I have always had a passion for Grace Road

IN response to Ray Newcombe (“County should not have moved to Grace Road”, Mailbox, September 3), I have always had a big love and passion for Grace Road.

I was not around in the 1940s when the club decided to return there from Aylestone Road, so therefore I’m not qualified to say whether it was a good move at the time, but I certainly don’t think it has held the club back in any way.

Since my dad first took me in 1986, the ground has improved dramatically, with the building of the cricket school at The Bennett End in the early 1990s, the addition of modern seating replacing the old benches, the electronic scoreboard, renovations to The Meet and more recently the floodlights and the impressive new fence along The Milligan Road side, replacing the rather outdated brick wall.

I honestly think Grace Road is as adequate and pleasant as any nonTest match ground in the country.

It has been stated in the past that the capacity could be increased if necessary, though I don’t see the need for that any time soon.

The ground has given me 35 years of pleasure and great memories and I still get a shiver down my spine every time I walk through the gates.

I’m often told by many visiting supporters how much they love coming to Grace Road, which is nice to hear.

Fortunately, with the exception of Hampshire, cricket has not gone down the route of stadium relocations like football has, and let’s keep it that way.

Here’s to many more years of happy days at Grace Road.

Oliver Hawke, Great Glen