Shifnal digging in to harvest a new crop of cricket players
Cricketers at Shifnal CC have been inundated with queries about the state of the ground.
The usual immaculate outfield bears more than a passing resemblance to a potato field at present.
But the Priorslee Road club are not moving into agriculture. They've called in a landscaping firm to remove humps and hollows that have emerged over the years.
And they are also installing a drainage system around the cricket square as well as putting in a rainwater harvesting system. It will collect rainwater from the pavilion roof to be used for irrigation.
On top of all that, the club are putting in an electricity supply to enable the use of a bowling machine on the artificial pitch.
And come the spring, a second artifical pitch will be installed for use by the expanding women, girls and junior sections.
Overall cost is about £96,000 and is being met by club fundraising along with grants from Sport England, the England & Wales Cricket Board, Shifnal Town Council, Shifnal & Sherrifhales Local Joint Committee and the Football Association.
Work is being carried out by Ditton Priors-based DW Shotton Landscapes Limited, sports surface consultants Alan Lewis Limited and Wem firm Osprey Water Management Ltd.
Acting chairman Adrian Collins said: "We are very proud of our off the field efforts.
"Despite the disappointment of relegation from Division One of the Birmingham and District Premier Cricket League this season, we have now put in place the infrastructure which we hope will attract the very best cricketers to facilities which will be second to none."
