Case in point, relating to you phantom, how would you have rated Enfield in churches v how youd rate it now? I'd say you were an average club in churches but id now rate you post 2015 (or whatever year it was) as the most successful club to come out of churches, and thats based on the off field efforts from yourself and others like you at Enfield. Youve built a strong club albeit not as successful on field as youd like.
Interesting, but also depends on what you class as successful.
The key with Enfield over the years is they've always had a reasonable player base and multiple sides. So when the going got tough and players retired or left, and the club dropped sides, still kept multiple sides going. This I believe is the main reason we have been able to survive whilst other CCCA clubs perhaps did not.
This is why I believe it's potentially dangerous gifting entry to new clubs built up from a group of mate - very rarely is it a sustainable model.. once a few lads leave you're left with half a side - can't downsize, can only disappear.
Build big clubs with multiple sides - even if you cap it at say 4x senior sides per club - and build a strong sustainable competition... or... Run outdoor cricket the same as indoor cricket, let people nominate and enter sides into competitions on a season by season basis and just create fixtures from there.
The suggestion that new arrivals may not feel comfortable in going to a structured club is semi valid. Sometimes you've just got to have a crack, and there are examples of clubs who have accommodated or managed to "integrate" them in well - North Pines, Enfield, Gepps Cross, Woodville, Kilburn - few names that pop into mind.
Perhaps associations - or SACA - should be working closer with clubs in that community to facilitate these new sides into their club, and perhaps some leniency with allowing them to play together until they're comfortable in the club? I remember reading an example of this with the Norwood (i think) Volleyball Club where they took in a side made up of Afghans who played together for a year and in the second year, after they become comfortable in the environment, they would be selected on merit. Perhaps a good process to follow.
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