Redevelopment of Newbury Cricket Club clubhouse, at Northcroft Park, has begun after Greenham Trust match funding

After a huge fundraising drive earlier this year, Newbury Cricket Club has secured enough money to begin redeveloping its clubhouse.

Work began on the project, which will see a huge transformation of the Northcroft Park facility, on Monday.

The club has been based at Northcroft since 1947 and the improvements will enable it to provide for current junior and senior members, as well as creating a legacy for future generations of cricketers.

Paul Monger, secretary of the club, said: “Newbury Cricket Club are delighted that their fundraising efforts have been so successful that they have now commenced work on their clubhouse redevelopment.

“Newbury CC would like to thank Nick Carter and his team at West Berkshire Council for the help and support in getting this project through the various processes required; the Greenham Trust for the matched funding; and the Good Exchange platform which has facilitated the fundraising.

“The club would also like to thank its many sponsors, as it has received hundreds of grants and donations from individuals and businesses to enable the redevelopment to take place.

“The purpose of the redevelopment is to provide a sustainable future for the club, which now has more senior and junior members than at any point in the history of the club and history shows that the junior members of today will be the senior members of the future.

“Our current 1st and 2nd team captains have both come through the junior section, so having a building which is more pleasing to the eye, but more importantly safe and secure for the future really means that the club will be around for years to come and for future generations of cricketers in Newbury.”

The main changes to the clubhouse will include a replacement pitched roof, a new kitchen extension, new windows and shutters, refurbishment of the changing rooms and toilets, a complete electrical overhaul and new flooring throughout.

The project will also see a local charity partnering with the club to use the facilities throughout the week.

The work is expected to be completed in four phases and will also include improvements to the car park.

Mr Monger said that there would be slight disruption to the cricket at Northcroft over the summer as the clubhouse is now out of action until at least the end of the season.

But he praised the district council for allowing the club to store vital equipment and use the toilets and kitchen in the football changing rooms nearby while the work was ongoing.

For more information about the redevelopment, or the cricket club, you can email newburycricketclub@googlegroups.com