Merv's Blog

Mervyn Griffiths, Secretary of the Nottinghamshire Cricket Board, explains something of his role within Recreational Cricket across the County and as to how the relationship between all the County’s clubs and Trent Bridge is invaluable to club players.

Hi everyone, I am Mervyn Griffiths, Secretary of the Notts Cricket Board (NCB) and am here to assist you and all within Club cricket at all times. I hope to keep this blog going on a regular basis as part of the communications to you of the NCB’s work and developments. My background in the local game includes over 40 years of an enjoyable playing career having played with Notts & Arnold CC (previously   Arnold CC) for some 25 years where I have also been Chairman and Secretary in the recent past. 

I have also enjoyed a number of different roles within the NCB – and previously the Notts Cricket Association – including that of Chairman of the NCB Premier League from 2000 to 2004. I umpire within the Bassetlaw & District Cricket League on Saturdays and try to watch as much Club and County Age Group cricket as I can at other times.

The NCB Premier League this season is a very hard fought competition with a number of Clubs fighting to win the league. The standard of cricket in many of the games has been excellent. Both the G&M South Notts Cricket League and the Bassetlaw & District Cricket League competitions are being keenly fought and at the time of writing it is far from clear who, from their respective leagues will contest the Mapperley Sports Champion of Champions trophy to be held at Cuckney CC on Saturday 18th September with a 12-30pm start.

Certainly my cricketing experiences across the County this season have been extremely positive ones and I feel the close interrelationship between the County Club and the “recreational game” plays a significant part in this. Whilst local volunteers and members of the NCB deserve huge credit for their roles and the work they do, the ever developing links between the NCB and Notts County Cricket Club are hugely important to the successful development of the game in the County. In particular the Community & Development Department’s work – under the dynamic leadership of Tracey Francis – is a real support of and catalyst for change and development across all aspects of the game in Notts.

I feel the relationship between the County Club and the Recreational Game in Notts is perhaps unique when compared with other Counties across the Country and that this is not appreciated as much as should be the case. The leadership and enthusiasm of such figures as Richard Martin and Peter Wright (respectively Chairmen of the Board and County Club) plays a significant part in ensuring the links between the two organisations are mutually beneficial. Peter Wright’s introduction to the recently published Notts CCC Cricket Strategy document makes clear his views on the need for a flourishing recreational game. Additionally, the commitment and love for the recreational game inherent in the present NCCC President Mike Smedley – also Chairman of NCB Senior Cricket is significant.

 Initiatives such as Cricket in the Community, Chance to Shine and the use of Clubmark accreditation are playing a significant part in the development of club cricket aided very effectively by the massive contributions by our local Leagues – Saturday, Sunday, mid week and youth competitions.

Simply put, without the leadership and direction given by a number of key people, largely volunteers supplemented and complemented by the County Club’s personnel, the NCB would not be in a position to support the progress of cricket within our communities as is the case today.

The game has given me personally so much over many years not least in enabling me to meet with so many fine people – young and old - and enjoy the benefits of so many friendships fostered.

I hope you continue to enjoy and have success as individual players, teams, clubs and or leagues for the rest of the 2010 season and I look forward to meeting with many of you at some time during the rest of the season or in the close season to come.

Thanks for all you do!