We have less than two weeks to go until, all being well, we can open the Beer Garden. It is great to see tennis back already and I know everyone else can’t wait to get their sports back up and running. So, I thought it might be helpful to cover a few key points, particularly relating to the Clubhouse, the car park and the field.

Please do share this with all your members so everyone knows where we are at. Our plan has been shared with the licensing authority, the local council and the Met Police. All are supportive and we need everyone to play their part as bit by bit, some kind of reality returns:

BEER GARDEN

This will open on Monday 12th April at noon.

From then onwards, it will open at 3pm on weekdays and noon on weekends. We expect to close at 11pm. Please bear in mind this is a work in progress so timings may change once we see how busy we are. Don’t worry about the weather, we will have a marquee and if you want to ensure a seat, you are welcome to bring your own deckchairs or the like. Please remember that you must adhere to the following legal requirements on each table: the ‘rule of 6’ and a maximum mixing of two households.

Don’t forget each person MUST now register on entry, either by pen on paper or preferably by using the track and trace app. We have QR codes everywhere and the team will be happy to help. Failure to do this could result in us being fined and if so, any fine will be passed on to the member(s) involved.

CLUBHOUSE

This has to remain closed to members and guests until Monday 17th May earliest.

The only exception will be that the toilets will be open during the hours the beer garden operates. When entering the building, you must assume that you need to wear a mask. We are seeking clarity on that. Access to the loos is via the door on the field side only as we need to keep a one-way system in place. Please then exit the Clubhouse via the main door.

Collection of food orders will be from the upstairs balcony.

CAR PARK

All normal weekday regulations remain in place. If you want more than 3 hours parking in the main carpark, driveway or overflow car park next to the field, please follow the one-way system in the Clubhouse from 3pm to the touch pad terminal under the lobby stairs and input your registration there. Please then leave the Clubhouse by the front door. There are no parking restrictions on Saturdays and Sundays.

FIELD

The field remains closed until 12th April.

The exception are specific times on Saturday 3rd, Sunday 4th, Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th April for pre-arranged football matches ONLY. Players need to arrive ready, play and then leave after which the field will be secured. The 11th will be the end of the shortest soccer “season” ever and then the groundsman will get to work on taking down the goals, final preparation work on the cricket wickets and so on.

We then welcome back cricket. Access to the nets will be from 3pm on weekday afternoons from the 12th (to tie in with the field being unlocked and the beer garden being open) Use of the nets must be booked in advance with Cheam CC. The cricket season starts on 17th April so if you are in the beer garden, keep an eye on the ball and cheer on Cheam!

ALL SPORTS

Please make sure as a member you follow the specific guidance of your section. On behalf of everyone I would like to thank again all those volunteers who run their sports at Cheam and have put so much time and effort into getting sport back. I hope the weather will be with us and we all look forward to welcoming everyone back to Peaches Close.

We can do the space and the fresh air. Please don’t forget the hands and face is down to you. We’re nearly there!

All the best

Alan Rankin
Hon Chairman, Cheam Sports Club

PS Yes, let’s celebrate 101 years of Cheam Sports Club!