Derelict cricket clubs

By Will 2 years ago, at the end of January Leave a comment on this post

Highbury CC

Originally uploaded by Jim Moran.

Bleh. Sad sight, this, for the cricket fan, but it does remind me of TWC’s “Adopt a Club” scheme which this would perhaps benefit from.

Tags: cricket-photos, derelict, Highbury, Highbury-cc, photos |

Comments to “Derelict cricket clubs” derry fletcher wrote:
February 9th, 2006 at 11.17 pm

this cricket club was my life and my soul. My great grandad played cricket here, and so did my grandad. My great grandad is Jim Moulton. He looked after the club for over 50 years. It was his life, he was devoted to this club, and we were in tears when the place was shut down. His ashes were spread on the field, and the downstairs area was name “the jim moulton lounge” after him. We have the plaque with us now. It was sad to see it go. The place was never the same after he died.

My Gran (derry fletcher) and grandad (denis fletcher) joined the commitee and tried to get it back to its old self, and there were some really successful nights. I grew up here, and it hurts that its gone. WHen i’m upset, you’ll often find me in the field trying to calm myself down…

if anyone knows my family, get in touch, it would be nice to hear from some of the lads and lasses that used to go every saturday and friday night, religiously.

Mick Deighton and his lads lee and mark
Eileen Lee (who i see around meanwood), Harry Lee and family.
Ken…
howard…
Rod and helen langstaff
Rhea, Bolly and Susan
Mick
John Maglashan (sp)

feel free to drop me an email

(little) derry fletcher xx

shahban wrote:
February 27th, 2006 at 10.58 pm

can u try get it up an running again?
i played all my junior matches for highbury
sad o c ground in this state
im currently at leeds police cc

derry fletcher wrote:
March 9th, 2006 at 6.01 pm

i managed to get in touch with john Macglashan.
I’m a girl by the way. Someone posted i was jim’s great grandson and i’m not i’m hia great grand daughter.

Shahban, there were a lot of meetings about the future of the club and we tried to get it back up and running, but we couldn’t even get a first team together. I asked a lot of my mates who play cricket to join and they said they would, and when it was put across to the board they wouldn’t listen, it was closing and that was that. I haven’t been down in a while, so I don’t know if they’ve demolished it or not, which i think they have. But last time i went the grass was overgrown and there was grafitti everywhere. I think they’re planning to build on it, which is a shame as my great grandads ashes are on that pitch….get in touch if you want via email or whataver. delliefletcher@hotmail.co.uk

tracy cooper wrote:
March 30th, 2006 at 6.06 pm

I was so sad to see the cricket club had closed. My son Dan Cooper played for the club on and off for quite a few years when we were living in the Highburys. He is now working in Australia but will be sad when I tell him the news. I spent many a sunny afternoon sat watching all the youngs lads play.

derry fletcher wrote:
March 30th, 2006 at 11.08 pm

Its such a shame it went. I often think about it as it’s an important part of my life. I grew up there and have a passion for cricket.

Tracy, I dont think i remember dan by name as i was young, but given a pic i’d probaby recognise him.

Steve Draper wrote:
April 3rd, 2006 at 10.09 pm

Its so sad , Highbury is one of the few grounds that I’ve actually played cricket on. If you have Google Earth, which must have been done 3or 4 years ago and zoom in on the ground you can see a match in progress. It would be fantastic if someone could get it up and running again.

mark deighton wrote:
May 12th, 2006 at 2.18 pm

i was really gutted that highbury went under i have played at highbury since i was 9 years of age and i had some really good times there.we had one of the best jonior sides going at one point with my brother lee and all the older ones then when they had finished we took over the likes of me and eddie thirlwell and joe eddison and tom ward and i would just like to thank everyone for putting the effort in people like bob mcglashan and wasa.so i hope that highbury will get back up and running in the near future thank you.

