By Chairman, Jim Ward, 1985
On the playing side we again suffered cruel luck in the Final of the NatWest Trophy. It is almost unbelievable that in 1984 we lost the County Championship on the penultimate ball of the last match whilst in 1985 we lost the Final of the NatWest Trophy on the last ball of the match. Nevertheless it maintained interest right to the end of the season and I feel that the players gave the members good value. It was a great pleasure to us all that Tim Robinson was such an outstanding success in the Test Matches against India and Australia. Tim represents all that is best in cricket and we all wish him every success in the tour of the West Indies. We also send our congratulations to Bruce French who has again been selected for the major tour and to Derek Randall who is going on the B team tour of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Additionally I am sure that all members were delighted to read of the outstanding performance of Richard Hadlee in the recent series between New Zealand and Australia. I was hoping that Richard would get his 300th Test wicket at Trent Bridge this summer to follow up his 200th wicket at our ground. However, now that he has reached 299 I fear that we shall be denied that honour. To Clive Rice and all of our players I would like to thank them for their splendid team spirit and wish them well for the forthcoming season.
As members will already know Basher Hassan has retired from first class cricket and I would like to thank him for his devoted service to the Club over 20 years. We are delighted that he as joined our commercial staff where I am sure he will be of immense help to David Seward.
Our cricketing links throughout the County remain strong and we value the relationship with the Notts Cricket Association. Our coaching scheme and facilities for schools bring in a great deal of food will to the Club.
With the help of our sponsors, Apollo Soft Drinks and the Nottingham Evening Post, we were successful in launching the Trent Bridge Juniors scheme and this has engendered considerable interest amongst our junior supporters. Indeed at a recent meeting where David Gower was the chief speaker there was standing room only.
As usual we have received a lot of support from our many friends and I would particularly like to thank all of our sponsors who are so vital to our well being. My thanks also go to the many organisations who used our facilities during the Test Match and to our Ladies’ Committee who again worked so hard for us during the season.
During a year when so much happened and when the organisation of the Test Match was even more burdensome our staff all made a magnificent effort and our thanks are due to them for their vital contribution. It is thanks to them and to the House & Test match Sub-Committee that our Test Match was n outstanding financial success and easily beat our previous record receipts.
I would like to thank the members fore their support and hope that we shall all enjoy 1986, have a great deal of fun and go one better than the 1984 and 1985 seasons. Membership subscriptions reached £100,000 for the first time which is most encouraging. Membership forms the backbone of the Club and it is vital that our improvement in this area is maintained.
I am pleased to report some excellent financial results for the year ending 30 September 1985, after many years of struggle. The net profit was £63,317 even allowing for the total expended on repairs and maintenance of £118,106. This illustrates the demands on a Test Match ground to spend large sums of money in providing better conditions in order to anticipate the higher expectations of the public especially at Test Matches.
From our Accounts members will see that the highest item of income was the receipt from the TCCB of £243,293 representing our share from the proceeds of Test Matches and Cup Matches. Without this income first class cricket could not survive in its present form and therefore facilities at Test Match grounds must be improved and most Test Match grounds have already spent a lot of money during the past few years. In our own case, capital expenditure of about 3475,000 was incurred last year on the new Tavern Stand and the up-market Larwood & Voce Tavern.
One of the highlights of the year was the official opening of this new building in the presence of Mrs. Elsie Voce and two of Harold Larwood’s daughters. The stand and bar facilities represent a massive improvement to the ground and many visitors have congratulated us on the excellent accommodation, not least upon the Taverner’s bar where the view of the cricket is superb. We hope that more members will join the Trent Bridge Taverners’ Club and share this excellent facility. All our members should be grateful to the Home Brewery for providing the finance and helping to ensure that Trent Bridge retains its Test Match status.
Additionally we have just completed some important improvements to the Indoor Practice Hall including re-roofing and urgently needed heating. We are grateful for the financial support provided by the Sports Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, Rushcliffe Borough Council and Broxtowe Borough Council to enable us to carry out this work. These facilities are extensively used by local schoolboys and local clubs and we are indeed pleased to play our part in encouraging the game of cricket in the County.
During the winter we shall be replacing some of the seats on the ground with much better tip-up seats including those in front of the Pavilion. Normal maintenance on the ground will, of course, continue and the maintenance staff is being strengthened.
Lastly it is with great sadness that we have to record the death of John Cochrane who was our president for 3 years up to February 1985. John was an outstanding President who loved the game and helped the Club in many was. As many members will know he made an immense contribution to the local community in the field of medicine and in his contribution to many charitable organisations. He was truly a great man who will be greatly missed by his many friends and admirers.