Chairman's Update

Chairman’s Update I hope this update finds you safe and well. As the days are getting longer and the news of the vaccine roll-out lifts our spirits, the Committee think it is a good time to update the members of what has been happening and what plans we have in the months ahead. Cricket

• There remains uncertainty regarding the start and format of the new cricket season. We expect this will become a little clearer on 22nd February after the Government announcement of the roadmap. If there is a delay to the start of the season, planned for 17th April 2021, we hope this to be relatively minor.

• Winter nets this year have been cancelled due to Covid restrictions

• As it stands, our overseas players from 2019, Umega Chaturanga and Christian Smith, are both lined up to re-join us in early April.

• For the T20 competition, we have home and away local derbies against Bradshaw, Egerton and Heaton to look forward to.

Improvements

Several projects have been undertaken during the winter:

• A lit entrance pathway has been built to separate pedestrians from vehicles as they enter the Barlow grounds

• A storage facility has been constructed to house the bins and empty beer barrels

• The decking area has been extended around the side of the building incorporating seating booths with lighting and heating (controlled from inside the club)

• A new bbq/pizza oven area has been built

• New extraction has been installed in the downstairs toilets

• Plumbing improvements have taken place in the upstairs toilets

• Some internal repainting has taken place

Future Projects

• Planning Permission has recently been received for the NEW ARTIFICIAL PITCH. Work will commence on Monday.

• The children’s play and activity areas will undergo a refurbishment during April and early May and will be out of use during this time

• Planning permission will be made to rebuild the scorebox, incorporating a storage facility for ground keeping equipment

• A funding application has been made to Viridor to level the playing field, make drainage improvements and extend the square to make more grass wickets available for games

• CCTV upgrade to cover the new decking area will shortly be installed

Sponsorship

• Charles Louis Homes has agreed to sponsor the club leisurewear and Eventura to sponsor the T20 kit. Many thanks to both. Sponsorship for the senior and junior white kit still has one more year to run.

• We are also looking for further sponsorship for the covers, advertising hoardings and match day sponsorship.

• Work is nearly complete on several improvement to the website that will promote our sponsors further.

Many thanks to Jon & Sally Roberts for their generous assistance in a number of these projects and to The Barlow Trustees for their help and support with funding streams. Several members including Jon Crompton, Gary Myerscough, Rory O’Rourke and Paul Crowe have devoted a great deal of time over the past few months and my thanks go to them and numerous other members, as without their help these improvements would not be possible. The AGM usually takes place around this time of year, however the Committee have agreed to its delay due to lockdown. We envisage this will now take place in late spring. The financial statements will be circulated once available, but I can reassure you that the club remains on a sound footing. The 500 Club draw will recommence immediately the club re-opens, and we still aim to repay all members within the initial 5 year period. Carlsberg-Tetley have agreed to credit any out-of-date stock we have been holding that has been supplied from them, so our wastage bill through lockdown will be minimised. Finally, the Committee, Dan and his team look forward to welcoming you all back, in a Covid secure way, as soon as we are given the green light. Dave Enright Chair, ECRC 17th February 2021