12:04pm Friday 12th March 2010
THE HUNT for Netherfield Cricket Club’s new professional is over with the signing of Aussie Nick Kruger and when he arrives there will be first-class facilities in which to don his whites and pads.
The new £320,000 changing-rooms project at the Parkside Road ground is on course for completion in time for the start of the Northern League season on April 17.
The site next to the pavilion has been transformed from how it looked when former England Test captain Mike Gatting visited during the summer.
He called as an England and Wales Cricket Board ambassador to mark the award of a £100,000 grant.
It was the final piece in the funding to allow the project to go ahead.
Netherfield secretary Ian Heath said: "Work has been been under way and in spite of delays caused by the severe winter we are still hoping for completion before the start of the cricket season."
The new changing rooms are in a self-contained unit and will provide four changing rooms for the teams, two for match officials and toilets and showers.
There will be special facilities for people with disabilities.
Mr Heath added: "We are looking forward to the coming season because In recent years the club has made good progress with facilities.
“Last year we developed a four-bay synthetic practice area for our senior and junior players.
"We have over 120 junior cricketers and with the new changing-rooms and practice facilities we are confident that we will provide more practice and play opportunities for the youngsters and also attract more players to the club."
While Netherfield received a grant of £100,000 from the ECB towards the cost, the Football Foundation and the Clark Foundation are other major partnership funders.
Mr Heath paid tribute to their generous financial assistance and to the support by members of the cricket, football and bowls clubs involved in the project.
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