DUNMOW Cricket Club has been forced to drop its third team for financial reasons after last season’s schedule was decimated by the weather.

“In short the club’s financial situation is not good,” said Matt Gibson, the club’s honorary secretary, having seen an unusually large amount of games cancelled last year due to the wettest summer on record.

“Our main income generator – playing cricket – was severely affected. Plus adult membership dropped so we were unable to fulfil all the fixtures of the third team.

“We made some tough decisions over the winter, including not entering a third team for the forthcoming season.”

Rather than sit back and complain about the situation thrust upon them, the committee has launched a recruitment drive in a bid to reinstate the third team for the 2014 season, and possibly add more in the future.

Gibson added the club is hoping its pedigree with attract new players.

“Despite the problems we faced last year the club’s top teams did very well,” he said.

“The first team secured sixth place in the Two Counties Division Two – a high standard of cricket not always recognised as far west as we are, which feeds the East Anglian Premier League.

“And the seconds were promoted to Division One of the Herts and Essex League for the first time in the club’s history.”

Gibson added that the club is not just looking to add more senior players to Dunmow Cricket Club, which is an ECB Focus Club and holds the Club Mark Award for its contribution to youth cricket.

“Our commitment to junior cricket has been supported by the ECB, whose grant support allows us to offer coaching facilities that are second to none in the area.

“Our talented youngsters are actively encouraged to realise their potential through nomination to progress into representative cricket, where our young protégées have enjoyed great success at both district and county level.”

If you are interested in playing for Dunmow CC, visit dunmowcricketclub.co.uk. Net sessions currently take place at the County Ground in Chelmsford on a Tuesday evening between 9-10pm.