Penwortham Cricket Club has revealed plans to redevelop their Middleforth Green home with state of the art facilities, designed to benefit the club and the local community.
Founded in 1880, PCC is one of the oldest grassroots sports clubs in the local area, and their members have unveiled a bold, two-phase vision project to transform the club.
According to the project plans, the first phase would see a glass-fronted Net Zero Modular Community Building erected pitchside, enabling spectators to have an unrestricted view of the action. In line with the government’s lofty environmental standards, those at the heart of the vision are confident the facility ‘will be a beacon of sustainability and inclusion’.
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Phase two involves giving the existing clubhouse and function room a fresh and modern upgrade, with the ambition of becoming one of the go-to places to socialise in the region.
Before any spades can enter the ground, though, the club has set out a goal of raising £30,000 through crowdfunding to go towards the estimated £85,000 overall cost of the first phase.
Eddie Sidgreaves, chairman of the cricket club, is keen to stress that “the project is about so much more than cricket”.
Sidgreaves said: “It’s about creating a sustainable, accessible space that brings people together.
“Penwortham Cricket Club has been at the heart of the community for 145 years, but our facilities are outdated and no longer meet the needs of a growing, diverse membership.”
Middleforth Green has been the home of the Northern League club since 1892, serving as not just a unique and picturesque cricket ground, but a hub for Penwortham residents to share a drink, host functions or even – as seen during the Covid-19 pandemic – get vaccinated.
Sidgreaves continued: “The new Net Zero Community Building is a vital step forward, not just for our players, but for local groups, families and future generations.
“It’s a once in a generation opportunity to secure a vibrant, inclusive future at Middleforth Green.”
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