Across each year, Total Play install ECB-approved, non-turf practice facilities at clubs around the country.
In this content partnership, we’ll dive into a completed project at York Cricket Club and look at the process from start to finish.
The idea being to give cricket clubs a level of detail on what to expect from bespoke design that suits the landscape to construction and feedback.
Anthony Burton, Total Play’s Business Development Manager for the North of England, told me:
“York Cricket Club are a club with which I have had a relationship over the years both as a competing player and through total-play. In 2019, we supplied various ground equipment including sight screens, mobile covers and flat sheets in support of county fixtures returning to Clifton Park.”
Rob Flack, Trustee at York Cricket Club, lent his insight as a key figure managing the project to replace the existing outdoor nets with a four-lane installation.
“As a club who has the privilege of hosting Yorkshire fixtures, our aim is to ensure we can offer facilities that are as good as any in the North of England.”
There’s already been investment at York’s site with a new pavilion on the second pitch, hybrid pitches on both grounds and grass practice area and new covers.
Rob said: “The final piece of the jigsaw was to get the best possible non-turf pitches, and increase the number of nets we have available.”
The extra capacity would support both the professional and recreational game: “We only had 2 non-turf nets, and this meant we couldn’t offer enough practice to all our members, and visiting county teams.”
“We took the decision to go with four new nets, which means on junior practice night, we will be able to ensure all age groups get some net time.”
Once cricket clubs identify the need, it’s about seeking the expertise to set the vision and deliver on time and budget – which is where total-play come in.
Top quality solution
Naturally, clubs will speak to different suppliers to understand how they work and what they can offer. York Cricket Club sought the best possible surfaces, with a particular challenge due to the proximity to the rugby pitch.
Rob said: “total-play came and undertook a really thorough process where they understood the challenges of the site, provided a detailed design and helped guide us through the specifics – such as colour of mats in the nets themselves.”
Another pre season project completed and a big shout out to @totalplayLtd for delivering our new 4 bay artificial nets on time.
— York CC (@York_C_C) March 23, 2024
They look 🔥🔥
Huge thanks to our fundraising team and @BusinessWasteUK for their incredible sponsorship.
AYAW pic.twitter.com/TqJxBePbS0
He added: “Our Director of Cricket, Ian Dews, also visited the facilities installed by total-play at other clubs and was happy that these were the best quality we could find.”
Having interviewed quite a few clubs now, each build is different and comes with its own challenges.
At York, the base construction of the existing nets had failed and to support the next generation of use, designs were put forward to improve and increase the use of the space to a four-lane facility.
So, the existing facility was removed along with relocation of other onsite infrastructure. Aspects of the design for York CC included:
🏏 Two fully enclosed lanes and 2 openable lanes to offer versatility in use.
🏏 Striking natural playing surface carpets with blue borders, run ups and training lines.
🏏 HD Protection tunnel netting with PVC Protection Skirting, Wrap batting curtains, pedestrian and lane end gates.
Fundraising and collaboration
Like many others, York Cricket Club used a variety of means to fundraise in order to press ahead with their non-turf outdoor nets.
“We worked with the local Yorkshire Cricket Board team, in our case Richard Wilkinson and Tom Bates, and we raised the majority of our monies through sponsorship and club donations.”
This involved contributions from local businesses and the whole of York’s membership.
A project like this means plenty of collaboration and total-play worked with the cricket club’s groundstaff (Ben, Keiran and Mike) to clear the site and then laid the surface in late 2023.
A second phase saw the steelwork, nets and matting put in place in March 2024 and they were ready for immediate use afterwards. Safety was of prime importance so that the rugby pitch was always usable.
Outdoor net for the boys in the April showers ☔️ #WeAreYork pic.twitter.com/nzBmaudmKN
— York CC (@York_C_C) April 13, 2024
What’s the response been?
A new facility is always exciting but beyond the extra capacity, there have been plenty of other benefits too.
Rob said: “We are delighted with the end result and have already seen a massive difference in the usage from all our membership. The other thing that has made a big impact this Spring has been how quickly they dry – allowing people to use them within 10 minutes of the rain stopping.”
There are also optional elements to any design such as training lines that can be woven into the carpet and support decision-making for bowlers and batters, as well as aiding coaches.
Ian Dews, York’s Director of Cricket said: “In two lanes, we’ve had stump lines sown in. This helps us work with young cricketers to focus on where they pitch the ball when they are bowling, and how they make a decision to defend or attack when they are batting’.
York CC in 2024
York have made a statement of intent in the Yorkshire Premier League North with the signing of Will Fraine, who played for Yorkshire last season.
Along with Yorkshire colleagues, Bean and Tattersall, overseas player Schaper and York legend Snell, there’s every reason to assume York will again challenge for honours in a competitive league.
Young cricketers like Tom Fraine and others will be aiming for a stand-out summer after impressing for Yorkshire age-groups.
The women’s team, Clifton Park Cobras in partnership with Clifton Alliance, has also made a significant signing Freya Humphrey, who has moved to York from Northamptonshire.
Cobras captain Annie Brown said: “We look forward to Freya joining us, and think she will be a great addition to core players Erin Thomas, Fran Lonsdale and Georgie Flack.”
Thanks to Rob Flack for his input into how the project at York Cricket Club evolved; one that will benefit everyone from junior cricketers to county stars.
Contact total-play
If your cricket club would like to discuss design, installation or maintenance for non-turf cricket pitches, contact Anthony Burton via [email protected] or you can visit total-play.co.uk.
Whether it’s match pitches, practice facilities or cricket MUGAs, there are six ECB-approved systems to choose from, all with a range of unique features.
There is also comprehensive advice on the total-play website.
This is a sponsored article for total-play – if the mood takes you, click to read Cricket Yorkshire’s policy on sponsored content.
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Thank you John, a really strong case study for us and as you touched upon – personally for me, an enhanced sense of accomplishment (pressure, responsibility 😅)
Great end result having worked through lots of onsite factors and considerations with the client. 👍