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    Chief Executive On Somerset Washout

    14 June 2012

    Tom Richardson shared the disappointment of spectators as the eagerly-awaited opening Friends Life t20 game against arch-rivals Somerset at Bristol was abandoned without a ball bowled.

    Umpires Nigel Cowley and Mark Benson ruled out any prospect of play after a 6pm pitch inspection. Rain had set in three hours earlier and the outfield was saturated.

    Gloucestershire's chief executive made it clear that, while the club were insured against the game being called off, it was still a bitterly disappointing outcome.

    Tom told this website: "There is not a short term problem financially because we insure these games, but in the longer term the damage can be serious.

    "If you look at the corresponding fixture last season, we had good weather, a packed crowd and we won so spectators had a really good experience and wanted to come again.

    "Now we have lost that benefit this season. We hope that most of the people who bought tickets will convert them for another game, but this is our biggest fixture of the year domestically and we desperately want it to be a showpiece.

    "Spectators who bought tickets have 30 days in which to either change them for another match or get their money back. In either case they can phone the club or come to the ground.

    "We will lose a certain amount of the catering receipts we could have expected because even those people who came have not stayed through the evening. So it is all very frustrating.

    "Because of fears about the weather very few people bought tickets over the the last week, whereas last year a vast number did. Yes there is insurance, but it is still a major disappointment that such an attractive event did not go ahead."

    As no play was possible, ticket holders can exchange their tickets for another Gloucestershire match or request a refund.  Please see our terms and conditions here for more information.

    The next Friends Life t20 match due to be played at the County Ground, Bristol is on Friday 22 June when Gloucestershire host Northamptonshire.

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