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Post by flashblade on May 12, 2017 21:31:32 GMT
Well, this shot shows it how it is. Don't think it's a Photoshop job, fluffy!  |
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Post by Wicked Cricket on May 12, 2017 21:40:43 GMT
That's my theory blown to smithereens, then! I am impressed you found that photo.  |
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nemmo
Captain 2nd XI
Posts: 285
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Post by nemmo on May 12, 2017 22:55:50 GMT
Its in the area of grass between the road from the top down towards the clubhouse. The straight boundary appears to have been pulled in so it will be even smaller than normal. Make sure you get in the front few rows! There will be no seating on two sides of the ground as there is a road on one side and a fence in front of the Eastbourne Town FC pitch on the other. With the size of the boundaries (which have changed significantly since Sussex last played there with the demolition of the old pavilion you'll need to get a good score!
How will anyone at the back row of seats be able to see anything?
Also I don't know if there will be parking available on Larkins field which is behind the new pavilion next to the hockey pitch accessed from Saffrons road. Parking is otherwise free and plentiful if you know where to go and don't mind a short walk
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Post by Wicked Cricket on May 15, 2017 10:43:06 GMT
THE SAFFRONS REPORT
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Part 1
What a pleasure it was attending a match at an out-ground that last saw first-class cricket 17 years ago. And what a delight feeling the excitement and vibrancy of a 4,500 attendance at a Sussex RLC game. Past and Present The crowd number may be contentious but it is still the largest, by a Sussex county mile, for this more recent format. Meanwhile, the seating was better than anticipated; the facilities were excellent alongside the parking; the Hospitality Tent was awash with 550 people who were enjoying a three course menu, a silent auction, a raffle and various speeches. Whilst during the interval, the Sussex Cricket Foundation handed a cheque for £7,500 to the ‘Matthew Hobden Trust’ with Matt’s family in attendance. It was a perfect day off the field, only lacking the cherry on top of a Sussex win. And, I believe, it is official… an Eastbourne RLC match is now an annual event.  I had the privilege of chatting with a variety of well-known cricketing names during the day and these interviews will be published throughout the week on the WickedCricket Blog. Such people include Zac Toumazi, Eastbourne Chairman Ian Fletcher-Price, the inimitable Jack Russell, former England international and Sussex seamer, Ed Giddins, along with others. Adrian Harms and John Lees mobile commentary
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Post by joe on May 15, 2017 13:24:47 GMT
What a bumbling oaf John Lees is, I thought he'd been put out to pasture. Got most of the teams names wrong, shouted into the mic and over the top of the other two commentators and gave up on a Sussex win after 10 overs of Gloucesters reply! Adrian Harms and Lizzie Arman deserve medals for the patience they both had with him.
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Post by hhsussex on May 15, 2017 13:42:53 GMT
What a bumbling oaf John Lees is, I thought he'd been put out to pasture. Got most of the teams names wrong, shouted into the mic and over the top of the other two commentators and gave up on a Sussex win after 10 overs of Gloucesters reply! Adrian Harms and Lizzie Arman deserve medals for the patience they both had with him. At least he isn't wearing that awful greasy-looking suit! |
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Post by joe on May 15, 2017 14:23:52 GMT
What a bumbling oaf John Lees is, I thought he'd been put out to pasture. Got most of the teams names wrong, shouted into the mic and over the top of the other two commentators and gave up on a Sussex win after 10 overs of Gloucesters reply! Adrian Harms and Lizzie Arman deserve medals for the patience they both had with him. At least he isn't wearing that awful greasy-looking suit! Indeed! |
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Post by flashblade on May 15, 2017 14:26:24 GMT
Are there any other grounds where the comms have to stand up all day?!