Bob McGlashan wrote:
August 21st, 2006 at 1.21 am

I am Robert (Rob) McGlashan’s father and was talking on the phone today to him, and told him about this site.
He told me that plans by Kirkstall Cricket club to take over Highbury CC are nearly finalised. They have managed to get a large grant to do this.
It is going to be used by Kirkstall’s Third team and their Juniors.
It will be good to see crcket being played there again, but only wished it could be Highbury.
I wish them good luck.
I used to be taken by my grandfather to watch Highbury and also Saint Chad’s up the road every Saturday more than 60 years ago !

james wrote:
August 21st, 2006 at 6.33 pm

I was also sad to see the cricket club go. Shortly before its closure i was intouch with some of the officer at the club and they informed me that closure was on the cards i was made a parshall offer to play at whitch i would have been intrested in if it had been a more firm offer despite the fact that cricket is not quiet my game. They were also offered help from the meanwood action group but this was refused, as i have lived nearby the ground before i have found the hole thing sad, and also anoyed at the fact that there are some people who i beleve have a gulty Conscious regarding the clubs closure.

To tie up another lose end the club has not been demolished as a was on the site today (august 21st)

Darran wrote:
September 5th, 2007 at 10.17 pm

I moved in the the Highburys 12 months ago and found this ground whilst exploring. Its still standing, just about! (05/09/07), the grass is overgrown and the club house in a massive state of disrepair. Is anything going to be done with this ground? who actually owns it? I’ve never played properly cricket before and i’m not particulary good but i’d like to be and this would be a good place to start learning and playing. Its such a shame that nothing has changed in the 13 months since the last posting on this site, surely someone must know something? Someone lend me a petrol mower, i’ll go sort the grass, anyone else up for a bit of large scale gardening and a knock about?

Nathan wrote:
May 29th, 2008 at 8.04 pm

I have just moved to the Highburys too.

I played cricket at Highbury CC as a junior and remember Mr Moulton from my Leeds League junior’s handbook! Derry, I can’t walk past it without thinking of your great grandad’s ashes.

The only player I remember is A Eddison from junior representative cricket although I recall a folk rumour that a certain D Gough turned out for the side when he was a youngster at Yorkshire academy.

I totally agree with the previous comment, give me a lawnmower and lets get playing. Pity the roller seems to have been stolen over the last couple of months… also there is a portocabin in there and some security signage up although I have to admit it is doing very little good.

Duncan wrote:
July 29th, 2008 at 3.24 pm

I was down at Highbury on Sunday - what an incredible ground, and such a crime that it’s going to waste.

I would love to have a knockabout at Highbury some time. With Nathan and Darran on this one - crack out the petrol strimmers I say, and we’ll probably have to do something about the trees growing out of the middle of the wicket too… Teamwork, elbow grease, Dunkirk spirit, that’s what’s needed here - and who’s going to stop a group of Englishmen from trying to play cricket on a cricket ground, It just wouldn’t be cricket (old bean.)

For anyone who’s interested in a bit of a knockabout elsewhere in the meantime, me and a few mates play at Burley Park most Thursdays during the summer - any and all are welcome to join us, and don’t worry if you can’t play, neither can we…

Would love to hear from Nathan or Darran, or anyone else interested in reclaiming a piece of Highbury whilst it’s still there. Reply on this thread, and I’ll get back to you asap.

Cheers,

Duncan

Darran wrote:
July 29th, 2008 at 9.51 pm

I currently play for Meanwood up next to the Myrtle but willing to help restore Highbury. A few of the lads up at Meanwood have played at Highbury so i’m sure i could rope in a few bodies to help.

If anyone cares to donate some gardening equipment for a couple of weekends i can be reached at darran.lambert@btinternet.com

Duncan wrote:
July 31st, 2008 at 4.46 pm

Nice one Darran - will be in touch on email.

Anybody else up for a spot of amateur groundskeeping/jungle clearance?

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Derelict cricket clubs