Yorkshire’s local cricket clubs optimistic they can survive a summer without any action
GRASSROOTS cricket chiefs in Yorkshire have played down fears of clubs folding due to the coronavirus crisis.
The Yorkshire Cricket Board – the governing body for recreational cricket in the county – has more than 700 affiliated clubs and teams.
But the YCB, along with league officials in the county, are optimistic that clubs will survive these challenging times – even if, as seems likely, there is no recreational cricket this summer.
Richard Wilkinson, the YCB’s head of region (North Yorkshire), told The Yorkshire Post: “At the moment, I’ve not had anybody say that this is going to absolutely floor us, this is going to ruin us.
“I’ve not had anything up to now that that would be the case.
“There’s four head of regions (at the YCB), and we communicate on a regular basis, and none of us at this time feel that there’s some clubs massively at risk of going under or folding.”
Financial support from the England and Wales Cricket Board and the government is helping, providing a lifeline for the grassroots game.
Leagues can apply for loans of up to £50,000, clubs can access small business grants of up to £10,000, and the YCB has been in close contact with clubs to
make sure that they know what assistance is on offer.
“I’ve basically been checking in with clubs to make sure that they’re okay, seeing where they are in terms of the financial situation, and whether they’ve got enough resources to withstand this period of time through the summer at least,” added Wilkinson.
“We’ve also been helping them to see what financial support packages are available that they can access, which have been via their local authority, Sport England and the ECB, so these are things that can help with the main running costs, and so on.
“It’s obviously such an uncertain time and no-one knows how things are going to pan out, but that’s the situation as it currently stands.
“I think the test will be what happens when the season has passed and how we get clubs ready for next year and what that may look like, but, at the moment, no-one can yet see that far into the future.”
Wilkinson’s optimism and spirit of determination is shared by league officials throughout the Broad Acres.
Keith Moss, president of the Bradford Cricket League, said: “At the moment, I think clubs are all right. They’ve applied for the help that’s on offer, and they’re okay.
“I’m not privy to all the accounts (of our clubs), but, knowing what I do, I think we’d get through.
“The bottom line, of course, is that no-one knows how long this situation is going to last for.”
Norman Clee, general secretary of the Huddersfield Cricket League, said: “I would have thought that most of our clubs would be able to withstand a season without cricket if we have to, which is my personal opinion.
“I wouldn’t expect any of our clubs to go under, and I sincerely hope that all clubs will survive.”
Peter Kirk, honorary secretary of the Nidderdale and District Amateur Cricket League, concurred: “As a league, we feel that we can withstand the inactivity, although it’s obviously a very difficult situation for all clubs at present.”