Welcome to Bearsted Cricket Club - Four Centuries of Cricket on The Green
INDOOR NETS - Will commence on Sunday 26th Feb at 3.30pm until 5pm. They will continue every Sunday until 15th April at the same times. They are to take place at New Line Learning (Boughton Lane) same as last year.
STATEMENT BY BEARSTED CC TO BEARSTED PARISH COUNCIL - 10 DECEMBER 2011
Bearsted Cricket Club wishes to take the opportunity to make a statement in regard to a perceived threat of eviction from The Green on the basis of Health & Safety.
Bearsted Parish Council have confirmed their strong desire to preserve cricket on The Green, a pastime that has been enjoyed uninterrupted for over 260 years. As such Bearsted Cricket Club are actively working with Bearsted Parish Council to ensure that health and safety issues, where a perceived threat exists, or perhaps could exist, is assessed and where possible appropriately addressed.
Bearsted Cricket Club has always taken the safety of all users and residents around The Green very seriously and notwithstanding the low risk are relieved that no one has yet been injured. With the residents in mind, the Club has adopted a "Code of Conduct - Respect for Neighbours". This has been published below and will be displayed in the pavilion as a reminder to the The Club's players and guests of the standards against which we wish to be judged.
We are of course most grateful for the tide of support from individuals and the media for raising the awareness of our plight which of course extends beyond just health and safety issues. However, may we say that we do not condone statements and letters vilifying the Council or other parties involved in this issue, particularly where they are inaccurate or malicious. These were not authorised nor encouraged by us. We have generally worked well in the past with the Council and our residential neighbours on The Green to protect this precious asset for the benefit of Bearsted people, old and young, and hope to do so for many years to come.
We are all weary of Health & Safety intruding into our lives but to extend it into the sports arena sets a dangerous precedent. Hundreds of Clubs and Schools share grounds with tennis, bowls and children’s play areas or are alongside busy roads and all would be at risk if we were evicted on this basis. We know the Council does not want to be associated with any decision that could spoil the enjoyment of thousands of sports players in the UK belonging to hundreds of innocent sports clubs.
We must all remember that something good which has taken generations to build can be destroyed in but a single moment and therefore we welcome the support and advice that Bearsted Parish Council have offered the Club as we seek to better secure our tenure on The Green.
The support from Bearsted Parish Council will not alone resolve the wider issue facing the Club and therefore please do continue to support our club online by registering your support on our Facebook page.
www.facebook.com/groups/savebearstedcricketclub/
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Bearsted Sat 1st XI will start the 2011 season in The Kent Regional League Championship East having been promted last season. The Sunday League Side will compete in division 6 of the Kent Village League having been promoted last season.
New members are welcome, please just come along or contact Steve Pearce (Chairman) 01622 739432.
Founded in 1749 and situated in the heart of Kent, Bearsted CC is one of the oldest cricket clubs in the country. We have also now enjoyed 260 years of uninterrupted cricket on The Green.
The following article appeared in The General Advertiser on Friday 11th August 1749:
"In the Artillery Ground, Finsbury Square, London, Monday next at 1:00 pm Eleven Gentlemen of Bearsted, Kent, play against the Gentlemen of London, for one guinea per man of their own money exclusive of all other by-bets which may be considerable.
The Gentlemen having beaten the neighbouring parishes and thereby themselves inferior to few induces them to come so far to play."
This article infers that the club could in fact have been founded earlier than the official year of 1749!
Situated near Maidstone in the heart of Kent and close to the Weald (“Cricket was born and nurtured in the Weald, as all historians are well aware” E W Swanton CBE).
We consider ourselves very privileged to play for a club that has such a long history and has boasted appearances on The Green from the likes of Sir Pelham Warner, Frank Woolley, Lord Tennyson, “Tich” Freemen and Alfred Mynn (the pioneer of overarm bowling). In more recent years, we have played host to the local “pub team” Lashings which includes the former West Indian captain, Richie Richardson.
We run five senior sides, a 1st XI and 2nd XI who play league cricket on Saturdays, a league Sunday XI, friendly Sunday XI and an evening Twenty20 side. We also provide coaching from U9's (years 2,3 and 4) through to U15's. New members are always welcome so please follow the links for contact details.
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS AND GUESTS
(Extract from Club Constitutional Rules 2008)
All members and guests of The Club shall:
o Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person within the context of cricket;
o Treat everyone equally and not discriminate on the grounds of age, gender, disability, race, ethnic origin, nationality, colour, parental or marital status, religious belief, class or social background, sexual preference or political belief;
o Not condone, or allow to go unchallenged, any form of discrimination if witnessed;
o Display high standards of behaviour;
o Promote the positive aspects of cricket e.g. fair play;
o Encourage all participants to learn the laws of cricket and play within them, respecting the decisions of match officials;
o Actively discourage unfair play, rule violations and arguing with match officials;
o Recognise good performance not just match results;
o Place the well-being and safety of young people above the development of performance;
o Ensure that activities are appropriate for the age, maturity, experience and ability of the individual;
o Respect young people’s opinions when making decisions about their participation in cricket;
o Not smoke, drink or use banned substances whilst actively working with young people in The Club;
o Not provide young people with alcohol when they are under the care of The Club;
o Follow ECB guidelines set out in the “Safe Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children’ and any other relevant guidelines issued;
o Report any concerns in relation to a young person, following reporting procedures laid down by the ECB;
o Members must wear suitable kit. Matches:- white shirt and/or jumper and white trousers. Training:– white shirt, white trousers or dark shorts or dark tracksuit trousers, as agreed with the coach/team manager;
o Members must pay any fees for training or events promptly; and
o In addition to the above, all Club Officers and Appointed Volunteers will hold relevant qualifications and be covered by appropriate insurance.
CODE OF CONDUCT: RESPECT FOR NEIGHBOURS
October 2011
Bearsted Cricket Club have played cricket on the village green since 1749. Cricket is a central part of the life of the village, and the club enjoys strong local support. The part of the green where cricket is played is referred to by many residents as The Green. Many residents and neighbours of The Green are members of the Club.
The Green is small and from time to time balls hit houses close to the pitch and land in gardens. The Club will take the following measures to respect the interests of its neighbours and other users of The Green:
Maintain the Club’s public liability insurance and cover for third party damage and the Club’s risk assessment will be updated annually and shared with Bearsted Parish Council.
Provide prior notice of fixtures by providing residents whose houses face onto the Cricket Green with a fixture card and publish the fixture list in the Parish Magazine. All Club members are sent the fixture list.
Inform residents of any damage to their property that they may not be aware of at the end of the game. Residents should inform the Club as soon as possible if they think damage has occurred as a result of the game.
Meet reasonable costs of repair and agree with the resident concerned on arrangements for making the repair. The club will make its best endeavours to ensure that windows are repaired within 24 hours and tiles within 7 days.
Discourage players from playing lofted shots in the direction of neighbouring houses and gardens.
When required to do so by property owners, seek permission before retrieving balls, and as far as possible avoid damage to plants when searching for balls.
Stop play if pedestrians walk onto the pitch, defined as the square and its immediate surrounds
The names of the senior officers of the Club are published in the monthly parish magazine, and on the Bearsted Cricket Club Website (www.bearstedcc.play-cricket.com). They can be contacted if residents have concerns.
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