Bashley (Rydal) has been named as having the ECB British Gas Southern Cricket League’s top ground.
The New Forest club received the highest overall marks out of the 33 recreational grounds used in the Premier League this season.
The award of the George Winkles Memorial Trophy climaxes a five-year project to redevelop the BCG, which began with a new balcony on the main pavilion and extending the footprint of the building in 2011.
“London 2012 then became the catalyst for further developments by providing significant funding via Sport England’s Olympic Legacy funds,” explained delighted Bashley chairman John Neal.
Over the winter of 2012/13, the main pavilion was completely refurbished and then, as soon as the 2014 season finished, the main ground was dug up and re-laid and the adjoining Nursery Ground extended to make room for a new grass square.
In May 2015 a new wooden pavilion was built for the Nursery Ground and an electronic scoreboard erected on the boundary of the main square.
Mr Neal explained that: “With club members doing as much of the work as possible the whole project was completed for just £200k.”
Just over half of the cost was funded by Sport England and a third from fund raising events, with the remainder from other sources, like Hampshire County Council, New Milton Town Council, The Big Lottery and the England & Wales Cricket Trust.
“The benefits are now being realised with the club’s third team able to play their games at the club, Hinton Admiral CC using the nursery pitch (following eviction from their own ground), and the club hosting Dorset Minor Counties Championship cricket,” Mr Neal added.
The New Forest club received the highest overall marks out of the 33 recreational grounds used in the Premier League this season.
The award of the George Winkles Memorial Trophy climaxes a five-year project to redevelop the BCG, which began with a new balcony on the main pavilion and extending the footprint of the building in 2011.
“London 2012 then became the catalyst for further developments by providing significant funding via Sport England’s Olympic Legacy funds,” explained delighted Bashley chairman John Neal.
Over the winter of 2012/13, the main pavilion was completely refurbished and then, as soon as the 2014 season finished, the main ground was dug up and re-laid and the adjoining Nursery Ground extended to make room for a new grass square.
In May 2015 a new wooden pavilion was built for the Nursery Ground and an electronic scoreboard erected on the boundary of the main square.
Mr Neal explained that: “With club members doing as much of the work as possible the whole project was completed for just £200k.”
Just over half of the cost was funded by Sport England and a third from fund raising events, with the remainder from other sources, like Hampshire County Council, New Milton Town Council, The Big Lottery and the England & Wales Cricket Trust.
“The benefits are now being realised with the club’s third team able to play their games at the club, Hinton Admiral CC using the nursery pitch (following eviction from their own ground), and the club hosting Dorset Minor Counties Championship cricket,” Mr Neal added.
