Costs crease cricketers (From Gazette Series)

Costs crease cricketers

A CENTURY and out - that describes Berkeley Cricket Club's exit from the town after more than 100 years of matches there.

The departure comes after the club decided it could not meet Berkeley Town Council's large increase in charges to continue to play at Canon Park Recreation Ground.

A meeting is now scheduled for next week so the club can make decisions about the coming season.

However, one thing is certain - it will not be playing in Berkeley.

Club member Ashley Phillips, who plays in the team alongside brother and club secretary Richie and captain and father Ally, told the Gazette that they had no choice but to move.

He said: "The council changed our pitch from a sports field to a recreation field, which bumped up our insurance costs for storing our equipment there.

"You can't run a cricket club if you can't keep anything at the ground. It's an impossible situation."

The council's decision to impose charges of £25 per match, rather than a flat rate for the season, also meant that the club's costs would have spiralled upwards by 40 percent compared with last season.

As a result the club was forced to resign from the Stroud and Swindon League late last year as it could not commit to fulfilling fixtures this summer.

The potential increase in costs meant members decided that it was impossible to continue to play in Berkeley and they have already been approached about playing elsewhere.

Added Mr Phillips: "We have had an offer from Oldlands Cricket Club to play 'home' friendlies in Sharpness and there are several offers of away matches waiting to be pencilled in."

At last week's council meeting it emerged that the club had not replied to letters from the council regarding intentions for the coming season.

However, the council did make it clear it wanted to see cricket continue to be played in the town.

The meeting on the future of the club will take place at The Malthouse, Marybrook Street, Berkeley, on Wednesday (8pm).