Support for Newbury Cricket Club after nets torched
International cricketer among sympathisers
An international Test cricketer is among those who have sent Newbury Cricket Club messages of support after arsonists torched the club’s practice nets on Monday evening, causing an estimated £10,000 damage.
Upon hearing the news, former Australian Test cricketer Marcus North joined hundreds of other people on social media expressing their anger and Tweeted “Disgusting”, adding that “Hopefully local council @West Berkshire will step in and help recovery.”
His words were among a host of messages of support and help that poured in from cricket fans in local schools and local cricket clubs, such as East Woodhay and Thatcham.
Showing true team spirit, the club has vowed to rebuild its facilities, after a blaze at the Northcroft Lane cricket club at 6.30pm on Monday evening, to which a crew from Newbury Fire Station was called.
Club secretary Paul Monger said that club members were devastated at the loss, estimated at £10,000.
This was after £18,000 had been raised in years of fund-raising by club members to pay for the two practice nets and concrete bases. Both nets were destroyed in the fires.
“We are all very angry,” said Mr Monger. “It was our practice facility, so we have nowhere for our three junior teams to play, and none of the seniors can practise.”
He said that the club had suffered repeated vandalism over recent years, including to the clubhouse, whose roof vandals had kicked in, before jumping down and snatching alcohol from the bar and making off through the door, as the alarm sounded.
“We have had to mend the roof eight times in one year,” added Mr Monger, who said the fire was the worst incident he had seen in his 20 years at the club.
Echoing his comments, first- team captain, Kevin Mills, said it was the worst incident he had experienced at the club, and its insurance premium was al-ready escalating as a result of vandalism.
Practice sessions were a social activity involving juniors and parents after school and at weekends and which they had been enjoying “ever since the sun came out,” said Mr Mills. “It’s devastating for them.”
With a friendly match scheduled on Saturday and indoor practice nets at Newbury College’s facilities only available for a couple more weeks, the practice nets would have been in constant use until September 1.
The club is hoping to set up an appeal via a Jusgiving site, but welcomes donations in the interim.
Thames Valley Police, who are investigating the incident following house-to-house enq-uiries in the club house’s immediate area, have appealed for witnesses, who should contact them via the non-emergency 101 telephone number.
