South Shields CC Hit COVID for six 2021!

Aim

Please help us raise funds to compensate for the significant loss of revenue due to COVID season of 2020

Who are South Shields Cricket Club?

South Shields Cricket Club has been empowering young people in our community through the love of cricket since 1850 and have played at our current ground, Wood Terrace, since 1868. The club has a long and proud history winning the Durham Senior League on several occasions and has competed at the top level of North East cricket as recently as 2017.  

South Shields CC 1868-first season at Wood Terrace

At a time when many clubs are folding, dropping teams and struggling to get juniors playing senior cricket, South Shields Cricket Club are one of few clubs in the North East to field four senior weekend teams.  This is ongoing evidence of the development of juniors capable and wanting to compete at a senior level and a strong indication of the club’s long-term sustainability.

Under 13s North East Premier League Champions 2016

(Seven of the team played regular senior cricket for the club in 2020, including three in the 1st team.)

Every first team appearance last season was made by a current or former junior of the club, as were 90% of senior appearances overall in the club’s four senior teams.  

2021 will see the first season of the only girls-only team in South Tyneside to go along with existing junior teams from Under-9  up to Under-19.

What is South Shields Cricket Club mission?

The most established and successful junior cricket development programme in South Tyneside.

   Under 13s National North Regional Finals 2018

• Focus on every young person's potential before their cricketing ability, brought out by experienced and dedicated volunteer coaches.
•  Based at our historic cricket ground, a focus for community sport and engagement since 1868.

Why are we fundraising?

COVID has had a massive impact on the club’s finances as all the normal fundraising events had to be cancelled and matchday income was much reduced to only a partial season taking place.   Additionally, no extra fundraising events could be held for the specific purpose of raising funds towards new ground equipment that is urgently needed.

What has been the financial impact of COVID?

The club is entirely dependent on its members and supporters for funds.  The club's income comes from either fundraising events or match day income.  

Sadly, due to COVID, all fundraising events had to be cancelled including the longstanding annual Arndale Sportsman's Dinner which has raised well over £3000 a year on many an occasion, the highly popular Christmas Ding Dong Quiz, the pre-season dinner and the race night.  

• Ding Dong Christmas Quiz 2019-not held 2020

Matchday income was severely hit due to the shortened season.  Due to the uncertainty of the season taking place, the usually productive match ball sponsorship campaign was not launched in 2020.  The anticipated Tuck Shop income which was expected to significantly increase in 2020 due to extra matches being held with the addition of an extra Sunday senior team, greater numbers of All-Stars and additional Under-11 friendlies was severely hit not just by the lack of games but also COVID restrictions on how the Tuck Shop had to operate and what it could sell.  Fewer games meant less opportunity to sell the matchday blind card.

At a conservative estimate, the club calculates that it made only 20% of its projected income which meant a shortfall of well over £9000.

What will funds raised go towards? 

The club was aware that new ground equipment was desperately needed and has put money away each season to that effect and had hoped to hold extra fund-raising events for this purpose in 2020 before COVID struck.

It is vital that the club replaces the tractor, mower and accessories as soon as possible to ensure that the Wood Terrace playing surface can be renovated to an acceptable standard.  This project is vital to the future of junior cricket and rugby in South Shields. 

The playing surface at Wood Terrace has gradually declined over the years despite the valiant efforts of the hardworking volunteer ground staff due to the club’s ground equipment becoming less reliable and effective with each passing year.

Our tractor is almost 40 years old and currently out of action waiting for its latest expensive repairs.  Our mower and other equipment are in a similar condition.

Ground staff had to cut the outfield with a hand pushed garden lawn mower, on occasions, due to the ancient equipment awaiting repair.  This process took over eight hours and the volunteer ground staff would walk over 25 miles each time.

The club has submitted several grant bids in the hope of raising funds towards securing a new tractor with a gang mower and combination tool.  This machinery will allow the volunteer ground staff to maintain the ground at a much higher standard but also create capacity to add extra junior playing and practice wickets.

Who in the community will benefit from this project?

Achieving this target will ensure we can the club can keep playing at Wood Terrace and can survive long-term providing opportunities for all young people in the community to reap the physical and social benefits from enjoying sports at the ground.  COVID has a drastic impact on young people's opportunities to exercise and socialize in a safe pleasant environment, supporting this project will increase the club's capacity to help young people recover from COVID.

• Current and future junior members, Under-11 membership is free so all young people in community can access the opportunities the club offers
• Local primary school partners, who work with the club along with Durham Cricket Board.
• Regular softball festivals and games will be held on the outfield for local primary schools.
• Cricket lovers in the community, entry to all games is free so the club provides hours of entertainment for no cost.
• All-Stars (5 to 8 year old children's introduction to cricket).

All Stars 2020

• Community family days.
• Junior and senior players at Westoe Rugby Club.
• Popular Beer Garden retained from 2020.

Testimonials

Parent of a junior player

"We have watched our son thrive and develop skills physically and emotionally, he has grown in confidence through committed coaching and training."

Teacher at partner Primary school

"This partnership is especially valuable as being an area of high socio-economic deprivation it provides many of our children with opportunities, they would not otherwise be able to access."

This project successfully funded on 30th March 2021