Highfield CC Community Space Project 2020

Aim: Ensure over 6,000 people every year, including families, continue to enjoy full use of a beautiful and popular community asset.

What is this Project about?

This crowdfunding project is running for just six weeks and is appealing to all those who have used previously, or continue to use, the cricket ground at Highfield, whether at a community event such as the annual bonfire night, family fun day or, of course, through cricket.  The appeal is designed to raise urgently needed funds to progress essential drainage work. We recognise that drains arent the most sexy of projects, but they ensure that the condition and availability of the ground can be sustained for future generations.

As this year has proven, community assets like the cricket ground are so important for safe and healthy social activities.

Who we are & what we do

Highfield Cricket Club was established in the late 19th century but following a bequeathment of land from a local colliery owner, the club moved to the current ground on Billinge Road, Wigan, in 1924, so Highfield CC is edging closer to its centenary. 

The club prides itself on being at the heart of the community, providing both sporting and social opportunities for young and older alike. In excess of 6,000 individuals use the ground each year with many of them enjoying our outdoor facilities on multiple occasions.

The junior section has been boosted in recent years by the introduction of the All Stars scheme for 5-8 years old, leading to two under 9s teams in 2020 alongside teams at under 11, under 13 and under 15.  We also host District and County games, including this year an under 14s roses clash between Lancashire and Yorkshire. The 3 senior teams continue to flourish with the first team a competitive force in the higher reaches of one of the strongest cricket leagues in the country, and many juniors progressing to senior cricket.

Why are drains important?

Whilst over the years, we have continued to invest in the club’s facilities, including self funding and building a new Pavilion and working closely with the Church organisations on refurbishments of the Hall and Lounges; the cricket ground itself, a major community asset, suffers from very poor natural drainage. 

The sheer volume of games and coaching sessions for so many teams, as well as the community events, places huge demands on the ground.

Despite investing literally thousands of pounds every year in addressing the drainage, when we have wet conditions we find it difficult to deliver all of our community based activity - coaching, training, games and community events such as the family fun day, fireworks display and bonfire. Unchecked, we believe this will get worse, but with the planned drainage works completed, we would be able to plan coaching and events with less risk of wash out and use the ground even more extensively, potentially even re-introducing some of the church based community events. 

Cost of Project

A full new drainage system is required, priced at around £50,000 for a four-phase approach.

Such is the importance of this project, that before covid struck, we had already committed to start phase 1 this winter at a cost of £20,000.

However, CoVid has resulted in the cancellation of all event-based fundraising that was organised by us this year. This includes our massive community bonfire and fireworks display, whilst our annual sporting dinner earlier this year has now been cancelled twice. The income from these events is really important to our club operations and we estimate that by March next year, we will have had no fundraising income for 12 months which is devastating. 

We have worked hard to deliver coaching and cricket matches during 2020, enjoyed by participants and large spectator groups on match days, and are determined to continue to provide our sporting and social opportunities when safe to do so. With some belt tightening we are confident we can deliver the core cricket provision; but we do need to find the additional money to start this crucial project and ensure over 6,000 people continue to enjoy our community asset.

What you can do to help

We are therefore appealing for donations from the community, past players, and families of those who have, over nearly a hundred years, enjoyed all that Highfield Cricket Club has to offer. 

We have come up with a wide range of “rewards” for your donations and pledges, hopefully something to suit everyone; so please do anything you can to help us make this happen. 

These rewards have been donated by the community who have already rallied to the cause, for which we thank them so much. 

We have included a Christmas Raffle reward to try and offer some christmas cheer, whilst a number of the rewards can also be claimed throughout 2021 to ensure flexibility.

So pledge now and claim your reward when it suits you!!.

If anyone wants more information about the rewards, please text 07721639970.

We really appreciate you taking the time to consider helping our appeal.

Thank You !

This project successfully funded on 18th December 2020