Most of the squad are in the process of returning to training wherever they are in the world, using their winter training programmes from Strength and Conditioning Coach Mike King as their fitness bibles! Exceptions to this general rule are Scott Borthwick and Graham Onions who are away on England duty, Ben Stokes who is undergoing further rehabilitation on his finger and Michael Di Venuto who has returned to Tasmania to take up his role as Assistant Coach.
The Marketing team is busy organising the mail out for re-newing Members and t20 season ticket holders and then turns its attention to completing the Around the Wicket Members Magazine. Once the fixtures are announced (hopefully by the end of November) the team then decide on the group deals and marketing strategy for the forthcoming season and start producing the relevant promotional material, advertising is planned for key dates and before you know it, it’s Christmas!
The Box Office is processing orders for future ODI’s and then before they know it they will be inundated with Membership and t20 season ticket renewals – plus once Membership and t20 season tickets go on general sale there is also a huge pre Christmas rush as they make excellent gifts for loved ones. There is no rest for the wicked!
Deals are being put in place for the forthcoming season as well as follow up meetings with current sponsors. Lots of meetings going on here!
The Durham Experience remains busy, busy, busy during the winter months with conferences, business meetings, weddings and Christmas parties filling the stadium. Austins Bar remains open in the winter too so feel free to drop in for a drink (coffee or alcoholic!), a light lunch or book a table in the restaurant to sample our blackboard menu which changes weekly. Austins will also be serving Christmas lunch and dinner throughout December. To book a table please call 0191 388 3335.
Come rain or shine our representatives are out and about spreading the word about Durham CCC’s Howzat lottery, maintaining relationships with current agents and outlets as well as searching for new opportunities to sign people up to our lottery and sell our scratch cards.
The coaching staff are already putting plans into place for 2012 for the senior and academy squads ready for their return to full time training in the New Year. Once the fixtures are announced games for the 2XI and Academy can be arranged too.
The ground staff have been doing general maintenance and upkeep on the field and will be keeping a special eye on the weather in the next few months to decide on the best preparations for pre season.
In addition to keeping the website and social media sites updated with content, we’ve signed off the 2012 kit already and ordered all the items for the playing staff! The winter months also allow us to do some things that normally we couldn’t squeeze into our schedule like lectures for Media Management courses, website activity reviews and lots of player visits. And you can never start planning too early for the forthcoming season…it’ll be here before you know it!
The Durham Cricket Foundation continues with various programmes throughout the winter months, alongside our Learning Beyond the Boundary facility. The Foundation is currently meeting with potential partners to allow them to finalise the programmes, which promote education, health and social skills through the power of sport, for the 2012 season.
It’s a busy time for Operations, everyone wants them for something…lists upon lists arrive on their desks so they get to spend their time deciding who gets their help first! Currently plans are being drawn up for the proposed development at the ground too as well as detailed plans for next year’s England v Australia ODI and England v South Africa t20 International – a LOT of hard work goes on behind the scenes for these games.
Howzat Lottery – Please contact Julie Conway on 0191 387 2889
Meetings, Events, Weddings, Christmas – Please contact The Durham Experience on 0191 387 2874