I ​am sure that we are all hoping for a long summer of cricket. At the Trust, we look forward to seeing you and your members soon. The SCST is delighted to announce that we have renovated our outdoor cricket nets under John Howard’s direction. I hope that users can treat them with respect, for instance spiked shoes cannot be used.  
 
I hope that we can ease our way into outdoor cricket practice.
 
We are starting with one to one coaching for our selected individual coaches. As members, they can book single lanes of nets and use them for 1:1 coaching. I confirm all bookings for cricket nets on our ground management system Open Play. The system is shared with the ground staff, bar and Trust managers.  A key principle is to avoid double bookings. We expect to be busy and to tightly schedule use, therefore we ask for prompt starts and finishes.
 
According to the ECB road map (please see documents below), we can now plan to open the outdoor nets at the ground for club bookings for outdoor cricket net practice from Wednesday 29th March.  
 
We are very aware that ECB and Governement regulations may change over the coming weeks in the lead up to the cricket season. We ask that all your members stay aware of any changes in regulations and restrictions.  I have attached below the COVID-19 briefing supplied by the ECB.

Please make all your members and parents are familiar with the content and requirements.
 
There are some key areas that affect our local provision -

• We do not wish to encourage mingling outside of the nets sessions. We ask that parents drop off their children and collect them away from the cricket net facility please.
• Players attending cricket nets or the ground should be aware of the rule "group of six" and therefore do not mingling in large groups,
• We ask all people using our facilities to continue to be aware of the Governement and ECB social distancing guidelines.
• We will expect your members to observe all the hygiene requirements and recommendations suggested by the ECB including the sharing of equipment.
• Players feeling unwell and displaying any of the Covid-19 symptoms should not attend the ground and any person displaying these symptoms will be asked to leave.

 
We ask that all clubs nominate a session manager so that they can collect the key for the nets and the Pavilion. The session manager must also maintain a complete list of all attendees for track and trace purposes. John Howard has installed a key safe with a security number. Clubs should talk with John about access arrangements.
 
The toilets in the changing rooms are available for access. All cricket net gates, lanes and the Pavilion must be locked after use and the keys put back securely into the key safe. After the evening sessions, the Turney Road gates must be locked by the last group or person leaving. If in doubt, please ask John Howard.
 
As you will be aware, the recent weather means that the outfield is soft. We ask that your members do not cycle over the fields or drag their bags along the surfaces. On arrival at the nets, players should change into sports shoes. We do not want to get mud on to the new surfaces. Please ask players to clean the mud from their shoes.  John Howard and the ground staff can guide you on the drier routes to the nets.
 
We are hoping that the your cricket nets and practice will be enjoyable.


The bar is scheduled to open in the week commencing Monday 12th April. We plan to open on Wednesday and Thursday evenings and at the weekend.  Drinks and meals can be consumed outside at tables of no more than six. Jackie Howard can take advance orders for food. The guidelines state that table orders and table service are required in the next phase.
 
I hope that this short guide enables you to use our facilities and enjoy the start-up of cricket. We hope that the ECB road map enables us to move through the stages safely.
 
Please do hesitate to ask me or John Howard about any aspect of start up to sports play at the Trust.
 
With many thanks John Smith
PLEASE SEE ECB DOCUMENTS BELOW

JUNE UPDATE  - Covid-19 Pandemic



We are all watching the trickle of announcements about safe training for cricket from the ECB.
 
There is to be no organised cricket until at least July.
 
We now have full use of our outdoor nets by member clubs on each evening of the week plus mornings on Saturday and Sunday. We will continue with that usage as booked and managed by member clubs. The trust is providing access to the nets and dressing rooms/toilets on a strictly managed basis. Please ensure that non-members do not use our facilities. Each club has provided evidence of their protocols and we are pleased at the level of adherence.  We plan to continue nets sessions until at least July.
 
In a recent statement the ECB has allowed “pods” of cricket training in groups of six.  I understand that member clubs may seek to organise cricket training sessions at the Trust. It has been suggested that the pods could use the artificial wickets on the SCST ground. We would welcome member clubs booking artificial pitches for well managed training sessions.  Could I suggest that we will allow use of the remote artificial pitch and the Belair artificial pitch.  For the moment, we will not book the Nursery artificial pitch because of the proximity of the outdoor nets and the windows in the Nursery. John Howard will be considering these matters in the next few days.

PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT
As you may have read the Government is gradually easing restrictions on the Pandemic lockdown. The Trust has been following ECB guidelines since the shutdown and we are interpreting the attached guidance received yesterday.

​We consider that the Trust is in a position to open our outdoor nets for the use of the member clubs: Dulwich CC, South Bank CC and Ploughmans CC. To borrow a phrase from the Prime Minister, we intend to do this using “granny steps”.

All bookings for nets will be managed by me. I propose to honour the pre-booked sessions for SBCC on Wednesdays and Ploughmans CC on Thursdays. I am asking Dulwich CC to inform me which days that they wish to use as they have booked Saturday and Sunday mornings for junior nets already.

We realise that there is some pent up demand from your members, I am open to member clubs making further requests for slots. I have been talking with senior members of the Board about how we might use the outdoor nets. I have set out our initial thoughts so that you can respond as you consider your requirements for your members and your club.
 
We have agreed that a slot for an evening session be extended (initially) from 3pm to 8pm for Ploughman’s and SBCC. The generous pricing is based on reduced numbers of users, the practice social distancing and net use protocols. I have attached the SCST price list. Here is some illustrative guidance-
 
1.            Outdoor nets – operation
Nets management and distancing is the responsibility of the cricket club using the facility. SCST will set out the nets with the middle lane free.
All club members on site to be responsibility of cricket club including waiting groups. Usual net usage rules will apply especially no spikes. We expect clubs to manage issues around bringing your own ball, pads, bats and other equipment.
SCST request that care is taken with commonly used articles e.g. padlocks, returning balls and touching stumps. The SBCC protocol may help other clubs.
As club members may be at the ground when ground staff are working, we ask that waiting groups be prepared to move away if ground staff are working nearby.
The SCST is clear that groups should not arrive before the booked time and should leave at the close. There is no opportunity for club meetings or social arrangements.
 
2. Access to the nets

John Howard of SCST will provide access codes for pedestrian gate to each club organiser.  It is important that as each club member comes in to the ground, that they shut the gate afterwards. SCST does not want open access for the public to our grounds. Could club organisers tell all their participants please.
SCST will open the west side dressing rooms to allow for access to toilets. At the end of the club session, club organisers are asked to close the west side-door as they leave. We expect your members to come ready changed.
John Howard will arrange for collection of the nets keys with the club organiser.  
We expect clubs to use their own sets of spring-back stumps. John can advise if this is an issue.
At end of the session, the club is responsible for locking up the nets, closing the dressing room door and locking the Turney Road gates.
At end of the session, club members are asked to leave the ground promptly and quietly with no social gathering afterwards.
 
3.            Outdoor nets – payment
SCST wishes to hold to the existing price list as far as possible. All member clubs pay £100 annual membership plus a fee for booking facilities within HRMC guidelines.
Previously clubs have paid £35 for an evening use. We propose to offer an extended session from 3pm to 8pm as a gesture towards member clubs.  Therefore if you wish to book nets with the SCST, we suggest that you initially book say ten sessions.
 
As the Pandemic eases or possibly worsens, we will review the use of nets, the safety implications of your protocols and the likelihood of cricket match resumption.  We will keep in touch with you about this.

Once I receive your request for bookings, I will make a confirmation and enter on to our booking system “ Open Play”. This system informs the treasurer, grounds director and Sportsturf of confirmed bookings. Only confirmed bookings will be allowed to use the nets. If your net is cancelled or the pandemic grows, we will not make refunds but your club will be offered a credit for future use.

Once the needs of member clubs has been met, we expect that there may be some ad hoc requests, which we may insert into any gaps.

