Suffolk County Cricket Board

Dear Parents and Players

With the 3 year contract with Samurai expiring at the end of September 2010 our early meetings with them centred on the feedback we had received from the SCB community over the past 3 years.

• Availability – with only one order per year being placed due to the bespoke product we held zero stock and ability to obtain one off items wasn’t there.
• Cost - – although good quality product you have always commented that it was at the top end of the sports goods market and this is an item we wanted to address.
• Style – the feedback was that the all maroon look for SYC was a bold style so the request was to soften with navy.
• Admin – the entire ordering process was reliant on volunteers who no longer could dedicate the time this process needed.

It became clear early on that Samurai as a manufacturer could only deal with us directly if we placed orders of 12 or more per item and then waited the 8-10 weeks for delivery. They couldn’t hold stock or offer a direct ordering service. Therefore, to remain with Samurai we would have to deal with a reseller of their goods based in Hertford who could hold stock, host a web shop for us and deal direct with the players. This fitted all our criteria above exc – cost, obviously the reseller wanted a margin to provide such a service which meant a 20% increase on our prices.

At this point we met providers of other clothing brands in and out of the cricket arena of which one was Touchline. Touchline is a leading UK teamwear supplier to many sporting organisations and who fortunately are  based in Stowmarket. Within cricket Touchline are the licensed regional supplier for Surridge who are the leading cricket brand in the UK supplying clothing and equipment to many first class counties.

With a very appealing sponsorship package and product support from Surridge Touchline could offer all the above, a reduced cost of items, stock holding of product, a standard style product which has been agreed they will hold for 3 years and a web shop for internet ordering, telephone ordering and the ability to go into their shop and try on products for size and a collection service.

Therefore, we are delighted to announce a 4 year deal has been agreed with The Touchline Group based in Stowmarket. A new range of Surridge product has been agreed upon for training, leisure and playing wear based upon navy and white for leisure and training and the white playing gear piped with the traditional Suffolk maroon.
We appreciate that a change is difficult as the clothing can become expensive, but we couldn’t increase prices and in fact we felt we had to reduce them which this new agreement allows us to do.

Training shirt was £22.50 now £15.45
Polo Shirt was £22.50 now £15.95
Hoody was £33.54 now £27.95
Playing Shirt was £26.40 now £23.95

Additionally you can place orders via the web by following the link on our home page or call and pay for your order over the telephone. As above there will also be a sample range for sizing if required at the Touchline offices in Stowmarket!

This is very much a win win for all concerned and we know you will find the product of excellent quality at an attractive cost and better still sourced locally in Suffolk.

We are all looking forward to seeing everyone in their new kit and we thank Touchline for their generous sponsorship and support to date and here’s to a successful 4 years on and off the field.

Thanks go to Samurai for supplying our clothing over the last 3 years.

The links for the New On-Line Store are now available:

Suffolk Youth Cricket - http://www.touchline-group.co.uk/schools/products.php?schoolid=88

Suffolk District Cricket - http://www.touchline-group.co.uk/schools/products.php?schoolid=90

*Suffolk Ladies 1st XI Cricket -  http://www.touchline-group.co.uk/schools/products.php?schoolid=92

Please note: County & the new District clothing kit are for County & District squad players only.  All orders will be checked against squad lists to validate your order.