I'm a firm believer in giving credit where it is due and tonight I'd like to applaud the marketing staff behind the prices to watch Derbyshire cricket next season.
£145 for a season's cricket if bought before April is a steal in this day and age, as anyone who forks out to go and see football will tell you. If the club did well, that could equate to your ticket costing you around £3 a day. Kids under 13 are free, those under 16 just pay £20. It is only £65 for under 20's. I cannot think that anyone could find fault with this pricing and it is a huge inducement to someone to take a youngster along and introduce them to the game.
With the membership transferrable for Championship games and offering discounts at various stores in the city, there is a lot of work gone into this. As someone who does a lot of marketing work, I can only applaud the team for an excellent job.
I think it was DCCC Forever who suggested that today may see an announcement on new players as an inducement to renew. I've two things to say about that. First, that those prices are a great enough inducement themselves. Second that it wouldn't make sound marketing sense to dilute the impact of one campaign with another. This is very much a good news story, and should stand on its own as one. I trust John Morris to continually improve Derbyshire Cricket Club. If you still have doubts, you can always wait until March to get the existing price, but this is a nice early treat for club fans. If we bring in more players, it will become even more so.
Last night I poured a little water on the idea of Oliver Newby coming to Derbyshire. Thanks to Chris for directing me to a story that suggests Middlesex are chasing (and think they will sign) Mark Footitt. As I've said before, we can all come up with players to sign, but sometimes, for no reason, things don't work out. Sometimes they do but take a long while to finalise.
We must all be patient. I don't think we're too far away from next year's side. Most people agree we need a spinner, some think we need another seamer, some think we need another batsman. Most will again agree that a second overseas for the Twenty/20 is essential. The reality is, however, that only John Morris knows who is available and what we can afford. There's a balancing act, of course and sometimes you have to speculate to accumulate. Maybe a little more than expected on a top T20 player would be worthwhile from the extra crowds he would bring in, but I have no more access to the club balance sheets than any of you do.
With a little luck and a little patience we could have a pretty good side in 2010 and beyond. Some people may not realise it, but having supported Derbyshire for over 40 years I can honestly say that these are good times to be a fan. We seem to have people, both on and off the pitch, who know what they are doing and that is very much a rarity in my experience.
Keep up the good work guys!
In terms of numbers, we probably have enough seamers now. Not all necessarily my picks and a few too many on the wrong end of the age range to bring in maximum ECB payments. You can't have it all, as they say.
ReplyDeletePatience is a virtue, I grant you, but I don't think it is at all unreasonable to suggest the extent of our squad building for next season has been disappointing to date. Market conditions may well make it difficult for a small county side, but a second team keeper, albeit talented, and a hard working guy, about to be released and in the twilight of his career seems a rather paltry return so far.
I am glad we have both Goddard and Jones in for 2010, but we must remember that we did release/lose seven.
With funds being tight, it is also frustrating that players on decent senior's money have not paid their way. Lungley and Sadler being particularly guilty. I have referred to the absence record of the former quite recently and harped on at length about the latter, so enough said on the pair.
We cannot afford to carry passengers in the manner of last season in the future and I would rather see us run with a small squad of, say, 18 reliable guys/promising youngsters and pay a little more to retain the best. Rather this, than settle for shelling out on relatively expensive reserves that struggle to make their mark.
2010 will be tricky for Morris. He needs to be competitive, whilst retaining an eye set towards an effective youth programme for 2011 and beyond. The job will be far from easy, particularly competing against others trying to do exactly the same. Add in the complicated age composition requirements and I expect he will be permanently cross eyed before we know it!
MASTERVILLAIN
Nice, well thought out summary my friend!
ReplyDeleteI think we need to see what happens this season on the field. One think is for certain on the playing side we have moved forward under JM and will continue to do so.
ReplyDeleteOff the field there is no better person to have as ceo than KL. Yep he's a personal friend, he will work tirelessly for the club and the one thing he will do is set targets and he will meet them. It's going to be a fantastic time to support Derbyshire.
Yet another excellent article Peakfan and an equally good response from Mastervillain.
ReplyDeleteAnon's praise of Keith Loring cannot be under estimated. Derbyshire's future success heavily relies on KL's strategy and business acumen.
Yes despite the odd irrational grumble from certain fans this is indeed a good time to be a Derbyshire CCC supporter.