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Post by Wicked Cricket on May 15, 2017 15:14:49 GMT
Fb, It's certainly a first that I have seen. At Arundel they sit down although usually outside close to the main scoreboard; and at Horsham it is usually inside. Lizzie Ammon sat to the right of them on a chair when not doing her duties. More bizarrely, the Comms van belonged to BBC Surrey. No idea the back story to that one. The journos had their own media tent close to the parking ground entrance. A majority sat outside in the sun, in the open front section. Re: John Lees, while a wonderful eccentric, one feels his days are waning. I should have asked him to pose with Jack Russell. Two eccentrics for the price of one.  |
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Post by jonboy on May 15, 2017 17:35:19 GMT
Did anyone see a Rob Andrew at Saffrons? We haven't heard much from him recently, I do hope he's taking stock, and will act to halt the current malaise
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Post by deepfineleg on May 15, 2017 19:36:55 GMT
Fb, It's certainly a first that I have seen. At Arundel they sit down although usually outside close to the main scoreboard; and at Horsham it is usually inside. Lizzie Ammon sat to the right of them on a chair when not doing her duties. More bizarrely, the Comms van belonged to BBC Surrey. No idea the back story to that one. They said they were standing in order to be able to see. Lizzie was complaining standing was hurting her back - hence the chair I guess. The van looks like the one Adrian Harms usually has parked behind the media centre at Hove. |
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Post by flashblade on May 15, 2017 19:58:05 GMT
Fb, It's certainly a first that I have seen. At Arundel they sit down although usually outside close to the main scoreboard; and at Horsham it is usually inside. Lizzie Ammon sat to the right of them on a chair when not doing her duties. More bizarrely, the Comms van belonged to BBC Surrey. No idea the back story to that one. - hence the chair I guess. The van looks like the one Adrian Harms usually has parked behind the media centre at Hove. Sorry, guys, but this further emphasises that the Saffrons doesn't have adequate facilities for 1st class cricket. It's a shame, and I'm sometimes made to feel like the boy who told the Emporer he didn't have any clothes, but I have to call it as I see it. Great shame, as I used to enjoy the Saffrons in the 'old days'. |
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Post by Wicked Cricket on May 15, 2017 21:14:58 GMT
Obviously, these particular Emperor's clothes are seen through different mirrors by different people. I think Eastbourne is ideal for a 50 or 40 over match. As for the Adrian and John show what twaddle. They could have done their commentary next to the media tent where the visibility was excellent and sitting down was easily possible. As for the BBC van, each county has their own vehicle so why were they using a Surrey one and not Sussex? I presume that is down to Adrian Harms who also commentates for that county. He is a two county man! news.bbc.co.uk/local/surrey/hi/tv_and_radio/newsid_8223000/8223123.stmImprove the tannoy system and wicket and I can see Eastbourne becoming an OD fixture for many years to come. In fact, next year Ian Fletcher-Price is looking to expand the Hospitality Tent given the fervour and interest from the local Corporates. He was having to turn people away due to lack of seats from two months ago. He told me there were 550 in the marquee but he could have filled it with an additional 150 people. |
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Post by Wicked Cricket on May 16, 2017 8:33:30 GMT
An Interview with the Chairman of Eastbourne Cricket Club: Ian Fletcher-Price
________________________________________________________________________________________________Part 2Ian Fletcher-Price is a classic English entrepreneur. A local Eastbourne lad who attended the town’s College, he began his company, ‘Posturite', specialising in healthy and comfortable workplace equipment, back in 1991 using his mother’s shed as the office.Today, his Polegate premises houses the largest independent ergonomics company in the UK. The business model is based around equipment to improve posture at the workplace, while helping to prevent or alleviate primarily musculoskeletal disorders which account for the most working days lost (in 2011, 34.4m out of a total of 131m, or almost one quarter).www.posturite.co.ukIn 2016, Posturite had a turnover of more than £25m and employs over 200 people. It is no surprise both Ian and his company have won a host of business awards.www.theargus.co.uk/business/15043747.From_one_man_in_a_garden_shed_to_workplace_revolution/Ian became Saffrons Chairman 7 years ago.