Staying put Cricket club has ‘no plans’ to leave Victoria Ground
CHELTENHAM Cricket Club says it has no plans to leave its historic ground in the town. The Fairview-based club insists it wants to stay at the Victoria Ground.
It follows news that the club had suggested to Cheltenham Borough Council that the large area of green open space be considered for future housing development.
That sparked concern from people living close to the Princes Street ground, some of whom enjoyed walking their dogs around it.
In a statement on its website and Twitter account, the club saty they have told the council that it did not want the ground to be considered for residential development.
President Peter Simmons said there had been speculation that the club might move away from the Victoria Ground. He said the council’s call for sites for housing led to the ground being included as a potential development site.
He added that the club had attempted to identify an additional ground to meet increased demand for cricket as women’s and girls’ cricket expands.
Mr Simmons said: “The club would like to make it clear that there are no plans to move away from the Victoria Ground.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, the club has recently notified Cheltenham Borough Council that the Victoria Ground is not to be included in its Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment or considered for residential development at all.
“This year the club celebrated the 125th anniversary of cricket being played on the Victoria Ground. During this time the ground has developed into an asset which is enjoyed by both its members and the local community.
“We look forward to continuing those relationships in perpetuity.”
The statement did not refer to the recent resignation of the club’s chairman of the last four years, John Mill.
It is not clear whether it was anything to do with the potential housing development issue.
The first recorded match on the ground was in 1893, when Cheltenham played East Gloucestershire.
Gloucestershire played their first first-class match there in 1923 against Glamorgan. Gloucestershire played 19 first-class matches at the ground from 1923 to 1937, playing their only game there in 1937 against Kent in the County
Championship.
In 1986, Gloucestershire returned to the ground where they played a single first-class match against India during their tour of England.
As well as hosting first-class cricket the ground has also hosted a one-day match between the Gloucestershire Cricket Board and the Nottinghamshire Cricket Board in the 2000 Natwest Trophy
In 1982, the ground held an international match between Israel and Papua New Guinea in the 1982 ICC Trophy.
During the 1986 ICC Trophy, the ground staged a match between Canada and the Netherlands.