I am behind in my writing because of two avoidable situations. The first was the a Microsoft Word programme temporary collapse when I had not saved the work, so engrossed had I become in the subject, and tonight have spent two hours going through everything in my motel room twice and everything in the car once in the hope of finding a little black wallet which contains my bus and metro passes. I suspect it fell in the car park although as the park appears to be run automatically with a central CCTV control monitored somewhere else there was no one to ask. I will have to see if there is a number to contact tomorrow to enquire if it has been handed in otherwise the intention of using the pass while I am away is abandoned and I will have to wait till returning home to seek a replacement.
This should not take away from an excellent day in the sunshine until tea time when sea fog swept in and the air was cold and damp.
I had awoken in the sunshine and decided to take the car to the cricket ground rather than use public transport, otherwise I may have discovered that the pass was missing first thing, delayed leaving to undertake a search and had a miserable day knowing that it was lost. Breakfast was coffee and a plain croissant and I made a flask of coffee to take.
It is over half a decade, possible close to a decade, since visiting Sussex County Cricket ground at Hove but it had not changed in any respect. This will not be so after the season ends in the Autumn. I learnt the details of the changes during the afternoon.
The ground is unusual in that it is completely enclosed by private gardens, private houses and blocks of apartments, with the exception of one narrow entrance sufficient for a private car to use to the north east corner of the ground where there is room for a couple of dozen member’s car available on a first come first served basis and with members with tickets can also use as pedestrians, and the main entrance at the southern end of the ground. In a very rough count there are something like 150 to 200 properties with views of the playing areas although some at a distance
At the main entrance end and within the grounds, the club sold the space for a multi story block of apartments although only those from the fourth level and above have a view of the playing area. Those below this level have no view, blocked by a curious two floor building comprising an education centre for school children plus a viewing area for them and the famous Gilligan Stand roof terrace. Here there are presently 27 groups of four seats considerably spaced apart both between the five rows and between each block as once upon a time before safety regulations were tightened spectators could bring their own seating up the three flights of stairs and on to the banked roof areas. I spent the day here from fifteen minutes before the start of play until just after six pm when it ended, apart from a walk round at lunch time and going into the member’s pavilion for a cup of tea late afternoon.
On the west side of the ground sideways to the wicket is the only area of seating stands with an area for non members and then the Members pavilion which has two long room areas, one with a bar and a coffee and tea with a cake deal in the afternoons for £2.40 and a similar deal with a bacon or sausage roll for £3.40 in the mornings. There are tables seating six from which members can view the play behind glass. I did not enter the second long room area but from the outside it appeared that it as here people were enjoyed a cooked breakfast which is served from 9.30 until the start of play at 11am. I presume the advertised one and two course lunch and full afternoon tea. There is a part covered upper tier to this stand and the lower tier also has a covered area where quaintly some of the seating at the back is of the traditional park bench.
The northern end, either side of the sight screen, has one of the rare remaining features of an English cricket ground as in addition to rows of park benches on banking there are deck chairs. Behind this area there are the outdoor nets and in the north west corner the indoor cricket school which appears to lead off from the Players Pavilion. The east side of the ground is also an anomaly in terms of today’s Test and one Day international grounds. There are no stands. In the northern end there is a single row of seating behind which cars of the disabled can be parked as they are in an area in the North East corner. This appeared to me to be tempting the fates because a six in this area could not just break a windscreen but severely damage the body work. The scoreboard is about a third of the way down the east side and is a two storey white washed brick building with a three sided clock, may be four, I forgot to check on the walk around
There are then some hospitality boxes and a Players Club area and then the previously Members only bar and food tent which reminded of the years of camping holidays and then the hospitality tents which can be purchased on a game by game basis in packs of ten for about £1000. The tents are called Marquees to go with the price.
