CLUB WEEK: Water bills, freak accidents and road names

The Cricketer rounds up some of the more unusual stories of the past seven days from across the local cricket scene...

^{The Authors Cricket Team, pictured at Lord's}

Huge water bill sinks Nelson CC

Lancashire-based outfit Nelson Cricket Club have been hit by an unknown water leak which has led to the club facing a huge water bill.

After a leak was discovered next to the cricket ground in an old hut of the disused bowling green last year, Nelson now must front a £6,000 bill.

The situation first came to the club’s attention in September of last year when it received a bill for £12,000 from water company United Utilities.

Given that the bill could have serious consequences for the long-term health of the club, officials negotiated with United Utilities and, after seeking help from the Consumer Council for Water, an independent ombudsman, the bill has been reduced by half to £6,000.

Speaking to the Burnley Express, club chairman David Heap outlined: “We are relieved that the bill has been reduced but it is still a huge burden for us, which will impact on what we can do as a club across all sectors.

Whitchurch’s future looking up

After facing bankruptcy and an absence of playing members, Whitchurch Cricket Club have enjoyed a hugely positive season that has promised a brighter future for the 241 year old institution.

In June, almost 60 young players’ ages between five and 16-years-old turned out for the club’s junior cricket taster day, organised in order to secure a fresh intake of players.

Martyn Dancer, club captain, told Basingstoke Gazette: “Just a few months ago, we doubted the club would survive another season and here we are with Whitchurch’s future cricketing stars.”

Following the success, a further taster day was held last week while 17 female cricketers have joined up for practice sessions and sponsorship has been secured from Whitchurch-based company BM Injection. The club continues to rebuild and go from strength to strength.

New chapter for authors

The Authors Cricket Club, comprising of several illustrious writers, are set to swap their desks for the cricket field in aid of the ‘Save our Suffolk Estuary’ campaign.

The club are set to play a Suffolk fundraising match as part of The Alde and Ore Estuary Trust’s £12million flood defence campaign.

On September 2 The Authors Club, whose players include Sebastian Faulks, Tom Holland, Richard Beard, Anthony McGowan and captain Charlie Campbell, are set to take on Sudbourne Hall Cricket Club to raise funds for the estuary.

The estuary campaign, which launched last year, looks to raise £12million to upgrade the Alde and Ore estuary flood defences. The estuary is of major importance to the local economy, particularly through its tourism.

£12m is the estimate needed for upgrading the river defences, with £5m needed to be raised through donations, applications to charitable foundations and local businesses.

Here’s hoping the match will raise a substantial amount.

Freak accident

After being hit in the back of a head by a cricket ball on Sidmouth seafront, an elderly lady required 14 stitches in a traumatic episode.

80-year-old Barbara Tummey was visiting the town on a coach trip when the unfortunate incident occurred last Monday.

Tummey told Sidmouth Herald: “I was sat on a bench looking out to sea with my daughter when a cricket ball came over the wall and a man caught it and threw it back. My daughter said ‘it is a good job it didn’t hit anyone on the head’.

“We were sat waiting and then there was a whack. It hit my head with such a crack my daughter thought it had hit a wall. I put my hand up straight away and could feel the dent on the back of my head and the blood which started to pour down my arm, soaking my shirt. The cricketers were very good and first aider Will was fantastic.

“I can’t praise the cricket club enough – they were wonderful in helping me, really brilliant. They couldn’t have done more if they tried.

“I had between 10 and 14 stitches – they couldn’t say how many exactly because I had a doctor on each side, sewing away. The doctors said they could lift up part of my scalp and could see my skull underneath which wasn’t fractured thankfully, so I didn’t have to have a scan.”

Chairman of the Sidmouth Cricket and Croquet Club, Neil Gamble, said an application to install netting had been rejected by East Devon District Council as it wasn’t in keeping with the area.

Namesake

Something a little more positive to round off. In Horsford, a road on a proposed 84-home estate may be named after a well-known village cricketer who died in 2016.

Cripps Developments Ltd was granted outline planning permission to build on land west of Holt Road in February this year. Now, a detailed site application has revealed how the street could be named after the late Horsford Cricket Club chairman, Steve Read.

The 63-year-old, who was a well-known name in Norfolk’s cricket community and managing director of local timber merchants Read Brothers Ltd, died two years ago following a battle with cancer.

The application requests the road name “Steve Read Way”, or a variation with either “Close” or “Park” in the title.

The application stated: “Steve’s popularity has been widely displayed in the many thousands of pounds donated to Cancer Research in his name.”

More than £10,280 was donated to the charity following his death. For all that he did, we hope the road name is accepted and cherished.

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