Six of the best officially opened the new £80k pavilion at Scholes Cricket Club

Six former players and club stalwarts opened the new £80,000 pavilion at Scholes Cricket Club.

The 30-year-old building has been updated inside and out thanks to support from club members, sponsors and the local community.

The pavilion now boasts a new electric scoreboard and new changing rooms for men and women. New plumbing and electrics have been installed throughout. There’s also glass sliding doors to a balcony, a new wi-fi signal and surround sound systems.

The six former players, all life members of the club, were:

Dave Booth – opening batsman who first played in 1957. He is a current committee member and worked on the project from start to finish;
Stuart Booth – first played in 1964, opening batsman, lifelong supporter and devoted worker for the club;
Robert Dearnley – a key member of the club’s grounds team and No1 supporter, he actually cut the ribbon;
Steve Wadsworth – first played in 1971, clubman through and through. He is the club’s roofing expert;
Steve Booth – former captain and chairman, first played in 1974. Lady Sykes Candlesticks winner. Spearheaded fundraising for the new electric scoreboard with support from former players;
Mel Booth – first played in 1975, former captain and chairman. Lady Sykes Candlesticks winner and life member of Huddersfield Cricket League.

The new facilities were unveiled on Good Friday and club secretary John Andrews said: “It was a fantastic day for the club and a chance to celebrate the monumental amount of effort which has gone into this project with the people who made it happen.

“In addition to our members, committee and officials we had representatives of all the trades and organisations who have helped us with skills, time and money, and often all three.

“The pavilion building has served us well for the past 30 years since it was built but we wanted to provide a facility for the next few decades that will attract the youngsters in our area to play cricket and become the future of our club.

“Our chairman Lee Elvidge has been the driving force behind the redevelopment and we are all very proud of what’s been achieved.”

Grant aid and funding was provided by Huddersfield Common Good Trust, Holme Valley Parish Council, St George’s Club trustees, Huddersfield Cricket League, One Community Fund, the Thornton Family Trust and the Kirklees Community Plus Fund, while members of the club raised £20,000 towards the project and the club’s players a further £15,000 in what was a real community effort.