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  I am impressed by the number of people attending. Do you know the crowd number?The ground has a 5,000 capacity. I am told there are only a few tickets left so 4,500 people is a fair assessment. They were queuing up half an hour before the gates opened at 9.30am. When did the idea to hold a first class game germinate?It spawned around 5 years ago after we held our initial Lashings CC game. We attracted 200 people. The day was a great success and the Eastbourne Corporates supported it. The next year, this number doubled. So the appetite for cricket was there from the off. I then struck a three year deal with Lashings and bought this particular event off them; we switched their auction items to ours; we gained the money from heads and tails… And presumably Ed Giddins was involved?Yes, Giddo did all the auction side for us. So after that the next step up was to attract first class cricket back to the ground. I already knew Zac from being a Sussex supporter. We began talking about it. I asked him what are the chances. He agreed the club was neglecting the eastern side of the county but needed assurances about the facilities. Two years ago I put him on the Lashings stage where Zac said, ‘Yes, we want to come.’ And last year we shook hands. This was June 14th, 2016. When did you start work on this event?Last November when the fixture list appeared. There had been some negotiation beforehand. Our Lashings day is always on a Friday. So, would our Corporates be happy to support us at the weekend? I suggested Sunday. They agreed to this and today we have 550 people in the Hospitality marquee. I could have sold 700 seats. I have been turning people away for two months. Next year we may extend the corporate side while making sure our high quality product remains. It will be a nice discussion to have over the coming months. We have worked ridiculously hard since November. I believe we have delivered. So, you are confident this RLC match will become an annual event?Sussex CCC are committed to this. We have a gentleman’s handshake. For how many years? I don’t know. There needs to be a post-mortem on the pitch. It is a little slower than most first class wickets. That aspect needs to be looked at. Was your major sponsor IEP Financial and its MD, Ian Poysden, with you from the word go?I will confess to knowing Ian very well. He is already our main club sponsor after opening an Eastbourne office two years ago. So, he was in place from the start. When did your interest in Sussex CCC begin?It goes back to the days of Tony Greig. Stonegate, the egg company, held a competition for people who could collect the most number of egg boxes. I and some school friends won the prize which was presented to us by Tony Greig in front of the Hove Members area. It was a great thrill. I have a photograph of this presentation on my office wall. These were the days when Stonegate was a club sponsor and had these huge plastic eggs placed around the outfield. Sussex captain, Paul Parker, was the only player ever to hit one at this ground during a Sunday League match in 1986. He won himself £3,000. Then, there was the Eastbourne cricketing legend, Peter Bibby, who was Chairman of the Sussex Colts and coached players like Tom Smith and Ben Brown. He was an inspiration. Unfortunately, Peter was taken by cancer at the age of 64 years-old. He lived next door to me. His death was a tragedy but his legacy lives on. He will be very proud of this day as he looks down upon us... (a very touching and authentic moment follows as Ian becomes emotional) PAUSE He was a great man, a close friend, and such a legend at this cricket club. www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/sport/peter-bibby-a-man-with-a-passion-for-family-cricket-and-business-1-1427743Why did you decide upon a 50 over game rather than a four day Championship match?The landscape has changed. A four day game is beyond our capability. The public appetite has moved on. In the old days, the pavilion was positioned at the top end. Each year there would be the same hospitality tents. Barclays, HSBC, Natwest… followed by a couple of law firms. There were six tents in all. It was always a noisy area with a tremendous atmosphere. But, you wouldn’t get that now as the interest isn’t there. Meanwhile, T20 is too short a duration for an out ground given the effort and cost to create the infrastructure. Eastbourne has taken the place of Horsham as Sussex’s second out ground. How do you feel about this?I wish Horsham no ill-will at all. While, they have done us a favour, the club appear to be in a similar trough Eastbourne were in before I took over their Chairmanship in 2010. I am sure the club will rise again. They lie in the centre of the county with everything going for them. We are friendly rivals in the Sussex Premier League. We regularly play each other. But, it is Eastbourne’s time now. END
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Post by Wicked Cricket on May 16, 2017 12:05:23 GMT
A Catch-Up with Jack Russell
