Express & Star

Springvale strike a deal to play at Penn’s ground

Springvale Cricket Club have reached a deal with local rivals Penn to play at their unused ground.

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Penn, who are down to just one team for this summer, will play their home games at Gamesfield Green, off Merridale Road, after battling a decline in playing numbers in recent years. This meant that their Mount Road base would have stood empty in the coming months.

Now, after a meeting on Monday evening, details have been finalised to allow South Staffs County League rivals Springvale to play first and second team games at the ground for the 2020 season.

The social club at Springvale’s home, in Millfields Road, Bilston, was bought by the Co-Op two seasons ago and they were forced to play their fixtures at Elford, near Lichfield.

This move back to the Black Country was music to their ears as secretary and vice-chairman at Springvale, John Priest, believes it will help the club go from strength to strength.

“I heard that Penn were only going to run one team, and play their games at Gamesfield Green which would leave their ground in Manor Road free,” he said.

“So I spoke to their chairman Ghazi Zaki and we have struck a very sensible deal that will see us play our first and second team games there this year. “They’re helping us out and we can’t thank Penn enough. They’ve been brilliant in helping us out during a difficult time. We will have the full use of all their facilities; the bar and clubhouse.

“We had been playing at Elford and the Royal School which had eaten into our cash reserves.

“We had looked at the idea of putting temporary buildings up at Millfields Road but the costs were prohibitive. It would have ruined the club.

“Our recruitment will be far easier now. Some players were put off by having to travel to Elford every other week. I have to thank our players enormously for what they have done and their commitment over the past two years.

“The nucleus of our 2017 side are still with us. They have stuck by us. We are still alive and kicking and looking forward to the future.

“We will run two Saturday sides in division two and five and a side in the Worcestershire Sunday League.”

“We still have to maintain Millfields, cutting the grass, tending to the wicket and looking after all our equipment which is down there.

Springvale are expecting to move back their Bilston home next year when a new clubhouse is built by the Co-Op.

“The problem is the Co-Op haven’t got the funding available this year to build a clubhouse for us. Their budgets haven’t been settled yet,” Priest added. “But they have told us that it will be built and the aim is for us to return home next year.”