Cricket club finance for machinery, pitches and pavilions

A cricket club's income is concentrated in spring and summer. Subscriptions, match fees, junior coaching, the bar, teas, sponsorship and ground hire all come in during the season. The costs do not stop in September. End-of-season renovation of the square, machinery servicing, insurance, energy and rates all fall in the quiet months, and winter is when most clubs plan their capital projects.

Many clubs rely heavily on a volunteer groundsman and a small committee. Lenders know this, and they look for a clear plan for how the club will run and maintain whatever it borrows to pay for.

• Square renovation, drainage, irrigation and outfield work
• Mowers, rollers, scarifiers and other ground machinery
• Covers, sightscreens and scoreboards
• Non-turf pitches and practice nets
• Bowling machines and indoor training equipment
• Pavilion refurbishment, changing rooms and accessible facilities
• Solar panels, LED lighting and energy efficiency work
• Buying the ground or a neighbouring field

The England and Wales Cricket Trust, a charitable body linked to the ECB, runs the Interest Free Loan Scheme for ECB affiliated clubs and certain other organisations that deliver its charitable aims. It supports capital projects including pavilions and changing rooms, fine turf and outfield work, equipment such as covers and scoreboards, non-turf facilities, sustainability work and land purchase for cricket. Clubs are expected to contribute part of the cost themselves, and limits depend on the type of club. Check the current guidance with the ECB or your county cricket board before applying. Commercial finance can often sit alongside a scheme loan for the balance or for items it does not cover.

Sport England and the other national sports councils also run funds for community projects, and many county boards publish local funding information.

Many cricket clubs are unincorporated, with the ground held by trustees. That means commercial borrowing is usually arranged with trustees or committee members as borrowers, and fewer lenders will consider it. Clubs that are companies limited by guarantee or community benefit societies can borrow in their own name. A club registered as a community amateur sports club must follow HMRC's CASC rules, including how its assets are used if it is wound up, which can affect what security it can offer.

A washed-out season cuts bar and match income, but finance payments continue. Some asset finance lenders can set seasonal payment profiles, which is worth asking about early. Match the term to the life of what you are buying, so a mower is paid off well before it needs replacing. Trustees should understand their personal exposure before they sign; see our guide to personal guarantees.