The Abbeyfield Park tennis courts are set to host a ‘mainly cricket MUGA’ or multi use games area as Council staff, working with the local Burngreave youth, attract money from a national sports body.
There was much talk about creating a ‘MUGA’ on this site in 2004 and 2005, but the tennis courts are still awaiting tender loving care. Very recently, you might have noticed some new cricket stumps and work being done on the surface of the informal ‘cricket pitch’.
Now the English Cricket Board (ECB) have decided to invest further. The ECB have been impressed with the development of ‘cricket cages’ in Mount Pleasant Park in Sharrow, which, despite continual use over two years, are as good as new – cared for by the youngsters who play there and the staff who look after them. As a result, the regional cricketing officer of the ECB met with Council officers from Parks and the cricketers of Abbeyfield Park.
The ECB were was so impressed with the seriousness and commitment of the Abbeyfield cricketers, that it decided last month the mainly cricket MUGA. It will take a few months to agree the particular designs, working alongside the Abbeyfield junior cricketers, Friends of Abbeyfield Park, Council staff and local cricket clubs. In the meantime the Friends group at the park and the cricketers have raised funds from the Youth Opportunities Fund for the “temporary improvement” which can be transferred elsewhere when the MUGA arrives.
The ECB will give £80,000 to the Abbeyfield Park MUGA and another £50,000 for new playground markings and extra coaching time at five local primary schools.
Is it too much to hope that in four years time, the England cricket team won’t have the same experience that it suffered recently in the Caribbean – backed up by Burngreave batters and bowlers?