Who are we?
We are a thriving cricket club with a proud history. We have more active cricket playing members than any club in Calderdale, including over 150 junior players. And, in 2025, we are celebrating our 150th anniversary.
Why are we crowdfunding?
It takes a huge effort to maintain our grounds and our small but highly dedicated team of Chris Drake and the award-winning Rod Heyhoe, recognised as one of the best in the country, have been nursing an ageing, unreliable and sometimes unsafe mini-tractor for many years to ensure they can prepare the ground and estate to the highest standard for our club and our community. The rest of their kit is in fine fettle but this little tractor has been a big problem for well more than a year now.
Rod has been part of the Club for an incredible 71 years and started cutting the outfield FIFTY years ago in 1975. For the past 14 years, he has been joined by Chris. Together, they make an exceptional team which the club is very lucky to have.
The tractor an essential item of equipment - for mowing and treating the outfield, for moving the covers and sight screens, for maintaining the track and car park surfaces, and numerous other unseen heavy tasks.
But, without a replacement being secured soon, we are at risk of not being able to provide the sporting facilities which support cricket for our four senior and eleven junior teams, support training for the dozens and dozens of cricketers from age 5 upwards, and support our thriving Petanque Club which provides exercise, friendship & fun to over 50 playing members.
Why we need the tractor
Rod: “Not only is it needed for the outfield, making gang-mowing and spiking far more efficient and reliable. The club is a major land owner now with loads of unseen heavy jobs to do to keep it looking great. This new tractor would make these jobs safer, faster and better in so many ways.”
Chris: “This tractor would make putting the covers on and off into a one-man job, which is a massive plus with the rainy summers we are getting now.”
How we’ll spend the money raised
All of the money raised will go towards securing the new mini tractor.
A very competitive quote has been received, provided because of Rod's impeccable credentials in the world of groundsmanship, but this can only be held for a short time so we need to move fast to secure the funding, secure the tractor, and secure the future maintenance and upkeep of our club, its grounds and its cricket pitch.
Community impact
Our grounds also host regular events for the community and we welcome those from near and far to events, meetings and celebrations throughout the year at our new Clubhouse. We also host the Lightcliffe Village Gala every year attracting hundreds of people into our club and preparing for this is an essential part of what the tractor would also do.
How you can play your part
There are two simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success! And if you are a UK tax payer, don't forget to tick the Gift Aid box, which means the taxman will boost your pledge by 20%.
2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.