______________________________________Part 3It is always a pleasure chatting with Jack Russell during his annual cricket out-grounds tour. He loves them and has painted many during his successful artistic career. While, Jack is fondly remembered for his International and Gloucestershire CCC cricket days, he is also known today for the copious amounts of Yorkshire tea he drinks. Today, was no exception as thermos flasks of the brew were strewn around his stall area like confetti. Between 30 and 40 cups are his daily intake. Yet, his talent as an artist is often overlooked; a profession that earns him more money than when a professional cricketer. Jack is a proper painter and not one of those Phil Tufnell ‘slap it on, kushti kushti' types. His self-published books and prints of his paintings and sketches sell in their tens of thousands. Yet, his modesty is never too far away.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  What have you been up to since we last met?I’ve been busy drawing black and white sketches. Each County now has their own whether the main ground or out ground. So that was my Winter’s work. I have just painted and completed Middlesex winning the Championship. The final ball and the winning moment. I really enjoyed that. How long did the painting take you?Around 3 months. SKY helped me out with some footage and the Club gave me a lot of references. So, Middlesex commissioned you?Yes. It was just painted for them. The club have done a limited edition of 100 prints to give to players, sponsors and staff as a thank you. These are not for sale to the general public. It was a testing challenge as everything had to be spot-on. I went to see Angus Fraser and between us we worked out who was where and doing what at the exact moment the Trophy was won. All the fielding positions. This also included spectators, those on the balconies; the MCC Secretary is in it and the Middlesex staff. The Yorkshire balcony image I gained from SKY. They all looked pretty miserable (laughs). They’re in it. But the really enjoyable thing is while I have painted Lord’s various times and am regularly asked to paint it again, but try not to, this time it was a low September evening light and the shadows across the ground were quite beautiful. It made for a really nice picture and I feel quite chuffed by the result. Any other work?I am in the middle of doing a painting for Saracens Rugby Club. I was commissioned by their Chairman. The players are difficult to paint compared to cricketers as they are all different shapes and sizes. They are not normal. (laughs) They are built like this and have thighs out there; they make the picture look very unbalanced. I am still doing my landscapes. We are definitely moving to Yorkshire. We sold our house three years ago and have been in rented accommodation in Gloucestershire since, waiting for the right time. The little one has just gone to Uni, so another adventure ahead moving up North. Meanwhile, I am still coaching at Middlesex. When did you last attend a first-class match at Eastbourne? I only played here once when I was with the England U19 team. The match was against the West Indies. I think this was 1983. I remember the old pavilion but that is the only image I can recall. It was a OD game after a Test series. I remember we played at Hove during that Summer. So, it’s been a million years since and it’s great to be back. I had forgotten how beautiful the background scenery is. Someone told me that Gloucestershire have not played at Eastbourne since 1972. I don’t know if that is true. If someone commissions me I’ll paint this ground. It would make a lovely picture. I always do prints which allows the venue to make a profit. So, it’s a self-funding project. We do quite a bit of that. Do you still follow Gloucestershire CCC?I always look at their scores. But I am so busy with the exhibitions and coaching at Middlesex, I don’t have time to attend their matches. So, today is extra special. I met the Eastbourne staff and helpers yesterday and they are brilliant people. They are so positive and have worked very hard. Their attitude is amazing. I am so pleased today has gone well and the attendance is large. It’s a great day and they deserve it. They have put their heart and soul into organising this game. Is this the first out ground you have visited this season?I attended Welbeck at Nottingham a few weeks back. I went to the Oval for a book signing. So, this is our third away trip. We are at Hove on Sunday for the first day of the Durham game.  How have book sales gone of 'The Art of Jack Russell'?We have almost sold out. I did a stock check last week and we will run out this summer. How many have you sold?We are talking of many thousands, in the tens, so being self-published that’s pretty good. People come up to me and say they bought it at such and such a place or someone gave it to them as a gift. They seem to love it. That’s the icing on the cake for me. Meanwhile, I look forward to coming to Hove this week. I’ve met Rob Andrew. I know him from the past. I liaise with Tony Cottey. The counties are so good to me. unofficialsussexccc.freeforums.net/post/1678/threadunofficialsussexccc.freeforums.net/post/2763/threadunofficialsussexccc.freeforums.net/post/10069/threadWebsite: www.jackrussell.co.ukEND
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