Huddersfield’s oldest cricket club attacked by arsonists 14 years ago is to be rebuilt in time for its 200th anniversary in 2025.
Lascelles Hall Cricket Club on Highfield Lane at Lascelles Hall was first attacked by arsonists in 2010 when it was gutted and replaced by temporary portable buildings which are now badly deteriorating.
In 2019 arsonists badly damaged the scoreboard at the club which has since been repaired.
The club is now getting £300,000 from the Government so it can completely rebuild its pavilion to be a place for the whole community, not just cricket.
The money has come from the Community Ownership Fund from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The club has also raised another 20% itself, put other money aside and is continuing to make grant applications to go towards the final cost.
Construction on the new clubhouse is expected to start in May and is due to be completed by next January or February.
The portable buildings have now been removed to make way for the new building and the club is making do with shipping containers for this season.
Drawings of the new clubhouse at Lascelles Hall Cricket Club by Fox Architecture and Design
Club treasurer Carolyn Taylor said: “It’s been a hard slog but a nucleus of people kept it going and now we have new people on the committee who are junior players’ parents and they have been amazing.”
Two of the parents, Danny Russell and Richard Marshall, made the successful application for the main funding and are continuing to make further applications from other grant-making organisations.
Carolyn said: “I can’t speak highly enough of Danny and Richard and all they’ve done for the club.”
The new building will have two changing rooms, an umpire’s room, kitchen, bar, lounge and toilets.
The club has amended its name to Lascelles Hall Community Interest Company to reflect the fact the building will be available to the whole community.
Richard Marshall said: “The full cost could end up being £400,000 but we have had companies coming forward offering to help with fixtures and fittings inside which is brilliant and there is a great sense of teamwork within the club.
“Once the clubhouse is built we want it to be open in the winters too for local groups and organisations and it’s been designed so parts, such as the changing rooms, can be shut off when not needed.
“We will be hoping to celebrate the 200th anniversary with a big event in the summer of 2025. When the club reached its 100th and then 150th years the first team played Yorkshire at Lascelles Hall so that’s quite a feat to match.”
The club has first and second teams, a ladies team and junior teams in all age groups.
Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging, website content and copywriting.
