Facilities
Ground and Facility Improvements
Money was spent on the ground which led to an outstanding honour to the Club in 1979 when the Hampshire and Southern Leagues voted Falkland the "Ground of the Year" in recognition of the superb condition of the square and outfield.
Practice nets were constructed in 1980 and this enabled a junior cricket section to be started.
In 1981 an agreement was reached between the Club and the neighbouring Enborne Lodge School whereby the Club created a cricket ground for use by the school and the Club. Because of the other uses of the area by the school, the number of Club fixtures on this ground was initially set to 12 per year. Changing for the additional pitch was provided in the main Clubhouse by converting two of the social areas to multipurpose use.
In 1989 the Club with the encouragement of the Enborne Lodge School erected a small wooden summerhouse type building on the East side of the 3rd XI ground. This building provided alternative rudimentary changing and shelter during matches as well as storage for spectator seating and some items of equipment.
In 1993 the Club replaced the boundary fence to the Main Ground and at the same time took the opportunity to extend the ground to the north and west. This considerably enhanced the scope and character of the ground.
In 1998 following the closure of Enborne Lodge School by its new controlling authority, Lambeth Council, the school and grounds were sold to a developer.
and as part of the planning consent, the club was able to negotiate with the developer the purchase of the cricket ground ensuring that it had a permanent second ground to cater for its expanding junior section and increased 3rd and 4th XI fixtures..
In 1999 the club also negotiated the purchase of the 50% share of the ownership of the main Enborne Lodge Ground from Mrs Susan Neate, the widow of Joe Neate.
In 2004 the Club was successful in obtaining grant assistance from ECB through the Community Club Development Fund. This led to the construction of a new pavilion with changing, shower and toilet facilities, opened in time for the 2005 season and also a new two bay net facility on the second ground, this being opened in time for the 2006 season.
In 2007 the 49 % of the Neate brothers' ownership of the main ground freehold passed to the newly formed Berkshire Cricket Trust the remaining 1% being retained by Francis Neate. This now meant that the share ownership of the grounds was as follows
Main Enborne Lodge ground: Trustees of falkland Cricket Club 50%, Berkshire Cricket Trust 49%, Francis Neate 1%
Second Enborne lodge Ground: Trustees of falkland Cricket Club 100%
In the autumn of 2006 a start was made on work to re-level the square on the second ground with a view to also changing the East-West direction of play to North -South
Work was hampered by the wet late autumn and lack of drainage on the ground and problems were exacerbated during the unusually wet 2007 summer. The work was completed during the autumn of 2007.
At the same time in the autumn of 2007, perimeter drainage was constructed to the squares on both grounds.
Money was spent on the ground which led to an outstanding honour to the Club in 1979 when the Hampshire and Southern Leagues voted Falkland the "Ground of the Year" in recognition of the superb condition of the square and outfield.
Practice nets were constructed in 1980 and this enabled a junior cricket section to be started.
In 1981 an agreement was reached between the Club and the neighbouring Enborne Lodge School whereby the Club created a cricket ground for use by the school and the Club. Because of the other uses of the area by the school, the number of Club fixtures on this ground was initially set to 12 per year. Changing for the additional pitch was provided in the main Clubhouse by converting two of the social areas to multipurpose use.
In 1989 the Club with the encouragement of the Enborne Lodge School erected a small wooden summerhouse type building on the East side of the 3rd XI ground. This building provided alternative rudimentary changing and shelter during matches as well as storage for spectator seating and some items of equipment.
In 1993 the Club replaced the boundary fence to the Main Ground and at the same time took the opportunity to extend the ground to the north and west. This considerably enhanced the scope and character of the ground.
In 1998 following the closure of Enborne Lodge School by its new controlling authority, Lambeth Council, the school and grounds were sold to a developer.
and as part of the planning consent, the club was able to negotiate with the developer the purchase of the cricket ground ensuring that it had a permanent second ground to cater for its expanding junior section and increased 3rd and 4th XI fixtures..
In 1999 the club also negotiated the purchase of the 50% share of the ownership of the main Enborne Lodge Ground from Mrs Susan Neate, the widow of Joe Neate.
In 2004 the Club was successful in obtaining grant assistance from ECB through the Community Club Development Fund. This led to the construction of a new pavilion with changing, shower and toilet facilities, opened in time for the 2005 season and also a new two bay net facility on the second ground, this being opened in time for the 2006 season.
In 2007 the 49 % of the Neate brothers' ownership of the main ground freehold passed to the newly formed Berkshire Cricket Trust the remaining 1% being retained by Francis Neate. This now meant that the share ownership of the grounds was as follows
Main Enborne Lodge ground: Trustees of falkland Cricket Club 50%, Berkshire Cricket Trust 49%, Francis Neate 1%
Second Enborne lodge Ground: Trustees of falkland Cricket Club 100%
In the autumn of 2006 a start was made on work to re-level the square on the second ground with a view to also changing the East-West direction of play to North -South
Work was hampered by the wet late autumn and lack of drainage on the ground and problems were exacerbated during the unusually wet 2007 summer. The work was completed during the autumn of 2007.
At the same time in the autumn of 2007, perimeter drainage was constructed to the squares on both grounds.
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