One of Montgomeryshire’s longest standing cricket clubs has a serious question mark hanging over its future, after a survey on its pitch revealed some extensive long term problems.
Following a summer with only three home matches completed due to the weather, Guilsfield Cricket Club’s groundsmen have been unable to spend enough time maintaining its Community Centre square.
It has resulted in some serious problems coming to the fore and a survey carried out at the weekend by Richard Penney, the Director of Wales Cricket, has confirmed the bleak outlook.
“It’s bad,” said chairman Ed Davies. “We received a report last night (Wednesday) from the soil samples taken at the weekend and I am afraid we have some serious problems on the square.”
Without going into specifics, the analysis has recommended that the club digs up the top two inches of land and relays 80 bags of loam, seed and fertiliser which would run into thousands of pounds worth of work and hundreds of manhours to return it back to full health.
With club funds extremely tight as it is, the village will need to do some serious soul searching if its cricket club is to celebrate 50 years next summer.
“It has been a really frustrating summer all round really for the club,” added Mr Davies. “With the lack of games played we have been unable to fund raise so things are tight as it is without this coming along.
“The club should really be looking forward by improving the facilities with covers and side screens but doing nothing to the square now is not an option if we want to continue as a club.”
Guilsfield have consistently competed in the Shropshire and Border leagues since forming in 1963 and this summer they have competed in Division Four where they sit in mid-table despite the lack of matches.