The Welbeck Weekender

SUMMARY

It was a real shame that the weather forecasters got it right again on Sunday. The second half of the Welbeck Weekend being washed out, however doesn't dull the impact of the overall experience of attending a Nottinghamshire home fixture that was within the county borders but was not at Trent Bridge for the first times this century.


I believe the players and staff were happy with the pavilion amenities and the practice facilities before and after play. Every spectator you spoke to was impressed with the efforts that had been made to provide a first class viewing experience.

The 400 folding seats turned out to be 2000 and each had a good vista of play.

So if the weekend was all about proving to Trent Bridge that Welbeck Cricket Club can lay on a suitable venue for County teams, then they did that. That box has been ticked.

The Market Warsop location might be a little remote but the facilities at the John Fretwell Sports Complex were up to the task of managing the 2200 visitors, getting them in, seating them, feeding and watering them and managed the trafficking at close of play on Saturday to filter on to the A60. 

Getting out of the car park (to be managed on to the A60), if you were parked at the front of the car park, was a test of patience and the only gripe but was inevitable as there was only one exit gate on to Sookholme Road. The parking stewards had long since fled. But that's a regular issue at all temporary car parks the World over.

Talk has been a return next season but it's difficult to see how they would be much justification for a move, there not being a Test Match next season at Trent Bridge. Perhaps 2017 or 2019 when there is the World Cup between 30 May and 15 July.

Staging a Championship game at Welbeck might not be on the cards, if the desire is for the wicket to give play into a fourth day. Perhaps more SEC games played there might be necessary to test that water.

If and when there is a return to Welbeck, it will be something to look forward to. If you missed it, not miss the next one - it comes fully recommended.

One note: The Glamorgan supporters' coach first drove to Trent Bridge on Sunday, either in error or to take in the view............... you decide.





CHECK OUT THE MATCH REPORTS FROM MAG, ON PREVIOUS PAGES AND THE PHOTOS ON HARRY BUTLER DAFT'S FACEBOOK WHERE THERE ARE 3 ALBUMS OF SNAPS OF THE WHOLE WEEKEND

PREVIEW 24/07/15

Ever since the fixtures were announced, intrigue and excitement has grown over the prospect of Nottinghamshire taking a home fixture to Welbeck Colliery CC's  ground at the John Fretwell Sports Complex, Sookholme Road near Market Warsop, just off the A60.


The need for Outlaws to play away from home being motivated by Test Ground preparations (prior to the 4th Ashes Test) than spreading the club through-out the county. 

Nottinghamshire CCC have certainly put some effort into making the trauma, for some, of watching a home fixture away from West Bridgford as pain-free as possible.

Coach travel from Trent Bridge, a "strengthened" rail service between Nottingham and Mansfield Woodhouse and a shuttle bus between Mansfield Woodhouse Railway Station and the ground.

Full details are all over the official Nottinghamshire website.

http://www.trentbridge.co.uk/news/2015/july/welbeck-weekender-matchday-information.html

The fact is that there's scheduled to be two fixtures at this venue this weekend; one on Saturday against Warwickshire Bears and then one on Sunday against Glamorgan. 

The Welbeck ground is surrounded by grass banking on three sides, ideal for viewing the action, so the club has suggested a picnic blanket is all that you need but are laying-on 400 fold-down chairs (deck chairs??). I'll take my own chair, I reckon as parking at the venue is free to members too.

The club must be concerned over the weather forecast for Sunday, which depending on which forecast you look at, is either going to be showery all day with a break at lunch time or raining all day but Saturday looks to have much better prospects of play. Hopefully Welbeck have plenty of covers or its own micro-climate.