Hampshire Cricket League – Best Ground Competition 2021

48 Hampshire cricket grounds were nominated for HCL’s ‘Best Ground Competition’ in October this year; voting was on Twitter and open to anyone using social media. Following the elimination rounds EMWCC won our semi-final against Hartley Witney CC and Paultons CC; and then featured in the final against Odiham & Greywell CC. In the end EMWCC received 45% of the vote, but Odiham won with 55%. We are very grateful to all our supporters within the Itchen Valley, our friends and associates, as well as other local cricket clubs who voted for us following their elimination.

Being in the final was a well-deserved acknowledgement for the superb work of our Head Groundsman at EMWCC – Lee Padwick – whose hard work, knowledge and professionalism has continued to improve a beautiful cricket ground in the heart of the village. Lee has been associated with EMWCC all his life. His father Clive Padwick was a key player at the club for many years – and indeed still volunteers to help with the ground. Lee’s expertise in all things lawn and grass stem from helping Dave ‘Coops’ Cooper, the Head Groundsman when he was a young boy. Lee played Colts cricket at EMWCC with his brother Mark and they then progressed through to playing in the Men’s adult teams. Lee was appointed Head Groundsman following Coops’s retirement in 2019.

Lee has also worked on the grounds staff of Surrey County Cricket Club, maintains the Sparsholt CC cricket ground and has been recognised by HCL for his grounds skills and they have appointed him to advise on the pitches of other grounds around the County.

Lee has quite a juggling act during the summer, with Adults & Juniors – Men’s & Women’s teams – all requesting grass pitches for matches & practise, marked out appropriately, as well as access for training. Our autumnal work at the David Roth Ground is now complete and the square has been put to bed for the winter. The Club is also very grateful for the continued support to our groundsman from Michael Gray, our neighbouring farmer, allowing many of the necessary grounds activities to be completed together.

The Club has recently planted four native trees around the ground; and beyond the manicured square and mown outfield are areas of planted rough grass. Local residents enjoy unlimited access to the ground for recreational purposes throughout the year.

The cricket club committee has instigated many improvements to the ground over the last few years, such as the new secure garage / store, named in honour of Coops after his long-standing service to the Club. We have also added a secure storage area behind the Club House, completed this year in partnership with the Village Hall. New grounds machinery and equipment has also been purchased.

Contact details for any questions about the cricket club are as follows:

Club Chairman – Adrian Lee fulford.lee@btinternet.com

Club Secretary – Seb Stannard seb.stannard@btinternet.com

Juniors Administrator – Rhi Kerr juniors@emwcc.com

Lynda Gray Press Officer – ldaten453@aol.com 07759974352