I was able to find myself a car park place for £4 all day which is only 80 pence more that at Durham and just a little bit further away in terms of walking distance. However the man I asked for directions sent me to the Members entrance which meant I had to walk three quarters around the ground instead of a quarter. The cost of entrance is £13 a day for adults but non members can purchase entry into the Members Pavilion area for an additional £5. Along with visiting members from Essex, Kent, and Hampshire, Durham Members can gain entry for free. However as with the first match against Yorkshire the wicket was on the further end of the square so members in the Pavilion stand were some distance side on from the play, so I quickly moved to the Gilligan stand a little to left of the wicket as it was evident those immediately behind were part of a group of regular members who enjoyed familiar banter.
I was alone for the part of the morning on four seat group and then younger man, possibly in his late thirties sat in the fourth seat for a time, and then reappeared for the last part of the evening session. Another man this time in his sixties took the same seat during the after lunch session and he was joined for a short while just before tea by another man and a guest. The other man proved my source of information about the ground development as the club now has eleven million pounds in the kitty from their three championship winning years and development money from the ECB. The Gilligan stand is the first to be demolished and replaced by fixed sponsorships boxes with a three hundred and forty six seat top tier and a Sky TV area. The media appear to have a facility next to the Members Pavilion. There are also improvement to Members and Players Pavilions with latter returning restoration work in what has become a listed building
Sussex is the home of Paul Parker who during his decade with the club was nominated player of the year three or four times. He came to Durham as Captain in the early years and then rook up an appointment at a Boy’s Public School. Durham‘s opening Batsman previously played for Sussex and was voted their player of the year.
Durham won the toss and elected to bat and this appeared to be the wrong decision as three wickets fell for 41 runs and the score was 161 for 6 before Blenkenstein was joined by Liam Plunket and the two added just under 150 runs before Blenkenstein was out for 136. Liam was 65 not out at the close and with Thorp, Claydon and Harmison to come they will work hard to try and get another batting point before the innings closes. As Sussex do not have the same batting strength as Durham their early batsman will have to get the runs if they are to avoid a repetition of the loss last year. However the rain may affect the result.
It became cold as the Sea fret moved in late afternoon and the morning forecast indicates the possibility of rain.
I went on a little explore of my immediate area after checking the car and discovered I am close to a major shopping centre at Churchill Square where there are two bus routes to the ground and nearby an food sandwich store open from 7 am until 11pm. I shall get up early to buy sandwiches before taking my car to the ground where I may use the pavilion with rain forecast and the English breakfast is very tempting. Everyone appeared to be at the cinema which is next door and if rain stop play I am tempted by the film State of Play. I am yet to walk the pier.
This should not take away from an excellent day in the sunshine until tea time when sea fog swept in and the air was cold and damp.
I had awoken in the sunshine and decided to take the car to the cricket ground rather than use public transport, otherwise I may have discovered that the pass was missing first thing, delayed leaving to undertake a search and had a miserable day knowing that it was lost. Breakfast was coffee and a plain croissant and I made a flask of coffee to take.
It is over half a decade, possible close to a decade, since visiting Sussex County Cricket ground at Hove but it had not changed in any respect. This will not be so after the season ends in the Autumn. I learnt the details of the changes during the afternoon.
The ground is unusual in that it is completely enclosed by private gardens, private houses and blocks of apartments, with the exception of one narrow entrance sufficient for a private car to use to the north east corner of the ground where there is room for a couple of dozen member’s car available on a first come first served basis and with members with tickets can also use as pedestrians, and the main entrance at the southern end of the ground. In a very rough count there are something like 150 to 200 properties with views of the playing areas although some at a distance
At the main entrance end and within the grounds, the club sold the space for a multi story block of apartments although only those from the fourth level and above have a view of the playing area. Those below this level have no view, blocked by a curious two floor building comprising an education centre for school children plus a viewing area for them and the famous Gilligan Stand roof terrace. Here there are presently 27 groups of four seats considerably spaced apart both between the five rows and between each block as once upon a time before safety regulations were tightened spectators could bring their own seating up the three flights of stairs and on to the banked roof areas. I spent the day here from fifteen minutes before the start of play until just after six pm when it ended, apart from a walk round at lunch time and going into the member’s pavilion for a cup of tea late afternoon.
