The Thoughts of Chairman LoL

By Grockle et al
October 24 2013

A forum conversation about the nature of the ground and its developments brought up a discussion one of our posters had with the club a few years ago now (around October 2009 in fact) and so I thought it might be good to put his open letter to the club up for view - with his permission - and discussion. Thanks LoL for taking the time to do it then and the quality of the content. Enjoy

"I made my first visit to the County Ground this season for the four-day match against Nottinghamshire and I trust you will permit me, as a Life Member who has been watching cricket at Taunton since 1949, to make a few comments about the new developments.

Firstly, let me assure you that I am very positive about the need for change and for expansion and the ambience of the ground remains very much as it always has been and will do so as long as the lovely church towers are visible and a good sprinkling of people can afford to spend a day at the cricket, particularly four-day cricket as far as my personal preference is concerned.

As for the new developments, I find most of them pleasing, though I must first comment on one that is not. Appreciation of architecture is a very subjective thing, but I failed to find a single person who had anything positive to say about the external appearance of the Club Hub, though I understand that the facilities inside meet the standards deserved by professional sportsmen and women. The building in its present form was not, as far as I know, part of the overall development plan and its presence has come as something of a surprise, mostly because it lacks elegance and simply does not blend with the other buildings on the ground.

The Somerset Stand and the Pegasus flats are more tasteful than some feared they would be. The old Ridley Stand had its charm but was not a thing of beauty and we need not mourn its loss; Gimblett's Hill is a near perfect place in which to watch cricket, but it would perhaps be good if this area had its own bar for the use of Platinum members and their guests. Having personally known the great Harold and watched many of his post-war innings, I feel he deserves a little more than the small stone on the mound beside the scoreboard when compared with the massive writing that surmounts the Sir Ian Botham Stand.

This brings me to a very personal viewpoint: I am not keen on naming anything after anybody who is still alive, not even Nelson Mandela (and I wonder how the people at Northampton would feel now if they had named part of their ground after Wayne Larkins). I certainly feel it inappropriate to name buildings after men who are still playing cricket, even such splendidly loyal county men as Marcus Trescothick. All have feet of clay and even the great Marcus is capable of dropping a catch in front of the stand that bears his name. Perhaps the club ran out of ideas when it came to naming the Somerset Stand, but I would like to suggest it is renamed the Woods and Wellard Stand, commemorating two of the county's finest all-rounders, men who had in common that they both came from elsewhere but totally identified with the .Somerset style of cricket, always committed to entertaining the crowd. The career of one started in the Nineteenth Century and of the other ended after the Second World War, a very large slice of our history.

I have not seen the plans for the new Long Room, but hope to do during my visit next week for the championship match against Sussex.

While the old scoreboard beside the CRMA pavilion is not part of the development and serves its purpose well, it really needs to be raised by a yard or more because the two bottom lines of information cannot be seen from most parts of the ground if people are sitting at the top of the stand in front. The new scoreboard beside Gimblett's Hill is, frankly, an embarrassment and has drawn unfavourable comment from among others, visiting commentators, whose words are spread widely via the internet. The absence of boxes for recording the total in more than one previous innings is simply not good enough. I was told that these scores would appear from time to time on the running strip below; I never saw that happen when I was there and, in any event, spectators simply want to look at stationary figures on a board between action on the field, not stare at a running strip in case they miss something.

In that same area of the ground I was mystified by a banner bearing the words:
'Welcome to Legend's Square
If you would like to order a paver please visit the Commercial Office'

I do not understand who or what this legend is (it must be a singular one because of the position of the apostrophe) and the word paver leaves me very confused. The only dictionary meaning suggests someone who lays paving, but I greatly doubt that SCCC is advertising on such a person's behalf.

But let me end on a positive note.

The County Ground remains one of the most delightful places in which to spend one�s time, with old friends or making new ones; it retains almost all its former charm and we will get used to most of the new buildings. The Museum, which perhaps deserves greater publicity, for example during rain breaks, is as good any of its kind in the world. The cricket itself, as played by SCCC, is currently of a very high and exciting standard and Brian Rose, Justin Langer, the players and all the support staff are to be congratulated. In addition, I have always found the staff with whom I come directly in contact, at the gate, in the offices or in the bars, unfailingly friendly and helpful."

THE REPLY

The club replied to LoL's comments. We've changed the reply slightly as people involved in it are no longer County officials but the general 'gist' is still there I hope;

" Very many thanks for your letter. We are always pleased to receive constructive advice and feedback, and your letter contained a great number of valid points.

We share your concern that the Club Hub does not blend with its surroundings. Unfortunately the local planner were insistent that it be a building of its time (sic) because of its close proximity to Barnicotts which is a Grade 2 listed building. It appears that they opted for a policy of differentiation rather than blending. However, the inside of the building works superbly, and we would be pleased to give you a tour when you next visit. We think you will like the refurbishment of the Colin Atkinson Pavilion, which begins next month.

With regards to the naming of features around the ground, We are afraid we have to disagree with you. We don't think we should have to wait until players have died before we can acknowledge the contribution they have made to the club, Our club President, Roy Kerslake, chairs a sub-committee that comes up with a list of players that should be acknowledged in some form. The wall behind the Somerset Stand will shortly become a walk of fame which will be used to commemorate the best players throughout the decades, many of whom may not have received international recognition but were great players for Somerset, hence the stand's name.

Very many thanks for your continued support."

I personally had never related the Walk of Fame to the Stand but I now understand the thinking behind it and the name makes more sense.

The Thoughts of Chairman LoL

Posted by: Grockles.com (IP Logged)

Date: 24/10/2013 11:52

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:11:06:07:26:58 by Grockle.