I hope that your club chooses to practice in our nets at the Trust. We are opening in a spirit of seeking to help but we ask your co-operation in keeping all people at the ground safe and well. We do not expect John Howard or his team to supervise your members as we expect you to manage your members in a safe way.
​

Please see ECB guidance below

Please see latest guidance and updates from Government and ECB from  Dulwich Sports Ground 

August 03, 2012 at 3:40 PM
SCST Awarded Grant to host Free Sport Cricket Programme, sponsored by the Mayor of London’s Office

Southwark Community Sports Trust is awarded £1,225 grant to host a Free Sport cricket programme sponsored by the Mayor of London’s office

Between 21st & 24th August Southwark Community Sports Trust hosted a “FreeSport” cricket coaching programme. 37 children, aged between 9 &14 took part. They represented 13 different schools in the area. Over and above the actual coaching programme Surrey County Cricket Club kindly provided 30 free tickets to a CB40 match at the Oval. The game wasSurrey versus Glamorgan and was in effect a tribute match to Tom Maynard who played for both counties and tragically died during the summer. 20 children and 10 of their parents attended which, to most, gave them children a first time opportunity to see a live game at the stadium. We also concluded the event on the Friday with a bar-be-que to which all the parents were invited with an impromptu parents versus cricket game resulting.

The event was made possible by the award of a grant for £1,225 from the Mayor of London’s FreeSport fund. FreeSports main emphasis is on getting more people involved in sports, doing rather than watching, and continuing in long term participation.

The coaching was led by Allen Blackford who put together an international array of coaches hailing fromSouth Africa,AfghanistanandWaleswhich perfectly complimented cosmopolitan make up of the children in attendance.

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and, if further funds are available, The Trust will be looking to host similar programmes.

Tags: Funding Cricket Free Sport Mayor of London
Category: Funding

November 25, 2012 at 9:35 AM
At an awards ceremony on 21st August at the Kia Oval, John Smith, Chairman of Southwark Community Sports Trust, was announced as the winner of the Outstanding Services to Cricket Award in the "Building Partnerships" category for Surrey. John went forward to the National Awards held at Lords and was announced as runner up.

This award was in rightful recognition of the leadership displayed by John in taking the initiative to endeavour to salvage the grounds from closure but also in recognition of the efforts to the rest of the team involved.

What are the NatWest OSCAs?The NatWest OSCAs (the 'Outstanding Service to Cricket Awards') are our way of recognising those who make an exceptional contribution to community cricket. Nominated by you, the club cricketers, and awarded by NatWest, these awards give us all the chance to celebrate the remarkable people without whom community cricket would not be the wonderful game that we all enjoy today.

Local cricket volunteers and famous faces from the cricketing world come together at Lord's for the NatWest OSCAs each year. The awards recognise the dedication and commitment from volunteers within the local cricketing community and celebrate the amazing achievements of those unsung heroes who have devoted their time and energy in order to make cricket as rewarding and fun as possible for everyone to enjoy.

Finalists enjoy a tour around the home of cricket, Lord's, before sitting down to a beautifully prepared three course lunch. The awards are overseen by Jonathan Agnew, who entertains with stories straight from the TMS box, and handed out by legends of the game past and present including Michael Vaughan. 

2012 Nominees


Behind the Scenes Jonathan Jackson - Bartestree and Lugwardine Cricket Club, Herefordshire Dave Lander - Penn Street Cricket Club, Buckinghamshire Steve Martlew - Wigan Cricket Club, Lancashire

Building Partnerships Paul Daniels - Old Elthamians Cricket Club, Kent Richard Henchley - Newham Cricket Club, Essex John Smith - Southwark Community Sports Trust, Surrey

Leagues and Boards Colin King - Mid Norfolk Sunday Cricket League Paul Grainger & Kevin Drew - North Worcestershire Cricket Development Group Phil Williams - Warwickshire Cricket Board and Midland Club Cricket Conference

Lifetime Achiever Chris Evans - Ashford Cricket Club, Surrey Peter Thomas - Swardeston Cricket Club, Norfolk Frank Wilkinson - Morecambe Cricket Club, Lancashire

NatWest CricketForce Bobby Cross - Heywood Cricket Club, Lancashire John Gray - Galleywood Cricket Club, Essex Amy Rowlinson - Bromley Town Cricket Club, Kent

Officiating - Umpires & Scorers Deborah Burns - Middlesex Association of Cricket Officials (ACO) Lorraine Elgar - Swale Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers, Kent Alan English - Thames Valley Cricket League, Bucks Association of Cricket Officials

Young Volunteer Christopher Edwards - Cheshire Disability Squad Matiullah Haidar - Cricket for Change, Surrey Carl Tupper - West Wittering Cricket Club, Sussex



Tags: Cricket Surrey CCC Nat West OSCA's
Category: Founders