The Cricket Journal of Geoffrey Webb

Commentary on the Leicestershire years, 1933-39 by Richard Holdridge (Honorary Archivist, Leicestershire County Cricket Club) Leicestershire County Cricket Club in 1933 The Cricket club that Geoffrey Webb joined in May 1933 was going through troubled times. With most of their income derived directly from gate and membership receipts, county cricket clubs were hit hard by three successive poor summers. In fact Leicestershire had a reasonable (for them) playing season in 1932, finishing 12th, but they still lost £2,220 which, added to the loss of £2,451 suffered in 1931, left them in a parlous position. On the 23rd November 1932 the club convened a special meeting of members. There was only one item on the agenda; for member to consider the advisability of carrying on the club. This they agreed to do with the various promises to raise money and convene working parties. The meeting of Leicester cricket clubs reported on by Howard Clark produced some interesting suggestions. These were: - the club should appoint a permanent captain (amateur or professional) (Six amateurs had led the team at various times in 1932); - there should be an Honorary Secretary who would attend county functions; - there should be less evening matches; - there should be more practice facilities for members; - there should be a regular pavilion attendant; - the sports club subscriptions should not be so high; - the seats should not be dusty. They were interesting suggestions in that most of them could be seen to reflect on the club secretary, S. C. Packer, and as a result he resigned, giving three months notice. Packer had been an innovative secretary in his time and amongst other things was credited with the development of pitch covering used by most county cricket grounds. His resignation whilst still less than 60 years old was accompanied by little ceremony though he had been with the club for over 22 years. In the year or so after his departure he contacted the club twice: firstly concerning commission on sums raised for the club, and a little later for expenses incurred by him when raising money for the club. Both claims were summarily dismissed. Packer’s last comment in the minutes of the meeting dated 19th April, 1933 states ‘because of the delays the secretary could not be held responsible for the dispatch of particulars only decided upon this day’, so it was not a happy departure. He was paid for the month of May even though he did not work during that month and he did not offer to hand over or explain the detailed way in which the club worked. The type-written minute of the General Committee meeting of 12th April shows that Geoffrey Webb’s predecessor was not present at his interview. Three men had been selected out of over 50 applicants, with the entire general committee conducting the interview: nineteen out of a possible 25 members attended. The two other candidates were Major A. C. G. Luther (formerly secretary of Berkshire) and a Mr. H. Knott, and there was a vote to decide who should become secretary. Lt. Col. E. C. Packe, who with A.T. Sharp was Joint Honorary Secretary, wrote the offer letter (pages 103 and 103A). Webb’s salary at £300 p.a. was substantially less than the £450 paid to Packer. Though the offer letter does not mention this, he was apparently recruited as a Secretary Coach. The club had resigned from the Minor Counties Championship as an economy measure earlier on in 1933, but was maybe already thinking that this was a mistake and the development of young cricketers was something that they could not ignore. There was a great deal of good will shown to the new secretary (page 104) . At the first meeting of the general committee he got approved a salary increase for his assistant, Mr. Harding and also for the groundsman. He managed to get Alan Shipman’s benefit extended to 31 December 1934 to allow for extra funds to be raised. Everyone seemed to appreciate the new face in charge.