2021 ANNUAL REPORT

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET CLUB 2021 ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 8 J E F F R E Y MOO R E CHAI RMAN’S REPORT As in 2020, the red-ball competition was played in a conference format. On this occasion, the top two teams from each group proceeded to a round-robin set of matches in late August and September to determine the champion county. Although the restrictions were relaxed somewhat after three home matches with up to around 4,000 spectators then allowed to attend, it was not until much later in the season that Trent Bridge was permit- ted to be full to capacity. Moreover, to minimise the risk of Covid outbreaks among the players and coaching staff, the Pavilion and its immediate environs were declared an excluded zone to the public for the majority of the season. Addi- tionally, the need to provide social distancing for players and officials meant that members were only allowed to return to the external Pavilion seating midway through the season and unfortunately the Executive Suite was not available throughout. The club used its best endeavours to mitigate the impact of these constraints, including maintaining a comprehensive streaming service, but inevitably the enjoyment of cricket was impaired for some members. The patience shown by all members throughout this trying period was much appreciated by the General Committee and staff at Trent Bridge. Because of our diligence in curbing the impact of the pandemic in the dressing room, we were able to fulfil a full season of fixtures in both the red- and white-ball formats. It is also very pleasing to report that we have returned a healthy surplus for the year. In the County Championship, the improving performances at the end of 2020 were sustained into 2021 and by the end of the conference stage we sat proudly at the top of our group with 151 points, thereby qualifying for the First Division in the playoff stage. The contributions of Liam Patter- son-White, Lyndon James and Joey Evison alongside the more established players was testament to the strength of our player development policy. The Director of Cricket, Mick Newell, has covered the season in more detail within the cricket report, but how wonderful it was to record our first win in 31 Championship matches in the away fixture against Derbyshire! It was also fantastic to beatWorcestershire at home in the first match where spectators were present at the ground, and in all the team won four, drew four and lost two of their ten conference stage matches. The beginning of the season was, for a second consecutive year, overshadowed by the continuing Covid-19 pandemic. Public Health restrictions meant that, despite the successful vaccination rollout, spectators were still unable to attend as the season commenced with an LV= Insurance County Championship fixture against Durham.