On the west side of the ground sideways to the wicket is the only area of seating stands with an area for non members and then the Members pavilion which has two long room areas, one with a bar and a coffee and tea with a cake deal in the afternoons for £2.40 and a similar deal with a bacon or sausage roll for £3.40 in the mornings. There are tables seating six from which members can view the play behind glass. I did not enter the second long room area but from the outside it appeared that it as here people were enjoyed a cooked breakfast which is served from 9.30 until the start of play at 11am. I presume the advertised one and two course lunch and full afternoon tea. There is a part covered upper tier to this stand and the lower tier also has a covered area where quaintly some of the seating at the back is of the traditional park bench.
The northern end, either side of the sight screen, has one of the rare remaining features of an English cricket ground as in addition to rows of park benches on banking there are deck chairs. Behind this area there are the outdoor nets and in the north west corner the indoor cricket school which appears to lead off from the Players Pavilion. The east side of the ground is also an anomaly in terms of today’s Test and one Day international grounds. There are no stands. In the northern end there is a single row of seating behind which cars of the disabled can be parked as they are in an area in the North East corner. This appeared to me to be tempting the fates because a six in this area could not just break a windscreen but severely damage the body work. The scoreboard is about a third of the way down the east side and is a two storey white washed brick building with a three sided clock, may be four, I forgot to check on the walk around
There are then some hospitality boxes and a Players Club area and then the previously Members only bar and food tent which reminded of the years of camping holidays and then the hospitality tents which can be purchased on a game by game basis in packs of ten for about £1000. The tents are called Marquees to go with the price.
I was able to find myself a car park place for £4 all day which is only 80 pence more that at Durham and just a little bit further away in terms of walking distance. However the man I asked for directions sent me to the Members entrance which meant I had to walk three quarters around the ground instead of a quarter. The cost of entrance is £13 a day for adults but non members can purchase entry into the Members Pavilion area for an additional £5. Along with visiting members from Essex, Kent, and Hampshire, Durham Members can gain entry for free. However as with the first match against Yorkshire the wicket was on the further end of the square so members in the Pavilion stand were some distance side on from the play, so I quickly moved to the Gilligan stand a little to left of the wicket as it was evident those immediately behind were part of a group of regular members who enjoyed familiar banter.
I was alone for the part of the morning on four seat group and then younger man, possibly in his late thirties sat in the fourth seat for a time, and then reappeared for the last part of the evening session. Another man this time in his sixties took the same seat during the after lunch session and he was joined for a short while just before tea by another man and a guest. The other man proved my source of information about the ground development as the club now has eleven million pounds in the kitty from their three championship winning years and development money from the ECB. The Gilligan stand is the first to be demolished and replaced by fixed sponsorships boxes with a three hundred and forty six seat top tier and a Sky TV area. The media appear to have a facility next to the Members Pavilion. There are also improvement to Members and Players Pavilions with latter returning restoration work in what has become a listed building
Sussex is the home of Paul Parker who during his decade with the club was nominated player of the year three or four times. He came to Durham as Captain in the early years and then rook up an appointment at a Boy’s Public School. Durham‘s opening Batsman previously played for Sussex and was voted their player of the year.
Durham won the toss and elected to bat and this appeared to be the wrong decision as three wickets fell for 41 runs and the score was 161 for 6 before Blenkenstein was joined by Liam Plunket and the two added just under 150 runs before Blenkenstein was out for 136. Liam was 65 not out at the close and with Thorp, Claydon and Harmison to come they will work hard to try and get another batting point before the innings closes. As Sussex do not have the same batting strength as Durham their early batsman will have to get the runs if they are to avoid a repetition of the loss last year. However the rain may affect the result.
It became cold as the Sea fret moved in late afternoon and the morning forecast indicates the possibility of rain.
I went on a little explore of my immediate area after checking the car and discovered I am close to a major shopping centre at Churchill Square where there are two bus routes to the ground and nearby an food sandwich store open from 7 am until 11pm. I shall get up early to buy sandwiches before taking my car to the ground where I may use the pavilion with rain forecast and the English breakfast is very tempting. Everyone appeared to be at the cinema which is next door and if rain stop play I am tempted by the film State of Play. I am yet to walk the pier.
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