Ground & Equipment

For over a century, our club was tied to Graves Park—a historic pitch, yes, but one that brought years of struggle, defined by constant headaches: break-ins, frustrating vandalism, and a setup that, frankly, left us trailing many if not all local clubs. We loved playing cricket in the park, but we deserved better. Now, that chapter is closed. Matthews Lane, Norton, is our extraordinary new home. It’s more than just a ground; it’s a beautiful spot already radiating its own character and charm. The move gives us an incredible, secure platform that simply wasn't possible before. We've collectively achieved a monumental shift, going from determinedly making do to owning one of the finest, most dependable setups in the area.

Ground Equipment

Our grounds team do a fantastic job getting games on each weekend. Our team are led by Head Groundsman Mark Pearson, Assistant Groundsman Dan Turner and a load of volunteers including President Dave Colegate. For 2026, we welcome Martin Sayles to the team to help get our wickets pitch perfect.

Our equipment list is as follows:

• TEREX TV-800 1.5T HEAVY ROLLER

• RANSOMES SUPER CERTES PEDESTRIAN MOWER (SHAVER)

• JOHN DEERE 2500A RIDE ON CYLINDER MOWER (OUTFIELD MOWER)

• OUTFIELD TRACTOR c/o Mark Pearson

  
  You can learn more about our equipment in this video featuring Assistant Groundsman and Videographer Dan Turner.
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtMwD_VJfi0

Square Maintenance

We have one of the fastest, if not THE fastest draining square in the league. This means we get games on when others can't. It also means we have to work hard to maintain quality decks and we have a strong team to do this.

To support the team, our equipment list includes:

• Water supply direct to the square

• 1000l Water Storage Tank

• Sprinkler System

• 3x Roll On Covers

• 2x Ground Sheets

Playing Surface

We have 8 wickets, rotated 3 times per season, plus an AstroTurf wicket for Junior and Midweek fixtures.

Through 2025, our square was generally high scoring. We featured amongst the highest scoring grounds in our division and that was fantastic to see given we have a very new square (re-laid winter 2024) and a very fast draining square!

If you join us, you can expect to play almost every fixture. We have very few rained off games and our outfield is also excellent for drainage.

This transformation is a profound source of shared pride and passion for every member. We aren't focused on others; we are simply amazed by how far we have come. Matthews Lane is the bedrock for our future, giving our players and community the quality ground they have long earned and deserved.