Villagers secure future of cricket ground (From The Oxford Times)

Villagers secure future of cricket ground

12:50pm Wednesday 19th September 2012 in News By Sam McGregor, covering Bicester. Call me on 01869 250197

VILLAGERS are celebrating after securing the future of their cricket ground forever.

Fringford Cricket Club had until August this year to raise £45,000 to buy the land where the game has been played for more than 100 years.

Two years ago a 99-year lease between Fringford Cricket Club and the Chinnor Trust to use the land for sport came to end.

Following discussions, a sale price was set at £45,000 for the club to purchase the ground.

By May this year the club had only £13,000 in the pot, but thanks to a £36,000 England and Wales Cricket Board grant, the deal was signed during the summer.

Now the club finally has the deeds to the site, which means Fringford can look forward to cricket games for many years to come.

Club secretary Les Fagg said: “2012 has been a season to remember.

“The achievements will go down in the records of the club as one of the greatest in our 109-year history.

“On July 31 we signed over and have now got the deeds.

“The ground is now ours. That’s it forever – nothing else can happen there now.

“It’s good news for everyone.”

The club had more than one reason to celebrate this summer.

It also won promotion to the third division of the Oxfordshire Cricket Association League, and one of its teams, who play in the Buckingham Midweek league, won The George Blow Cup Final.

Mr Fagg said the club always knew it would still have a team at the end of the season, but didn’t know if it would have a ground. He said: “Everyone pulled their finger out and at the end of the day the cricket club purchased the ground.

“A cricket club trust will oversee everything.

“The promotion to division three was a brilliant end to a bit of a stressful year.”

Over the August bank holiday weekend the club held a free barbecue and invited the entire village as well as cricketers along to celebrate Mr Fagg added: “The sun was shining, the pub was open and it was a thank-you to everyone.”

Over the past year the 17-strong team and its supporters have held a string of fundraising events including a 100-mile cycle ride on a static bike, a Jubilee Portobello Road-style market at the cricket ground and a ball.