Hampshire’s world famous cricket club Hambledon asks for donations to help cashflow during pandemic

Hambledon, a club formed way back in 1750, is considered the birthplace of the sport. They were once the most powerful club in the country, helping to devise the laws of the game, and cricket lovers from all over the world still pay regular homage to Ridge Meadow. The club now fields three adult teams - the first XI play in Division 3 of the Southern Premier League - and has a thriving junior section with over 150 youngsters aged 5-17. But whether any player, irrespective of age, will be able to play any games in 2020 - be it competitive or friendly - remains a moot point due to the pandemic. If they don’t, the club have no money coming in but still bills to pay - £4,000 on annual insurance, for example, and around £3,500 for ground maintenance in 2020. Chairman Mark Le Clerq has now written to all members asking for financial support. In the letter, he wrote: ‘Sadly, it is becoming unlikely that we will see any club cricket played this summer and as a result we have decided not to request a membership fee from players and social members this year. ‘Membership fees, bar takings, sponsorship and donations form the basis of our income during a season. ‘However, despite us not receiving any significant income this year we will still have some major fixed costs to pay. ‘As you might expect, we are seeking for a better deal on our insurance and pursuing local authority and national sporting bodies’ Covid-19 grants. ‘However, we still need further financial support to help sustain cricket at Hambledon for a future without Covid-19. ‘We are launching a funding/donation campaign to see the ‘Dons’ through this unprecedented pandemic. Please help this very special club to ensure its future and provide cricket for all ages for many years to come.’ Le Clerq told The News: ‘Our biggest worry is whether kids and adults will wander off and find something else to do in their leisure time. ‘The kids haven’t played since last July. If they don’t play again until next April that’s 20 months without cricket - that’s a long time in a youngster’s life. ‘I think the ECB are a bit worried and have asked the government to look at youth cricket if at all possible. ‘I’m hopeful we will hear something from the ECB by this Friday. ‘We could easily play some local clubs like Waterlooville or Purbrook in youth cricket in a few weeks time, and then, touch wood, the adults would start a few weeks later. ‘The ground’s looking absolutely fantastic, we’ve been working on the pitch - the outfield looks unbelievable. ‘We opened the nets last week and they’ve proved popular - people just want to go out and hit a ball. ‘Horse racing is starting again, golf and tennis have returned, now we need to start getting cricket up and running.’ Le Clerq said he was expecting recreational cricket to have restarted by now. ‘I have been surprised cricket has not been at the forefront of more peoples’ minds with regards to sport restarting,’ he said. ‘I was very surprised to hear the ECB say last week there would be no cricket until August 1. That seems a long time away. I don’t know why they are being more wary than other sports. ‘I would have expected cricket to restart in some way, shape or form today (June 1). ‘We could hold an inter-club game, we’ve got 22 players - I imagine that is how it will restart.’ Le Clerq admits his club are ‘in a far more fortunate position than most because of the club’s name. ‘It could be that we receive donations from far afield - we always have requests from teams from Australia, India, South Africa, to come and play at our ground. ‘Three or four Australian teams generally play every year, and they’re good fundraisers for the club. ‘If we don’t have any cricket this summer, we’ll be able to cover our costs through grants and donations. The letter only went out last Wednesday but the response has been good.’