2021 ANNUAL REPORT

13 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT first steps into the world of work, supported by more experienced, often formerly retired, colleagues is the bedrock of our trademark warm and friendly welcome. However, due to Covid, the majority of these teams had not worked at Trent Bridge since the summer of 2019 and many had been forced to find alternative employment or – like many of our members and supporters – were nervous about returning to work in an environ- ment where there were no longer any societal restrictions. With a limited pool of staff and volunteers to call upon, I watched those that remained carry out duties outside of their usual remits and stoically pull together to deliver the kind of successful events for which we have become renowned. The portfolio of cricket we delivered under difficult circumstances in 2021 was varied and vast and the customer demand for our matches was testament to the support for Nottinghamshire, forTrent Bridge and for cricket within our community. The loyalty of our membership and supporter base was starkly in evidence during the summer of 2021 – and for that you all have my sincere thanks. Our commercial partners, led by team sponsor John Pye Auc- tions, have also remained steadfast in their support despite the most uncertain of financial climates. After 30 years in the game, I am genuine when I say that 2021 was without doubt the most difficult sea- son the club has ever delivered from an operational perspective.The sheer volume and intensity of matchdays and practice days in a condensed period was unprecedented. Whilst riding the rollercoaster of the season, it was easy to lose sight of the gravity of what was being achieved, and forget to enjoy the moment of sharing in memorable occasions and the requisite sense of community this creates. Looking back with the benefit of hindsight, we can reflect upon a memorable summer and the privilege of having been able to open the gates of our venue once more. We are all hoping to enjoy an increasing and continuing sense of normality when cricket returns in April 2022. From a financial perspective, the scars of the pandemic – which, as you are aware, paused each and every one of our commercial revenue streams for concerted periods in 2020 – will remain upon the game for some time. Our recovery, however, has been stronger than we could have realis- tically expected, and the substantial surplus we have posted this year represents a significant step forward. The scale of our surplus must be taken in the context of the savings we were compelled to make, along with additional funding the club was able to secure, due to the financial uncertainty caused by the pandemic. By adding these measures to the commitment and hard work of our staff that enabled us to host all of our major match cricket before capacity crowds, the level of profit we were able to sustain was height- ened to unprecedented levels. This has allowed us to replenish our finances in the aftermath of a 2020 that incurred a £700k shortfall on our projections and upon the levels required to see us through a year without Test Match cricket in 2023. It is ultimately our financial perfor- mance that will determine our ability to embark upon necessary future developments to our facilities – with the offerings within the Pavilion for players and members alike arguably the most pressing of our requirements in that regard at this time. The summer of 2021, meanwhile, “WHILST RIDING THE ROLLERCOASTER OF THE SEASON, IT WAS EASY TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE GRAVITY OF WHAT WAS BEING ACHIEVED, AND FORGET TO ENJOY THE MOMENT OF SHARING INMEMORABLE OCCASIONS AND THE REQUISITE SENSE OF COMMUNITY THIS CREATES.” Lisa Pursehouse