Giles Clarke launches Somerset Appeal Year and speaks of his vision for the club

The Somerset County Cricket Club Appeal Year was officially launched this week when Club chairman Giles Clarke handed over a cheque for £5000 to chief executive Peter Anderson.

Photo © Somerset

Since his appointment as chairman in December, Mr Clarke, who is vastly experienced in the business world, has wasted no time in setting about his task of helping the club to become financially independent by recruiting Ian Botham one of the county's greatest cricketer to spearhead the 2003 membership drive.

Sitting looking out across the County Ground shortly after the launch Mr Clarke spoke of his vision for Somerset. He told me: "This club should be open to all and we are keen to have every facet of the community in the West Country associated with it. We are the first class opportunity for young players across the region, so supporting our Academy is vital."

He continued: "This appeal is to strengthen the club's balance sheet and the funds that are raised this year will go towards achieving this."

Regarding his task as chairman Mr Clarke said that a business plan had been drawn up that listed several major objectives.

He told me: "We want success on the playing field and to achieve this we need to ensure that the club has the best coaches and the best possible resources. Secondly we want to win the County Championship, and that will be a tough target. Thirdly we want to have the finest facilities for our loyal supporters here at the County Ground and we need a good wicket to play cricket on, and these all cost money."

He went on: "We have had a very successful start to the sponsorship campaign, and these are the first steps towards the club achieving financial independence, that doesn't rely upon the E.C.B. hand out."

He concluded: "Our attention is focussed upon helping to get the clubs assets in a position so they generate enough income to pay for the high quality players and staff and coaches needed to achieve our objectives. We have to set ourselves high targets for the solid financial management of the club and we must get the economics right to achieve this."

The Somerset Appeal Year gets underway on Friday April 4th with an opening lunch that will be held at the County Ground, when former Ciderman Roy Palmer, who is now a first class umpire will be the guest speaker.

Regarding the new chairman of the club Somerset chief executive Peter Anderson said: "The appointment of Giles Clarke and Andy Nash has provided us with a new direction. You can quite easily see why the pair of them have been successful in their business careers. They are ambitious and are connected with a lot of people who could be good for the club. They are risk takers and ruthless."

Mr Anderson continued: "From my own point of view I have always felt that I needed to keep a brake on the activities of the club because of the financial situation. We perhaps haven't always been as ambitious as we should have either on or off the field, and I must say that they have changed my attitude in certain areas.The most important thing that we do is play cricket and Giles and Andy Nash have made it very plain what the team and the coaches have to achieve."

He concluded; "Giles Clarke has been very busy in the corporate sector pushing the club's case that it could be a very valuable tool in their marketing strategy, and this is already having results."

The new chairman may have only been in post for a few months but in that short time he has already started to achieve a considerable amount for the club.He is well aware of tough task that lies ahead, but his undoubted enthusiasm for the game and for the county he holds so dear to his heart is clear to anybody who meets him.

If the response there has already been to recruiting Ian Botham to spearhead the 2003 is anything to go by Mr Clarke will be successful in achieving his aim of making Somerset a financially independent club and that will be of benefit to all concerned with cricket in the county.