Officials at Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club are gearing up for an historic first game in the North Yorkshire and South Durham (NYSD) League when Yarm come to Aycliffe Sports Club for a big match on Saturday (20th April), starting at 1.15pm.
Newton Aycliffe have played for the past 13 seasons in the North East Durham League, but after a lot of hard work behind the scenes and more than £12,000-worth of ground improvements, they’re now ready to mix it with the big guns of local cricket.
Cash from Great Aycliffe and Middridge Partnership (GAMP), Aycliffe Sports Club and some from the Cricket Club’s own coffers have been spent on improving the pitch and wicket as well as investing in new pitch covers and sight screens.
Chairman Ian Palmer said: “We started work on the pitch and the square at the end of last season to make sure it could be in tip-top condition for the 2013 season. Since then, with a great deal of help from GAMP, we’ve introduced roll on, roll off pitch covers which should help us get a lot of games on. We had a lot of games postponed last year, and hopefully we’ll have a better summer this season, but the covers will hopefully help as well. A total of more than £12,000 has been spent. We have new sight screens, an improved scoreboard, drainage in a problematic area of the pitch, work on the wicket and general improvements around the ground.”
Palmer say it’s really exciting times for the club, adding: “We’re looking forward to bringing some of the bigger clubs in the area to Newton Aycliffe, and we want our facilities to reflect what we’re trying to do in the league. We’ll be going to other grounds, some of the best in the league, and we don’t want to be left wanting.”
Secretary Lee Weldon has been involved with cricket in Aycliffe most of his life, he said “Saturday will be an incredibly big day for the club. Hosting a game in the NYSD, we’ve been working towards this for a number of years, so it’s very exciting times. The NYSD is arguably one of the best leagues in the country and we’ve had to do a lot of hard work to be accepted into that league. It’s a big step up for Newton Aycliffe. It’s on a par with the football now. The Northern League is the best amateur and semi-pro league in the North-East, and the NYSD is definitely the equivalent for cricket. It’s the Premier League of amateur cricket and we can’t wait to get started.”
