£38,000 grant for cricket club

GRAPPENHALL Cricket Club has won a £38,000 grant to enable it to replace the existing outfield at their Broad Lane ground.
The club – which fields three senior teams in the Vivio Cheshire County League ECB premier division, has obtained the money through Sport England’s “Protecting Playing Fields” fund.
The Broad Lane outfield has deteriorated over a number of years due to disease and wear and tear and is no longer the flat, lush green surface it used to be many years ago.
But it is hoped the new outfield can be in place for the start of the 2015 season. Work will start as soon as the current season ends in mid-September.
The existing grass will be removed to a depth of 25mm and additional drainage will be installed. The outfield will then be levelled and re-seeded to hopefully dramatically improve the existing diseased outfield and inadequate drainage was has led to numerous matches and training sessions being cancelled in the last few years.
A club spokesman said: “The committee are delighted with the award and would like to thank Sport England for their help throughout the process and for recognising our need.
“These works will help to safeguard the future of the club and allow our junior and senior players to play cricket on a top quality playing surface.”