Newcastle Cricket Club has officially opened a new front entrance to its ground on Osborne Avenue.

Photo by Steve Brock.

The unveiling was carried out by Newcastle Lord Mayor Geoff O’Brien, along with the Hardy family whose sons Will and Alex have both played for the club from a young age. A commemorative plaque was also presented to mark the occasion.

Co-chair Olwyn Hocking told JesmondLocal: “The need for this entrance was crystal clear. Having to walk up two flights of back entrance stairs to get in was unacceptable. This major change was always on the list and we are very grateful to everyone who helped achieve this.”

Will Hardy, who lost both his legs and half his left arm to meningitis, has been a regular player at the club for nearly eight years and welcomed the arrival of a new entrance not just for its convenience but also for the way it improves Newcastle Cricket Ground aesthetically.

Will said: “The club definitely brings the community together. People come here to socialise, play cricket and enjoy themselves. This entrance will just improve all of that.”

Will and his brother Alex both won awards for bowling and batting performances at last season’s Junior Wasps Presentation Night and say they are delighted  with the way the club has gone from strength to strength in recent months. “Newcastle Cricket Club is one of the reasons I started playing cricket so it is good to see it getting better,” Will said.

Alex was keen to emphasise how beneficial the entrance would be to players and told JesmondLocal: “It was really tough for us to get all our kit through and this has just made things so much easier for everyone at the club.”

You can view here some of the photographs taken by Steve Brock.