Congratulations again!

Sincere congratulations to everyone involved in the commercial operations at Derbyshire County Cricket Club as the club are set to announce a profit for the fourth successive year.

The following comes from the ECB website, though it has not yet made it to the official club site:

Derbyshire reveal further profits
30 January 2010

Derbyshire have announced a trading profit for the fourth successive year.

The club revealed a £14,420 surplus for 2009 - subject to final approval by members at the forthcoming AGM.

The figure is a slight increase on 2008, enabling continuing progress on the planned upgrades at the County Ground.

“Four successive profits is an excellent achievement in itself,” Derbyshire chief executive Keith Loring said.

“However, 2009 is probably the biggest success story of all as it has been achieved in the light of the difficult trading conditions which have faced all businesses.

“The ability of the off the field team to attract bumper crowds to our big matches has been crucial to our financial success, as has an increase in advertising and sponsorship income.

“A fourth successive profitable year demonstrates our strategy of spending within our means whilst generating the maximum revenue possible to invest in the team.

“We are continuing to move forward with our planned £700,000 development including new seats, a permanent marquee, a new irrigation system and the turning of the wicket including the repositioning of floodlights and the scoreboard.

“This money has been accumulated in our development fund and therefore we will be incurring no borrowing.

“This work comes after over £250,000 has been spent in the last two years refurbishing existing facilities.

“All of these developments are geared towards making the County Ground a pleasant and comfortable environment for members and cricket lovers.”

Chairman Don Amott added: “Everybody at the club, both on and off the field, has worked hard to achieve these results in 2009.

“However, a special thank you must go to our members, supporters, partners and corporate customers for their continued support during 2009 and in previous years. Their support is greatly appreciated.”

It says it all, to be honest. In the economic climate of the past twelve months, that the club registered any kind of profit was a minor miracle. That they did so amid encouraging performances on the pitch was all the more so.

£14,000 isn't that much money, but there will be a lot of counties who would be delighted to be turning in any kind of positive figure. I read one report that suggested Kent would be looking at up to £500,000 LOSS. Any business returning such figures would have to start worrying.

I would go as far as to say that as we enter our 140th season the club has never been so well run off the field. For much of the pre and post-war period it was a month by month struggle to survive, though people were far less aware of the commercial possibilities at that time.

With good crowds in this year's expanded T20 - which will be easier if we win a few games of course - there will then be more money in John Morris' pot for new players in 2011. The ground will be unrecognisable from the one I first saw in 1968 and I look forward to seeing the new look in the coming season.

The icing on the cake would be the signing of a name for the T20. Still no news on that one, but rest assured I'll be posting it on here as soon as it is made official!

All this and the Rams beat Forest today...

Cheers!