To fans of Hampshire Cricket,

This marks my final message to you as Chair of Hampshire Cricket, as I retire from the position at the end of the month.

Reflecting on my 23 years of tenure, it is extraordinary to see how far we have come and how much cricket has changed. I wonder if any of us, in 2000, could have predicted the advent of Twenty20 in 2003, let alone the Hundred nearly 20 years later! Who would have thought that we would have enjoyed the sustained wizardry and inspirational leadership of Shane Warne in the late noughties?

On the field, our Men’s teams have entertained us superbly over the years, reaching sixteen Finals/Finals Days, winning eight trophies and becoming the most successful team in domestic T20 cricket. While the County Championship has remained elusive, we have consistently been in the mix and I am confident the squad is well set to continue challenging for that title in the coming years.

The belated advent and growth of professional women’s cricket has brought a new energy to the sport. Our very own Southern Vipers have been at the forefront of this change and we have made astonishing progress in a very short time. I am immensely proud of how we have led the way and am looking forward to continuing to pioneer the development of the sport as Chair of the Vipers, as we plan for long-term sustainability.

The move to the Rose Bowl (as it was known then) between 2000 and 2001 was far from straightforward but I was rapidly made aware of the amazing and enduring commitment of our staff and management. Almost without exception, the people who I have encountered while fulfilling this role have shown a collective team spirit and commitment to our mission way beyond any reasonable expectation.

Back in 2000, the idea of an Ashes Test Match at the Rose Bowl had not even occurred to me. In 2005, our Business Plan, “Beyond First Class”, projected international and Test Match cricket at the ground. We quickly established the venue’s international credentials and the hosting of the ultimate Test Match became a dream which grew into a plan, a proposal, a claim and, ultimately, a demand. In fact, over the past two or three years, hosting an Ashes Test Match at the Utilita Bowl had developed into something of an obsession for me. The award of this fixture in 2027 has really fulfilled everything that I set out to achieve and a great deal besides.

It is therefore a good time to stand down and pass on the best job in the Country to my understudy and successor, Nick Pike, who I know will do a fantastic job for the Club. Nick has been with me at this Club since we restructured in 2000. He is a shareholder, has been a director since the start and, indeed, acted Managing Director from 2002-2005. He knows the business inside out and will serve you well for the next 3 years.

There are so many people to thank as I now step down. I have received brilliant support throughout my time by the Hampshire teams and their support and management staff. There have been countless heroes both on and off the field and I will ensure that I find an appropriate way to thank them all.

However, the purpose of this letter, is to say thank you to you, our Members and supporters, for your unbelievable support and loyalty throughout a period which has seen huge change within the game we all love. I fully recognise that not all of these changes have appealed to everybody and not every decision we have taken has been universally popular. However, throughout everything, I have always tried to do the best thing for the game, present or future, and you have always afforded me courtesy, respect and warmth. I am deeply grateful for this and will retain a great affection for you all into my partial retirement.

Finally, and importantly, although I am stepping down, I am not leaving. I have an important role now to make sure that our plans for the Ashes ’27 are underpinned by long-term financial security. I promised at the outset that Hampshire Cricket will never again be threatened by insolvency and I intend to fulfil this commitment before I put my feet up.

I look forward to seeing you around the ground from time to time and celebrating future Hampshire success with you all. Meanwhile, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you, and all those close to you, a merry and peaceful Christmas and a very happy New Year.

With warmest regards,

Rod Bransgrove