Bouncing back ... old cricket pitch gets a new lease of life

CRICKET has returned to a ground last used for the sport around 30 years ago.
Upper Haugh captain Tim Whitehouse (front right) and head of cricket development Steve Sigsworth pictured with the team at Rawmarsh St. Joseph's Junior Football Club's ground.Upper Haugh captain Tim Whitehouse (front right) and head of cricket development Steve Sigsworth pictured with the team at Rawmarsh St. Joseph's Junior Football Club's ground.
Upper Haugh captain Tim Whitehouse (front right) and head of cricket development Steve Sigsworth pictured with the team at Rawmarsh St. Joseph's Junior Football Club's ground.

 

When Upper Haugh were looking for a home for their new third team, Rawmarsh St Joseph's Junior Football Club stepped in.

 

Its chairman Paul Armin, whose son, Cameron, plays for Upper Haugh, put the idea to the football club's committee and they gave it the green light.

 

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Upper Haugh played their first league game there recently against Mexborough.

 

“A lot of the players in the team are juniors and it is a great boost for us,” said Haugh's Matt Bacon.

 

“The cricket square is actually close to where the old one was many years ago.”

 

The move back to the “Old Stubbin” ground, now known as the KCM Arena, brought back memories for Shane Horne, St Joseph's committee member and community lead.

 

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“Funnily enough, my dad, Kevin, used to mow the cricket pitch,” he said. “It is weird how things come around.

 

“We are a community club and we want to give as much space within the club to others.”

 

Paul Armin added: “Partnering with Upper Haugh Cricket club was a simple decision. Our committee members met with them  and were impressed with their ambition, vision and ideas on how a tie-up would benefit not only the club, but the community as a whole.”