Over the past few years Richmond Cricket Club (RCC) has grown significantly, initially through the juniors and latterly through primarily women and girls. We have added a second ground, introduced All Stars, reintroduced women’s cricket, are working with local schools to develop cricket in the community and have reinvigorated our holiday camp offering. In 2020 the response to our covid appeal was amazing. As well as delivering a strong financial year we started to develop a sense of community around the club. This year we have built on that success.

Against this backdrop we continue to perform very well on the field in girls', boys', women’s and men’s cricket and our trophy cabinet continues to fill up.

The club does face challenges too, and the RCC Committee have decided that it is the right time, from this position of strength, to create a new strategy and development plan that will set the club up for the future. This will be kicked-off by a small working group over the next month, be reviewed by the committee at the end of October and the intent is that it will be shared with the membership at the Annual General Meeting in November.

The group will be led by Rich Zotov (Junior Chairman, parent and Men’s 4th XI Captain), and has a representative from each section of the playing membership:

• Girls - Richie Stubbs: parent, Fixtures Secretary, ECB Level 2 Coach and Level 1 Umpire
• Boys - Ian Tabor: parent, U14/15 Boys Age Group Manager and ECB Level 3 Coach
• Men - Kshitij Desai (KD): parent, 1st XI player
• Women - Kate Frayling: parent and 1st XI player

Their task is to consult widely, review good practice from cricket and other sports, and then use this information to draft a strategy.

In the coming days you will all be asked to share your views through an online survey, and some of you will be asked for a short interview. If you feel you want to contribute beyond the survey please contact one of the working group and we will do our best to hear what you have to say. Please consider that this is a group of volunteers who also have busy work and family schedules. Thank you for your support as we aim to deliver the right strategy and development plan for our members.