Opening the new facilities: (left to right) Jesmond Ground Trustee Adam Heather; RGS headmaster Bernard Trafford; Newcastle Cricket Club Chair Nadeem Ahmad; Northumberland County CC Vice-President Ken Pearson; Northumberland Cricket Board Director of Cricket Ian Wardle.

Jesmond Cricket Ground has completed improvements to its facilities just in time for the first match of the season, which takes place this weekend.

The refurbishment which includes improvements to the changing rooms, the installation of ladies toilets and improved access for disabled people was funded by a £66,000 grant from the Sport England Inspired Facilities fund.

The fund is part of Sport England’s drive to encourage interest in sport across the country, and aims to help sports clubs make major improvements to their facilities with the hope of attracting new members.

The volunteer-run nature of Jesmond Cricket Ground means that the club could never have funded the refurbishment itself, according to club director Olwyn Hocking. She describes the improvements as “absolutely crucial” to the club’s continued development, as the previous facilities, some of which were over 50 years old, did not adequately cater to the women’s and disabled cricket teams who now make regular use of the grounds.

The new mixed-sex chanigng rooms

Whilst these changes have significantly improved the opportunities available at the club, only 10 years ago it was facing closure. Since then, and mainly thanks to community support, its fortunes have improved significantly, and Hocking claims “the club is on the up”.

As well as a number of individual awards, the 2015 season finished with two of the four senior teams clinching their respective league titles, and the club was awarded the title of national Club Awards Cricket Club of the year.

The match this weekend sees the club’s academy team take on old rivals South Northumberland, with the game scheduled to start at 1:30 pm.