Graeme Hick and Clive Lloyd.
Horsham superb too. Walking from the town centre, past the church, through the woods, into the ground.

Was there for the Duchess's v Australia match the summer when Warne bowled THAT ball to Gatting..Big Bird had some great repartee going with our section of the ground. Lovely bloke !

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Horsham had the small car park behind the pavilion but they used to allow people to park on the grass at the southern end and that was a reasonable size space.

At Arundel, behind the 'mound' end, there was a big field used for car parking - several hundred cars at £10 a go is a nice little earner and required minimal stewarding to organise.

The Barrack Field adjacent to the ground, behind the scorebox and the second ground (Horsham has back to back cricket grounds.) were used for parking.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

I tried, and tried again but gave up

You didn't come up with one reasonable point to why.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

OK, OK...you're right and everyone else is wrong...jeez.

I dont ever remember Horsham or Arundel having massive car parks tbh, but maybe thats because I was only there on days for smaller games which no-one went to, so they didn't use any other available parking? Horsham has always had a small car park iirc, and Arundel just seems to be mostly the grass bank at one end...which isn't massive. You probably know of other parking spots though.

Everyone being you who doesn't even like the game and one other who uses the excuse of a roller.

 

[Brian Fantana]

I've been lucky enough to play at Arundel a few times and it is probably my favourite ground in England. Playing there on a Sunday against the Duke of Norfolk's XI with several hundred people snoozing in deck chairs having had enormous lunches is one of the most quintessentially English things ever.

I also remember going there in the early 2000s to watch Zimbabwe, the West Indies and Australia.

I agree with those saying that it is a massively shame that 'out grounds' seem to be becoming a thing of the past. It is something that definitely takes away from the charm of county cricket.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

A bit of a tangent but the wicket and ground at East Grinstead could easily accommodate a county game, lovely ground, pavilion and physio room. Parking might be a slight issue but it’s better than Hove.

Certainly an improvement on their old ground in town.

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

Everyone being you who doesn't even like the game....

And that matters why? Genuine question. I've sat at countless grounds, including those mentioned, for more hours than I care to remember over the last 8 years, so surely my opinion on the original point is just as valid? And, as I said in my opening post, both Horsham & Arundel are really nice grounds to spectate at.... Just not sure they could accommodate big games with logistics etc. anymore, but you obviously think different, having been at the pointy end of it before.

You seem a very grumpy individual. Your avatar suit you well

 

[amexer]

Grow up? My post didn’t start with “Tough what a load of crap”

Can’t disagree with your final paragraph, but you must agree that we’ve moved on from the 80s.

Are you saying that the out grounds have similar standard facilities to Hove such as indoor and outdoor nets, physios and physiotheraphy rooms, static cameras for YouTube coverage, scoreboards with replays, security, rollers, trained stewards, warm up equipment, floodlights?

I’m not so sure that today’s cricketers would be so keen to play around the county. Many are mercenaries who will play for the most money and the least inconvenience. The likes of Peter Graves and Jim Parks are from a bygone era.

I would say we have moved back not on from 80s. Apart from few top countries there can be no other sport at proffessional level that has gone down in quality as cricket. Start of 20/20 was good but because of initial popularity slowly took over to the detriment of cricket. Then ridiculous 100 competition came in that has not only nearly finished county cricket of but turned a once great 50 over competition into nothing more than good club standard. Another 2 years of Sky involvement with hundred when every chance it will end but damage will have been done

 

[timbha]

You didn't come up with one reasonable point to why.

Ok then, through your various esteemed contacts - Shep, Dickie Bird, Lavinia, some Sussex scorer, players from the 80s, i’m sure there are more - tell us why Sussex CCC have decided not to play at the out grounds. There must be a reason.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

And that matters why? Genuine question. I've sat at countless grounds, including those mentioned, for more hours than I care to remember over the last 8 years, so surely my opinion on the original point is just as valid? And, as I said in my opening post, both Horsham & Arundel are really nice grounds to spectate at.... Just not sure they could accommodate big games with logistics etc. anymore, but you obviously think different, having been at the pointy end of it before.

You seem a very grumpy individual. Your avatar suit you well

I think passionately about cricket and the ability to offer a different demographic the chance to see 1st class cricket locally. That was once afforded those of Hastings, Eastbourne and Horsham then latterly Arundel. Logistics of the outgrounds haven't changed. Hove's capacity is 6000 with generally poor access for those outside the city. Horsham and Arundel used to get over 5000 spectators. Ease of getting to the grounds was/is better. Most of the catering at county grounds even the test grounds are done by catering vans. The only issue is the floodlighting for limited over games. This wasn't ever an issue as games started earlier. The preparation of the grounds were always completed by the full-time groundsmen at the respective grounds. The Sussex groundsmen only visited to ensure the prep was completed correctly.

County cricket is suffering from a huge reduction in spectators especially for the championship games and the 50 over comp.

Sussex used to be one of the trial blazers in innovation, sadly this was deposed with when a series of poor CEO's were employed. County cricket is dying on its arse not helped by the ECB. The average county relies on the pay out from international games. However the pathway for decent young players is being choked. The championship is being played at the arse ends of the season. The 100 takes away the top players leaving club players to play in the 50 over game.

I'm not grumpy but I can see the end of the game as we know it. Being the oldest county we could be witnessing their demise.

 

[Luke93]

You didn't come up with one reasonable point to why.

The club stated it “costs money” to host a FC match away from Hove. We don’t have the full financial breakdown, but we can make reasonable assumptions.

When Hove is set up for the whole 18 (19) FC home game season, costs are effectively spread over all those games. Each game will have its own variable cost, but it’s obviously cheaper to use the same resource as much as possible.

