1908

The Committee Report

Your Committee beg to present the Annual Balance Sheet and Report for 1908. The proceeds of the Match v. Surrey, viz, £886 18s. 8d., constituted a record for a County Match at Trent Bridge. The profit on the Season’s working was £364 1s . 11d. A generous contribution of £25 was received from the President, Sir Hervey Bruce, Bart.

Of the 20 home and home matches played, six were won, seven drawn, and seven lost. After the performance of the Team in 1907 the result was most disappointing. The thanks of the Committee are due to Mr. Jones, who, though not thoroughly recovered from the severe illness he went through in Australia, captained the Team with ability and pluck.

The suggestion contained in the report for 1907, stating that the time was appropriate to promote a Testimonial to Mr. Jones in recognition of his brilliant services to Notts. Cricket has been carried into effect, and in response to the appeal the sum of £1200 has been received, to which amount your Committee suggest a sum of £300 be added from the Funds of the Club.

The question of Benefits to Professionals has been carefully considered by the Committee. Six of the players will shortly be entitled to Benefits. To have a separate Benefit each year for the next six years with a yearly appeal for subscriptions would be quite out of the question. The Committee therefore recommend that half the net amount taken at the Surrey match during the six years from Whitsuntide, 1908, be placed into a separate account, to be called the Professionals’ Benefit Fund Account. Should the half share of the Surrey match gate not realize £300 in any year it be made up to the amount from the Funds of the Club. The Committee further recommend that £224 2s. 4d. the balance of the Dixon Testimonial Fund to be forthwith transferred to the Professionals’ Benefit Fund. The late Mr. J. Nelson of Sherwood Rise left a sum of money for the Benefits of the Notts. County Professionals. Mr. R. Halford, the Trustee for Mr. Nelson’s Fund is prepared to at once hand over £60 to the Professionals’ Benefit Fund. The Committee propose to use their discretion in regard to the time they appeal for subscriptions to this Fund. At the end of the Season 1913 the whole of the Fund with the exception of subscriptions specially marked for particular players would be equally divided between the following six players on whose behalf the Benefit scheme is recommended:- J. Gunn, J. Iremonger, T. Wass,. T. Oates. A. W. Hallam, and G. Gunn. All of whom have accepted the suggested scheme.

The Club and Ground played thirty matches, twenty-six were won, two lost, and two drawn. Eight District Colt matches were also played. The Committee being anxious to give the younger players every chance of developing into first-class County players are rapidly as possible, and thinking the best way to do this would be by giving them practice against, really strong elevens, have joined the Minor Counties’ Association. The 2^nd XI will therefore play home and home matches with Northumberland, Durham. Cheshire, and Staffordshire, and Yorkshire 2^nd XI, two days’ fixtures.

This will entail a large increase of expenditure, but your Committee are thoroughly convinced that it is by far the best way of developing players, of giving them confidence, and of bringing on men for the first XI matches. They hope the members will support this policy, and they ask each member to use his best endeavors to obtain more members for the Club, as it is essential that the membership should be increased to meet the heavy expenditure.

A Match v. M.C.C. at Lords, Match v. Australians at Trent Bridge; and home and home fixtures with the Counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, Middlesex, Essex, Surrey, Sussex, Leicestershire, Gloucestershire, Derbyshire, and Northants.

W. H. TOMASSON, Hon. Secretary.

H. TURNER, Secretary.