Message Board - Not Turf Related: Ground sharing
12 Mar 2010 by Aladdin
Our Club has been approached to allow another Club to share our ground next season.
Club members are being asked what their thoughts are and I, at the moment, tend to be in favour with reservations.
Just thought I'd ask if any PC members have any experience of this and what those may be, good, bad, or indifferent.
Any totally unexpected pitfalls?
Did it prove beneficial?
I'm talking both pitchwise and in general.
All feedback, as ever, appreciated.
From the posh end of the room!!
12 Mar 2010 by jontaylor
We sub-let our cricket ground to another club.
We have no negative incidents to report and the money they pay us helps significantly.
In this case I think we are fortunate in that I already had strong links with the other club - my youngest plays in their academy and so I am well known to both senior and junior squads and also in frequent contact with their officials. I think these close links contribute to a mutual trust and respect - two factors very important for a good relationship with your "tennants".
We may be lucky to have good "tennants" - I'm sure there are bad experiences out there.
The ciderman rolls
12 Mar 2010 by wicketdevil
The only issues i can see is the wear on the square and will there be enough time and resources to maintain the standard. As a groundsman and a fixture secretary i know how the idea of more bar income etc can mask the issues on availability of the ground and wear and tare. Ian
Can you just is the longest sentence in the world !!!!!!!
12 Mar 2010 by Aladdin Last edited 12 Mar 2010
Thanks for the reponses guys.
Erm, we are talking football club here in case you're under a misapprehension.
Not that that makes a whole lot of difference to the general situation.
I think my main worry is that what is suggested may not turn out to be the reality.
As it stands the groundshare is for one season whilst a new stadium is built. If it should happen that the new stadium is not ready in time where do we go from there? Especially if there have been any sort of disagreements.
Pitchwise, I'm not sure. I suppose it depends on how the extra income is applied.
Anyway, it's all food for thought and any feedback is welcome.
From the posh end of the room!!
12 Mar 2010 by Noah Little
Hi Aladdin
Ground sharing on a winter sports pitch is a whole different animal compared to the cricket scenario.
My main concern would be how much of a hammering the pitch will get with double the number of matches on it. If the shareres go on a good Cup run they could be using it even more than your team.
therefore, I suggest that some of whatever they are paying your club goes towards extra aeration and decompaction work throughout the season in a effort to retain a healthy rootzone and retain grasses for as long as possible. I would also make sure that it is absolutely clear that you have a say in when games are played and not played - just because they are paying to use the pitch should not mean they can do so regardless of weather, ground conditions, fixture list commitments, etc.
Flag it up early so everyone is aware of the potential problems.
12 Mar 2010 by Grassman2011
Alladin, when making your decision, also remember that the soccer season never seems to end and overlapps the cricket season big time. Make them finish the last Saturday in March, gives the ground some time to recover. Also, as Montesa says, make sure you have the final word on cancellations. Soccer clubs will quite happily trash your outfield without giving your cricket club another thought.
If it was to be u11 teams, that would be another story.
15 Mar 2010 by wicketdevil
Sorry about that we have a similer problems with outside bookings on our football pitches which are rugby pitches in the autumn term. You just have to agree when a pitch is unfit then nobody plays. Ian
Can you just is the longest sentence in the world !!!!!!!
15 Mar 2010 by Aladdin
Thank you, everyone, for your responses.
As it turns out this now on "hold" as the Club concerned are a level higher than us and our place doesn't meet the Ground Grading criteria.
I understand there are moves afoot, however, since this groundshare is only intended to be for a season.
From the posh end of the room!!
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