To host at an outground, additional costs are incurred in getting the ground FC ready. Not just the physical emergents, but a lot of logistically planning is also needed. Additional work for the Sussex back room staff which costs time and money. Digital marketing will need adjusting and so on. Sussex bundle X games together (at Hove) in Blast passes, full memberships, one day cup bundles, etc. and all this will need changing if the home game program changes.

Let’s say 1,000 turn up for a one day cup game at Arundal. After the additional costs are accounted for hosting a game there it may well make a profit in isolation. But the opportunity cost is NOT hosting at Hove, which can generate positive income from far fewer spectators turning up. For an outground to match that through their one-off costs to Sussex, I’d assume they’d need a monstrous turnout. This is what they mean by “costs the club money”. The net financial benefit for hosting elsewhere will likely be lower.

I’d also assume sponsorship deals are agreed for X amount of games at Hove. This will be adjusted (and lower) income for Sussex if games are outsourced. Hosting away from Hove also carries more risk, so you can see why they’ve gone for the easier option. A day rained off at Hove is already a financial hit. A day rained off for an outsourced game will be worse.

What the actual impact of hosting away from Hove is something we’d never know for sure without a proper look at the numbers. But I think it’s pretty clear the people liable for making that decision are right.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

I would say we have moved back not on from 80s. Apart from few top countries there can be no other sport at proffessional level that has gone down in quality as cricket. Start of 20/20 was good but because of initial popularity slowly took over to the detriment of cricket. Then ridiculous 100 competition came in that has not only nearly finished county cricket of but turned a once great 50 over competition into nothing more than good club standard. Another 2 years of Sky involvement with hundred when every chance it will end but damage will have been done

To be fair, the 50/40 over competition had been dying on its arse for years before the Hundred came along.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

What the actual impact of hosting away from Hove is something we’d never know for sure without a proper look at the numbers. But I think it’s pretty clear the people liable for making that decision are right.

I think it's much more fun to assume they're doing it to annoy Piltdown Man, and for no other reason.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Ok then, through your various esteemed contacts - Shep, Dickie Bird, Lavinia, some Sussex scorer, players from the 80s, i’m sure there are more - tell us why Sussex CCC have decided not to play at the out grounds. There must be a reason.

I'll start at the beginning, firstly Horsham only ever had one game a season, the Sunday 40 over comp for years. This was increased due to the success of the event. Hastings always had a county week but due to the site being sold for the horrible shopping centre this was lost. Eastbourne, again was used but due to it being council owned the ground fell down on quality required. Arundel at this point didn't want Sussex to play there, it was only for the Duchess of Norfolk XI.

With the demise of Hastings and Eastbourne, Horsham agreed to playing further games. It was still sometime before Arundel came on board. The event had to make a profit for Horsham as well as Sussex. When Arundel agreed for Sussex to play there, the finances where not such an issue. It was Sussex's greed that stopped games at Horsham and the club refused to stage the event not quite what was reported at the time!

This left Arundel and that only stopped due to COVID and since then they have promised it will return but as of yet nothing. As I have posted it's unlikely anyway due to the crap fixture lists.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Ok then, through your various esteemed contacts - Shep, Dickie Bird, Lavinia, some Sussex scorer, players from the 80s, i’m sure there are more - tell us why Sussex CCC have decided not to play at the out grounds. There must be a reason.

Some Sussex scorer, was a very well respected person in the game. The most successful Captain in the history of the club happens to be a friend as well and that was the 2003/8.

 

[DJ NOBO]

Some Sussex scorer, was a very well respected person in the game. The most successful Captain in the history of the club happens to be a friend as well and that was the 2003/8.

Clue for those who are struggling:

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

Lovely afternoon in the shade as I made a rare appearance in the upper tier of the members.

A great win against Surrey and their opinionated know it all fans.

Tom Alsop got 107

Something that did cross my mind though as I only go to a couple of games a season, I was always brought up that you didn’t move (go/return from a piss and/or a pint during an over) I appreciate T20 changed a lot of this as a lot of the new crowd don’t know the SP and are often unaware of the etiquette but it appeared common place with the old boys in the members, is it not a thing anymore?

 

[Eeyore]

Victory over Surrey. 10th/1tth team ? Doesn't matter. It's Surrey.

 

[The Oldman]

Lovely afternoon in the shade as I made a rare appearance in the upper tier of the members.

A great win against Surrey and their opinionated know it all fans.

Tom Alsop got 107

Something that did cross my mind though as I only go to a couple of games a season, I was always brought up that you didn’t move (go/return from a piss and/or a pint during an over) I appreciate T20 changed a lot of this as a lot of the new crowd don’t know the SP and are often unaware of the etiquette but it appeared common place with the old boys in the members, is it not a thing anymore?

Still almost followed in cc matches but limited overs stuff no way.

 

[wendy's tackle]

Lovely afternoon in the shade as I made a rare appearance in the upper tier of the members.

A great win against Surrey and their opinionated know it all fans.

Tom Alsop got 107

Something that did cross my mind though as I only go to a couple of games a season, I was always brought up that you didn’t move (go/return from a piss and/or a pint during an over) I appreciate T20 changed a lot of this as a lot of the new crowd don’t know the SP and are often unaware of the etiquette but it appeared common place with the old boys in the members, is it not a thing anymore?

I thought the same about moving during an over. Sadly such etiquette has all but disappeared, like so many simple manners in life these days. A good win against a very inexperienced Surrey team, still welcome none the less. A win against Essex on Wednesday would land Surrey with the wooden spoon.