by Faith Eckersall.
A Dorset sports club which made national headlines after adult cricket was suspended following complaints about safety is now hoping to reverse its decision after more than £30,000 was raised in less than a week for new netting.
The crowdfunder was launched by Colehill Cricket Club captain George Taylor after his petition to save adult cricket at the Wimborne Road ground, where it has been played for more than 100 years, gained more than 30,000 signatures in seven days.
The campaign also won support from England cricket stars Ben Stokes and Michael Vaughan, and TV personality Piers Morgan.
The crowdfunder appeal says: “As a result of the changing nature of cricket, spiralling costs of insurance and repairs of neighbouring properties, an idyllic and historical cricket ground was beginning to become too small for adult cricket.
“Costs were drawn up for extensive netting around the ground to ensure the safety of adult cricket but as a result of listed oak trees and the restrictions imposed upon netting in the proximity to them; this option came to in excess of £35,000.
“Simply unfeasible for a local social club run by volunteers to cover; it was decided adult cricket was to end at the ground.
“Upset at the decision, members of the team set up a petition to raise awareness of the plight of the cricket ground in the hope that the community may rally in support and change the position of the committee.”
Colehill Sports and Social Club, which runs the ground used by Colehill Cricket Club, said that the petition, plus crowd funding and offers of support: “Makes the resumption of adult cricket a realistic proposition.
“A significant number of these supporters are neighbours new and old along with cricketers past and present,” said the sports and social club.
“Combined with offers of support from both the ECB, the local parish council, and equipment providers makes the resumption of adult cricket a realistic proposition.”
It said that completion of the extended work would require further planning permission from the local authority, which both the committee and representatives from the adult playing sections were working together to achieve.
Mr Taylor said the petition had ‘exceeded all expectations’.
“The local community rallied together and demonstrated what adult cricket in the village meant to them.
“Neighbours previously unaware of just how valuable the cricket heritage of the village was to the community were given a clear insight into how much it meant. As a result, some have now come forward with sizeable offers to cover a portion of the cost of netting.”
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