Relocation can be daunting enough when it’s by choice and you’re just one family; leaving and needing to find a new home for an entire cricket club takes it to another level. That was the task facing Uttoxeter Cricket Club when they found out that their lease was not going to be renewed.
The search for a new ground was neither swift nor easy; but the solution did come from somewhere close by. Just four miles down the road the village of Marchington offered a glimmer of hope. “The village club had disbanded in the early 2000s,” says James Burton, head of fundraising at Uttoxeter, who led the committee overseeing the move. “There had been a little bit of cricket in the intervening period, but there hadn’t been a permanent club for about 15 years.”
The ground was in a state of disrepair, and investment was clearly needed to give the ground “a radical facelift”, says Burton – so when Staffordshire Cricket Board and NatWest CricketForce, among others, stepped in to help, the sense of relief was huge. “Staffs cricket and the ECB putting faith in us – that was massive. It felt like some value was seen in our vision,” he says.
CricketForce, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) initiative with long-time cricket supporter NatWest, helps community clubs upgrade their facilities, making it easier for communities to enjoy a huge summer of cricket.
“The building work started in around October last year, so it was a real race against time to get ready for the new season,” says Burton. The club’s first game was scheduled for 20 April 2019.
Ensuring that deadline was met – and adding a bit of excitement to the proceedings – were England cricketers Chris Woakes and Danielle Wyatt, who joined an army of volunteers mucking in with CricketForce.
“CricketForce has been massive for us,” says Burton. “The number of people there from the village was phenomenal. People who we’d never even met came and supported us and gave their time generously.
“Chris and Danielle were brilliant. Everything we asked of them, endless photographs, autographs, you name it. They were getting stuck in.
“It was lucky some of our juniors weren’t at school that day. It was a great chance to meet their heroes.”
With the work completed, Uttoxeter were ready for their first game. As too were the locals. Starved of cricket since the early 2000s, many returned to the ground, keen to hear the crack of leather on willow.
“We’ve got a community,” says Burton. “We’ve got somewhere we know is home, and we’re starting to put structures in place and build on all the hard work that has gone before.
“Unfortunately, there was no possibility of renewing our lease at [Uttoxeter] racecourse. But we’re obviously very happy to be where we are now. We’re looking forward.”
And the club is seeing benefits beyond the increase in spectators. New players have joined both the adult and children’s teams, and the club has increased in size overall. “A number of adults have made their debut this season and we’ve got a number of juniors who have joined us too,” says Burton. “Previously they wouldn’t have found out about Uttoxeter Cricket Club.”
“We go all the way up to under-13s now, whereas previously it was only under-eights,” adds Burton, who is also one of the junior coordinators at Uttoxeter.
He is particularly proud of the fact that some of the under-13s have made their debut in the second team this season. “That, for us – the fact the youngsters are integrating in the club, mixing with senior players – has been the big payoff,” he says.
As with any move, particularly in sport, a difficult adjustment period is almost inevitable, however – and Uttoxeter hasn’t been immune to this. “The first and second teams are both in the relegation zones at the moment, and our under-11s have played two and lost two. But the under-13s, at least, are top of the league.”
However, with the success of the club’s off-the-field move undeniable, Burton is glad the attention can finally be on the sport: “It’s almost like cricket can start being the focus now. We’re here and this is now the beginning. The new challenge is starting.”
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