Category: Cricket

Horsmonden CC 313-4 of 40 overs (Jon Garner 45, Max Melbourn 81, Dougie Gartshaw 53, Timothy Walford 40*) beat Speldhurst 93 of 25.5 overs (Ejas Deane 34, Max Garner 6.5-0-32-4, Dougie Gartshaw 6-1-10-3) by 220 runs 

 This match showed the difference between the leader of the division and us lower down the league. They just put us in our place and showed why they are top and looking to go up as champions. P Roche bowled an excellent spell, but every other bowler was taken on as they cruised past 300. Ejas gave us a great start, but after his wicket fell, our skipper Chris hung around to make 27.  I managed to make a couple unbeaten.  

 Now battle for us to try and stay up as we have dropped into the relegation zone after this defeat. 

Feedback from my email to the Oval. 

“Dear Michael, 

Thank you for contacting The Kia Oval, the proud home of Surrey County Cricket Club. 

I was concerned to learn about the condition of the seating area around you, and the delay in the cleaning team attending. 

Our housekeeping clean bowl after each match day, which makes this situation more concerning and has been raised with our facilities team who are responsible for overseeing this. You spoke to me at the Pavilion Reception, and I came over to observe the situation. I noted that the stewards in the area did report this at the time, however, I appreciate your concerns about the length of time this took to resolve, and we will ensure that where there are issues, this is rectified more quickly going forward. 

I also note your comments on the toilet facilities at the close of play. These are monitored throughout the day and going forward we will be checking our facilities towards the end of play. 

We have multiple vendors open throughout the Oval to help combat queue length, and I do personally find that queues do tend to be shorter at the Vauxhall end of the ground. Due to the limited concourse space, there isn’t the option to have more vendors open than we currently have, however, we are always looking to speed up service and changes were made prior to the start of the season to help with flow and queues. 

We appreciate the time you have taken to contact us on this occasion, and we will ensure action is taken to rectify these issues prevent a similar situation in the future. 

Should you have any other comments or queries, please do not hesitate to let me know, otherwise we look forward to welcoming you back to the Kia Oval soon. 

Kind regards, 

Jasveer Singh 

Supporter Services Manager” 

I thought it was great service to hear back from the person that dealt with the issue at the ground. 

I filled in the survey but also sent this email in about the day’s events. 

“Subject: Day 4 

Good morning. 

£140 seats, how would you like to arrive and see this? 

Thankfully this was not my seat, but the row behind, then looking around the area, I would say the cleaners just didn’t bother the evening before and from discussing with the stewards (who were brilliant throughout the whole day) said this was the second day in a row the ground was like this. 

Yes, it can’t be nice cleaning up after people and late too, as day 3 was a late finish, but you’re paying this company to do a job, I think you need to seriously need to investigate your contract with them. 

It was reasonable handled on the day, as well as reporting it online (which I had a call back, but after the issue had been sorted, the lady did apologise), I went around to the pavilion to report it as well. Which I’m glad I did as I have no idea when this would have been resolved, as it took an hour for the cleaning team to arrive is quite staggering, even with everyone chasing the situation. 

At close of play, I went to the toilets, I felt I was in a third world with the condition of the facilities, not sure what had gone on during the day, as they weren’t as bad as this when I went in the afternoon. 

I reported this in 2023 after a day at the WTC final. 

The ground cannot cope with a sell-out. It’s all well and good building upwards with more seating, but the ground level is still the same, add in all the food trucks and stuff, you’re reducing the area even more. 

I refuse to go down at lunch and tea time after the experience in 2023, and even going down at 2:40pm an hour into the afternoon session on the 3rd Aug, there were long queues for certain foods and drink and a couple of areas where you had to force your way through and I’m over 6 foot tall. 

I enjoy coming to the Oval, but on a sell-out it’s not fun anymore. 

I have filled out the survey, but I just wanted to highlight these issues. 

Regards 

Michael” 

Well see how they respond.