First find your cricket ground

Posted by Tony Hutton

The arrival of various pre-season publications has whetted the appetite for the six months of cricket which will soon be upon us. For the professional cricket watcher the search for obscure village cricket grounds throughout the land remains a constant geographical challenge. However the wonderful google earth site can answer most questions even when old fashioned methods like asking long term village residents the innocent question 'Can you tell me where the cricket ground is?' fail to bring any response.

The current trend of re-naming cricket grounds can add to the confusion. Just consider such names as Emirates Durham ICG, 3aaa County Ground, Ageas Bowl and worst of all the Brighton and Hove Jobs.com County Ground. In a previous existence they were known as Riverside (or Chester le Street), Derby County Ground, the Rose Bowl or Southampton even and plain Hove.

Going further down the cricketing pecking order we now have similar problems. The new County 2nd XI yearbook reveals several classic examples. First prize must go to a newcomer on the scene EFSG (although research suggests EFCG) Portland Road. Now I can remember Portland Road in Birmingham being the home of Mitchell & Butlers CC in the Birmingham League many years ago. The ground has now happily been restored by Warwickshire and goes under the name of the Edgbaston Foundation Community Ground.

If you venture further south to Canterbury you might wonder where Polo Farm Sports Club is or where to find Birley's Field. The first is the home of Canterbury cricket club and the second is at King's School. The one that perhaps deserves a visit most is the Spen Cama Memorial Ground, Fulking on the Sussex Downs which I can heartily recommend. Also worth seeking out are the John Fretwell Sporting Complex, Sookholme Road, Sookholme the home of Welbeck CC in deepest Nottinghamshire and the John Findlay Memorial Ground at Walmley (Warwickshire).

Those looking for Notts Sports Club will find it close to Trent Bridge. It was previously known as Lady Bay or Boots Sports ground. The newly created Yorkshire Premier Leagues, North and South, also have a few examples. Sheffield United and Rotherham Phoenix have combined and will play at the Graham Solley Development Centre, which turns out to be United's old Bawtry Road ground. In the Northern section Hull CC now reside at Ferens Recreation Centre which is just a new name for their ground on Chanterlands Avenue.

So it goes on and I can only wish you well for the coming season, whether you explore off the beaten track or just stay at home at your local club (much easier but less rewarding). Let's all hope for good weather and good cricket.