Essex County Cricket Club is delighted to refute the Observer’s claim of a coffee shortage at The Ford County Ground.

Reporting for the Sunday newspaper on day two of the Tourist Match between Essex and New Zealand, Will Buckley suggested ‘you cannot even get a coffee for love or loose change’ at our Chelmsford headquarters.

We can confirm it is certainly possible to get a cup of coffee for ‘loose change’ - if not necessarily ‘love’ - on all matchdays at The Ford County Ground.

Furthermore, facilities are available to media, admin and playing staff to take advantage of free coffee AND tea provisions – albeit without a maid service on-hand.

Essex County Cricket Club First-Team Coach Paul Grayson told the Essex CCC website:

“I am pleased to confirm I enjoyed at least two mugs of coffee – made by my own fair hands – on Saturday and also saw several players and spectators taking advantage of a variety of hot beverages.”

In addition, against Mr Buckley’s wishes, we are also hoping ‘nondescript Chelmsford’ will ‘survive the restructuring of the game’.

Essex County Cricket Club’s General Committee have signed off on the design of a new pavilion, cricket centre, media centre and other related facilities as part of a ground redevelopment which we hope will have been completed in time for the 2011 season.

Further information on which will be announced towards the end of May.

CLICK HERE for the offending article:

To send your thoughts to the Observer, you can email their letters’ page here:letters@guardian.co.uk

Or write to their sports editor:
football.editor@guardianunlimited.co.uk