AFTER well over a century of playing cricket at Victoria Recreation Ground, Newport Cricket Club has made a historic switch to Newclose.
The move is seen by the club and the Newclose trustees as one that will benefit the ground and boost the adult and junior game in not only Newport, but across the Island.
Newport, who touted the idea with Newclose trustees over the past two years, played their first game there on Saturday — an Island League Division 1 match up with bitter rivals, Northwood.
It was a great day of celebration for the club — not only winning and putting themselves in the box seat for the title, but for making history, with the strong belief it was the start of a new and positive era for Island cricket.
Ventnor had adopted Newclose as its home when playing Southern League cricket, but decided on a move back to Steephill on mainly financial grounds six years ago, leaving a huge hole in the Newclose fixture list for the season.
Other than county youth games, friendlies, children’s and women’s cricket events and the occasional Hampshire game, Newclose has been left virtually redundant, making use of less than 50 per cent of its potential.
But the move will see Newport make full use of a ground so highly rated by Hampshire CCC, they chose it to host a County Championship match against Nottinghamshire in 2019, with a prestigious Royal London Cup 50-over game against Northamptonshire to follow on Tuesday week.
The constant use of the ground will also bring in much-needed revenue into Newclose from welcoming other Island clubs and their families — and through the cost-cutting of having a much larger team of volunteers to take care of maintaining Newclose, who would often have to pay for grass cutting and other such services.
The new partnership was rubber-stamped by Martin Gardener, the chairman of Newclose trustees, in a special meeting on Monday.
Martin is the son of the late Brian Gardener, who dreamt of building a county standard cricket ground at Newclose, ploughing £2 million into the project.
Trustees and Newport’’s committee, chaired by died-in-the-wool clubman, Dale Young, have signed a gentleman’s agreement, a so-called ‘Memorandum of Understanding’, which amicably binds their partnership.
“We need top class facilities to ensure our large number of young cricketers improve and mature, to secure our future as a cricket club,” said Dale.
Newport have amicably agreed with Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council, the custodians of Victoria Rec, to a parting of the ways, with the final cricket to be played there in September.
Once Newport have moved lock, stock and barrel to Newclose, they plan to use the ground competitively, every week, all season.
Newport’s first team captain, Gareth Bricknell, led his side onto the Newclose turf for the first time.
He said: “It was a proud moment and a great spectacle with so any families watching. Not only is the ground and facilities of high quality, Newclose is a lovely, safe, family-friendly place to play cricket.”
Gareth went on to say he was excited about what the move will bring Newport.
“For Newclose, it will bring revenue. For us, it’s excellent — particularly for our young players and colts section, with training and games taking place there too.
“Already, we’ve had lots and lots of youngsters who are really excited to be playing there next year. It’s only a positive for the club.”
For Gareth, he has mixed feelings about the move from Victoria Rec, which has seen cricket played there since 1899.
“In some ways it’s sad to move away from there. Myself and team-mate Tom Dye grew up just a stone’s throw away from the Rec. But at the same time, it’s exciting we have such an amazing facility to play our cricket at.
“I’ve already had lots of the skippers of other Island clubs contact me and say they can’t wait to play at Newclose against us.
“It’s going to up everyone else’s game. They’re going to put strong teams out against us and there’s going to be some good, competitive cricket.
“Island cricket has gone downhill over the past few years, but hopefully now, with this move, it will raise the profile of Island cricket.”
Newclose trustee, Hugh Griffiths, echoed Gareth’s sentiments.
“The move is everything Brian Gardener would have wanted — and Newclose want in terms of the ground having a club, which is what it was established for,” he said.
“We’ll have a quality cricket match, a cricket tea and close of play socialising with opposition and families, which is everything we could wish for.
“We welcome Newport with open arms.”
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