So, let’s not beat around the bush. Today, I humbly offer congratulations to Somerset Cricket Club and all of their supporters.

Whether viewing it on television, streaming it online, listening on radio or watching it front and centre, it was obvious by the close of play on Thursday that the cup was not going to be heading home to the East.

There will be countless amounts of post mortems as to what went wrong for the men in blue and blue or what went right for the gents in red and blue.

As such, I won’t even attempt to give a Sir Garfield Sobers-like opinion at this juncture in time.

What I will say is this, it is clear as day that our cricket on a national level is in need of our young men to raise standards in many regards.

Be it deportment on or off the field, dedication to overall fitness or seeking regional exposure, we, as a country, have to come to the realisation that if we want our National game to be raised at all levels, we can no longer allow mediocrity to be the accepted norm.

To my fellow long sufferers who wear blue and blue. Again, we walked away disappointed, upset, downright angry or all of the above.

Being completely honest with ourselves, ours is a heavy load to lift for the next few years.

What we have to decide individually and collectively is that we must not be fair weather fans or stop showing the support needed.

After the last ball is bowled and stumps are pulled, both clubs have to continue to keep their doors open and grounds maintained all year round.

Just as we want to see better from our team on the field, they, the clubs, need to see better from us, the supporters.

Supporters, all supporters, need to become both financial and active members.

This is how our clubs will survive and become what they truly should become.

Without the support of us as a people, our clubs will face two realities to survive:

• Relying on bar sales

• Relying on government grants

Workmen’s clubs and community clubs are an integral part of the history and fabric of our society, and we simply cannot allow them to fail.

After all, how else will we get our cup back home to the East where it rightfully belongs?

• Christopher Famous is the government MP for Devonshire East (Constituency 11). You can reach him at WhatsApp on 599-0901 or e-mail at cfamous@plp.bm