Superb host and questions aplenty
Superbly hosted by former Glamorgan and England player Robert Croft, it allowed both organisations the chance to put their mission statements to a packed audience of cricket players, officials and parents in an informal way by Peter Hybart, the chairman of the Cricket Board for Wales, and Alan Hamer, the CEO of Glamorgan County Cricket Club.
Then the evening was nicely rounded off by the chance to ask questions of Glamorgan staff that included Steve Watkin, Matthew Mott, Huw Waters, Mark Wallace and Andrew Salter, the former St Ishmaels' players who has just signed his first contract for Glamorgan as a talented off-spin bowler and useful batsman.
Nice touches of humour
Like former Glamorgan and England star Croft, Watkin played for England as a fast bowler, and this pair are now an integral part of the coaching set-up at the Swalec Stadium. Croft is a very popular and astute pundit with Sky Sport and not only created the right ambience in his opening address but asked searching questions of Messrs Hybart and Hamer.
He also showed nice touches of humour when Martin Jones reminded him of his visits to Neyland CC years ago. When one member of the audience asked about corruption in cricket, Croft rounded things off nicely when he announced,
“Personally, I never had to be paid extra to bowl badly for Glamorgan!â€
Peter puts forward the CB for W vision
Peter Hybart said that the Cricket Board for Wales was new and was responsible for clubs in Wales, senior and junior leagues, the nine junior regions, coaches, groundsmen, umpires, cricket for the disabled, ladies and girls' cricket, plus Wales Minor Counties and his organisation's mission statement was,
To lead, inspire and influence the sport, to raise the quality and accessibility of cricket in Wales.â€
To do this, one of their challenges is to improve the quality of the game at all levels, with more qualified coaching and financial stability. He welcomed Rick Walton as the part-time coach in the county and matt Freeman as the Cricket Development Officer attached to Sport Pembrokeshire in County Hall.
Alan points out Glamorgan five-year plan
Alan Hamer followed with his analysis of Where Glamorgan Cricket currently stands and outlined the count's strategic plan for the next five years, including diversification for the Swalec Complex since cricket was only played there for five years. He assured the audience that Glamorgan were eager to see more young Welsh players like Andrew Salter involved and that they were looking to build from strength, with a good development programme, rather than spend money on recruiting foreign players they could not afford.
He was also looking to increase the membership of Glamorgan Cricket Club from counties like Pembrokeshire, which have traditionally been strong, and hoped that message could be taken back to clubs, which could benefit from a partnership with Glamorgan in several ways that were mutually good.
Sec Steve is pleased by turn-out
Mr Croft nicely rounded off the evening with his closing address and the road show moved off to its next destination. Those in attendance were seemingly in agreement that it had been worthwhile and Steve Blowes, the Hon Secretary of the Pembroke County Cricket Club, said,
“I feel it has been a night of real benefit to Glamorgan Cricket Club, the Cricket Board for Wales and Pembrokeshire Cricket, with a smashing turn out and already-strong ties strengthened as a result.â€
PHOTOS:
Pembroke County CC Hon Sec Steve Blowes welcomes Alan Hamer, Robert Croft and Peter Hybart
The Glamorgan players get ready to answer questions . . .
. . . And chat to local cricketers in the break