Cricket club’s £52,000 clubhouse windfall

CASH BOOST Crossbank Methodists Cricket Club has been given £52,000 to help with its new clubhouse.

The club, located between Batley and Birstall, is also celebrating its move to the Central Yorkshire league next season.

Management committee member Richard Hosley said the club would be using the money to advance its position on the local stage.

“We applied for funding over the summer to help us finish building our clubhouse,” he said. “We started building in January 2013, but we needed extra funding to help complete the kitchen, the changing rooms and the toilets, among other things that can help make this clubhouse a home.

“We are currently on course to officially open the clubhouse in April and we hope it will become a hub for the local community.

“We want to hold community days with the local schools in Batley, just like we’ve recently been doing with Batley Parish School, so we hope the clubhouse is big enough to accommodate both the local kids and the community at large”.

The club also plans to turn its redundant back field into a bowling green or tennis court.