Yorkshire Gentlemen’s Cricket Club – Match Manager’s responsibilities

The Match Manager role is vitally important in ensuring that matches are conducted appropriately and in maintaining the reputation of the club.

1. For each fixture which you are managing, your first responsibility is to contact the opposition’s Match Manager or contact person. If you do not know who this is, please ask the Fixture Secretary, Heather Gilbert, who will have confirmed the fixture. You should do this about four weeks before the game. The purpose of this contact is to:

  • confirm the fixture and introduce yourself as the Yorkshire Gentlemen’s Match Manager

  • confirm match day arrangements

  • comment on the likely strength of your X1

Here is an example of an email to give you an idea of how to approach an opposition Match Manager:

Dear Andrew

I hope that you and your family are well and enjoying the summer season.

Once again, I am managing the Yorkshire Gentlemen's fixture against the Hull Old Grammarians. It is always a pleasure to welcome your team to Escrick Park and this email is to confirm arrangements for the day. I intend to raise a reasonable strength and balanced X1 for the game.

The arrangements will be the same as previous years:

  • your players and supporters will be welcome at Escrick Park from 10.30am. Paul White and I will be ready to greet you and refreshments will be available in the club house

  • play to commence at 11.30am

  • lunch: 1.30pm to 2.10pm

  • tea: approximately 4.15pm

  • last hour to commence at 5.30pm

  • the Yorkshire Gentlemen will provide an umpire and Paul will score

Andrew, please let me know whether you will be providing an umpire and a scorer. Also, total numbers for lunch and tea with any special dietary requirements. Thank you.

Please feel free to keep in touch in the run up to the match.

As always, I am looking forward to welcoming you to Escrick Park and to a good game of cricket on the day.

Best wishes

Geoff Barker

Yorkshire Gentlemen's Cricket Club

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2. Your second responsibility is to raise a balanced and if possible, strong X1 to represent the Yorkshire Gentlemen. The Spond App will show you who is available. Further to this, you should contact playing members of the club, or recruit players from your own contacts in cricket.

Your X1 should include at least two good league standard quick / seam bowlers and a good league standard spin bowler. However, you should consider the relative strength of the opposition.

You should find out who your umpire is for the day. This information is available from Angus Shaw.

3. On the match day you should be the first player to arrive at the ground. When the Yorkshire Gentlemen are playing at Escrick Park, Paul White will have opened the pavilion and prepared refreshments.

It is courteous to greet the opposition players and supporters as they arrive and direct players to the opposition changing room and to the refreshments that Paul will have prepared.

Opposition players are welcome to practise on the outfield if they wish to do so.

4. You should toss up with the opposition captain - and the umpires present – 15 minutes before play is due to commence and inform your players and Paul White of which team is to bat first.

5. You should ring the bell to indicate the commencement of play, 5 minutes before the start time and ensure that the umpires and fielding side are ready to start on time.

6. When the Yorkshire Gentlemen are fielding, you as captain, should lead the team onto the field. Players drifting onto the field in small numbers should be discouraged. You as captain should lead your players onto the field as a team.

7. After the game you should be present in the bar area to socialise with members of the opposition.

Recruitment of players for the Yorkshire Gentlemen’s Cricket Club

School fixtures in particular, are an opportunity to recruit young and talented cricketers to the Yorkshire Gentlemen. Please engage with the young players on the opposition during and after the game. There is a flyer available to advertise the club, but word of mouth – and the experience of an enjoyable game – may be the best way to recruit.

8. You should ensure that your players have settled their match fees with Paul White.

9. Please offer Paul any help he needs in tidying up and closing the pavilion.