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Roller 'absolutely' secures future of cricket club

George KingSuffolk
Supplied A large orange and black cricket pitch roller parked on a cricket lawn. Supplied
The club's new, second-hand cricket pitch roller, which cost about £12,000

The future of a village cricket club has "absolutely" been secured when its vintage roller was replaced with a new one after the community raised thousands of pounds.

Battisford and District Cricket Club's 80-year-old roller conked out in June as club owner David Stevens-Row was in the middle of going over the cricket square.

It left the club forking out £400 a week to hire a roller, an expensive outlay which was not financially sustainable and raised concerns that play may have to be stopped.

But those concerns have been hit for six after the community rallied round to help the club raise nearly £12,000, which it has used to buy second-hand roller.

"A new one would have cost about £40,000, so being able to raise the money to get the second-hand roller has been amazing and we were very lucky to get a good deal," said Julia Stephens-Row, club administrator.

"It shows how important the cricket club is, not just to the local community, but the surrounding villages and all the people who play and enjoy coming to watch."

Luke Deal/BBC David wears a grey top with the Battisford & District club logo on it, while Julia wears a green jacket and denim jeans. They are standing at either end of an old green cricket pitch roller, in front of some trees.Luke Deal/BBC
David and Julia Stevens-Row and their 80-year-old pitch roller, which could not be repaired

Before replacing the roller, the club, founded in 1973 in Battisford but now based near Combs, in Suffolk, was facing an £8,000 outlay over its 20-week season.

The green retro roller, which weighed about two tonnes, had long been used to keep the pitch in tip-top condition until its gearbox broke and was deemed unsalvageable.

"The quality of the new roller has made a huge difference, and David has been really pleased with the progress he's been able to make on the wickets," said Julia.

Luke Deal/BBC A landscape image showing the Battisford and District Cricket Club pavilion and its large green cricket pitch. There are several picnic tables behind the boundary rope.Luke Deal/BBC
The cricket club has men's and women's teams and four junior sides

The club was able to raise the funds through council grants, sponsored charity events and the generosity of the community donating to its own fundraising campaign.

"A massive thank you to everybody who's donated, it's been an absolutely remarkable effort," added Julia.

"It was just the ongoing costs and not knowing what we were going to do long term, but this, absolutely, definitely, has [safeguarded the club]."

Luke Deal/BBC The club's vintage green cricket pitch roller parked under some trees on a grass verge. It has two big metal wheels at the front and back, along with a comfy seat and steering column.Luke Deal/BBC
Cricket pitch rollers are used to flatten the soil of a cricket wicket to ensure an even playing surface

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