v Yorkshire
County Championship Division Two
Friday 5 April 2024 (Day One)
Played at Headingley
NBDR
No Beer Don't Read
Although, this is County Cricket at Headingley. So there is “beer news” further below.
Apologies for the delay to this Blog. Games coming thick & fast. Blogs not so. The age old dilemma whether to go or write about one you've gone.
First day of the County season. The rain disrupted. But, you gotta make “the effort”.
The game would eventually end in a Draw. From that “advantage Yorkshire” position I left on Day One, with Leicestershire 164-5, they recovered to 354 all out. FFS. Yorkshire then made a 6.2 runs per over 264-6. With Tons for Lyth & Brook.
Masood (Duck off 6) hauled ‘em in when Brook made his Ton. Mainly because he was behind on the over rate from the first innings and looked like losing some of the few points we'd got.
(Note to uninitiated. Teams score points for taking wickets and scoring runs. Often called Bonus Points. But, can also be deducted points for not bowling their overs fast enough).
At the start of Leicestershire's second innings, Yorkshire bowled spinners, Dan Moriarty and Adam Lyth, so they could rush through their overs asap. When the rain came on Day Four, the abacus was plugged in, the excuses were listened to. And no points were deducted.
FFS. Cricket eating itself.
AnyRoadUp. Following some progress last season, where at times you could only buy beer in paper fucking cups. They are now serving beer in glass glasses if you're an adult and drinking inside the East Stand Long Room.
“Next Step. Serve something worth fucking having.”
I'm not going to dwell on the events at Headingley over the Winter. But, I am going to state my position. Interpretation my own.
As Yorkshire came out of some of the Racism Scandal, it became clear that some aspects had cost an awful lot of money. And the Club were looking into another big hole in their finances.
Over time, a lot of the money has been owed to former benefactor and Chairman, Colin Graves. Although, increasingly, that debt has been farmed out to “Graves Trusts”. Graves claims an independent, hands off, relationship to the Trusts.
It seems Graves was not directly involved in any of the racist incidents during his time at the club. But, his demeanour and some of his comments have divided opinion. And for a long time.
There were loud noises out of YCCC. Although grateful for the initial and continued financial support from Graves and the Trusts, they had no intention of approaching him in their current financial difficulty.
There were loud noises out of Graves. He had moved on, water had flowed under bridges, he had no intention of becoming yet more financially involved in Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
As I write this. Following the conclusion of the first County match of the season. Colin Graves is Chairman of Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Go. Figure.
The spin from the Club was basically;
“We have fucking looked at EVERY other possibility.”
The spin from Graves was basically;
“I didn't want to do it, but they came cap in hand, and I don't want to see this once great club blah blah blah.”
Many stories surrounded the change of hearts. Yorkshire are a Members owned club. I'm a Member. I own it. One of the surrounding stories was that Yorkshire may de-mutualise. May cease to be a Members Club. May fall into private ownership. Ownership by an Indian Premier League team. Fuck that. Ownership by the Saudis. Fuck that. Ownership by Graves. Fuck that.
In the event, an Emergency General Meeting was called. To vote on rule changes. Rule changes tinkering with minutiae around Board composition. But, all aimed at allowing resignations from existing Board members. Allowing rump Board members to appoint new Board members. And allowing the rump Board appointed Board to appoint a Chair.
It was clear that the changes would allow Graves to be appointed Chair. The rule changes passed. And Graves is Chair.
I voted against… in the hope we could
“Retain as a Members Club”
“No ownership”
“No return to a previous regime”
That perfectly reasonable Manifesto overwhelmingly ignored by my fellow Members.
To be fair, the threat of de-mutualisation and private ownership has receded as things plodded on.
I feel able to say, I have nothing personal against Graves. But. It's a backward step. Going back to a Marmite Man. Going back to a Rich Old Man. At a time when we need change. Taking on more Debt. More debt to a Rich Old Man.
Maybe we've fucked it. But when did money become personalised? If you wanted to build a New Stand, you borrowed the moolah off The Halifax. Wrote up a suitable money in, money out business plan. And paid them back.
Now you have to get “someone's money”. In this case Graves money. That turned out to be another fucking loan of just one million.
Anyway. Understand me. I will continue to vote against Colin Graves. His appointment as Chair needs ratifying at an Annual General Meeting. But, not in a dug in, over my dead body way. Just in a calm, I want to move forward, this looks like moving backwards.
Let's never speak of this again.
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