Heartbreak as cricket pitch found covered in tyre marks
MEMBERS of a Nottinghamshire cricket club have been left heartbroken and frustrated after tyre marks were left on its field just before the start of the new season.
Part of Bingham Cricket Club’s square was vandalised on Sunday afternoon by someone believed to be on an e-bike or e-scooter.
Paul Maylard-mason, manager of the club, estimated the “massively frustrating” damage would cost £1,000 to repair but assured the team that the first game of the season would still go ahead this weekend.
“It’s a bit heartbreaking,” said the 49-year-old, who joined the club in 2003.
“I had a message from one of the guys at the football club which showed something which resembled an electric scooter or bike that decided to go onto the square and ride around and cause a lot of damage.
“It could’ve been worse than it looked. But it’s put us back. It takes a lot of volunteer man-hours. We ask people to put a lot of time and donations into the club. It’s a lot of cost the club doesn’t need. We recently spent £50,000 on a new practice net bay.”
Mr Maylard-mason said due to the damage being limited to one area, games could still take place. “It’s massively frustrating when something like that sets you back,” he said.
“Luckily enough the wicket we’re playing on this weekend is relatively intact. I’m not sure about the lasting damage. Hopefully we can repair it over the next few weeks.
“We invest £8,000-10,000 in our square alone each year. It’s a pretty unforgiving job as it is, fighting things like water. Most cricket clubs have had a nightmare with flooding. We’ve been quite lucky because our square drains quite quickly.”
Mr Maylard-mason said he has given CCTV footage to the police, who are investigating the incident. Nottinghamshire Police have been contacted for comment.