Flooded club's big revamp

The changing rooms, clubhouse and pitches were flooded and destroyed at the beginning of December but thanks to its hard-working staff and volunteers the club could be back on its feet by the end of the month.

The High Street club, which incorporates the football, cricket and rugby union teams, has seen all its fixtures either cancelled or moved since the deluge but Andy Walling, cricket club chairman, says things are coming together.

He said: “There was a lot of damage and it looks like a bomb site but it’s actually turning out alright. The changing rooms for players and referees are all cleared and ready to use as well as the pitches and floodlights. We’ve got joiners, plasterers, electricians and painters all in this week to sort the clubhouse and most of it is new in for old.”

Andy says that, with insurance, the clubhouse will cost £17,500, the contents will cost nearly £40,000, loss of earnings comes to £3,500 with an extra £1,000 for cricket equipment.

“The bar and carpets were really old so it’ll be nice to be able to give the place a makeover and have everything new,” Andy said. “We’ve used local tradesmen too, with some being friends of the club, so that’s worked out well for us.”

And football club chairman Adrian Wilding confirms the team will be back playing at home this weekend, weather depending.

He said: “We’ll be back playing against Hesketh Bank as long as the pitch holds up with the rain, but that’s a normal concern, nothing to do with the floods.”

Both Andy and Adrian are optimistic the club will be refurbished and fully reopen by the end of the month as the clubs prepare for a fundraising party at the end of the month.

The party will raise funds for the sports club as a whole following the floods as well as being a respite from the devastation caused by the storm.

It is being held at The Wyre Bank, Garstang on Saturday, January 30 from 7.30pm until 12.30pm. There will be a DJ, hotpot supper, raffle and auction and tickets are £15 per person.

All proceeds from the night will go back into the club and for anyone interested contact Charlie Collinson on 07825 508692 or 01995 606204 for tickets.