AO’s John Roberts’ foundation helps transform Edgworth cricket ground

The newly revamped ground in Edgworth officially opened last weekend in time for the new season.

The redevelopment at The Edgworth Cricket and Recreation Club included upgrades to the clubhouse, both on the inside and outside, with more work still planned on the site.

The project was funded through the Jolly Foundation, set up by AO founder John Roberts and his wife Sally, and follows months of building work at the ground.

(Image: John Marriott)

Club members and people involved in the project attended a soft launch on Friday before the venue opened to the public over the weekend.

Dave Enright, chairman of the cricket club, said: “We’ve refurbished the clubhouse, and we’re actually halfway through the development itself because we’re building some indoor nets.

“It’s been tastefully designed with a cricketing theme. It’s fantastic with the support of the Jolly Foundation.

“I think if you’ve mentioned the sport over the last few years, you’d know there’s been fantastic investments in the community.”

(Image: John Marriott)

The work also included improvements to the playing surface ahead of the new cricket season.

Dave said the club had extended the square to allow more matches to be played and carried out drainage work after collapsed drains were discovered underneath the ground.

He said the investment was aimed at improving facilities for younger players and supporting the long-term future of the club.

John Marriott, chairman of The Barlow Institute, said: “It was busy all day, in and out.

(Image: John Marriott)

“Everybody uses it, a lot of people in The Barlow are members of the cricket club. We all work together, and it benefits everybody, it’s all mixing in with all what we supply.

“It keeps getting busier as the year goes on, and the matches there will have much bigger crowds coming.”

The cricket ground forms part of the wider Barlow site alongside the institute and bowling club, which host activities and events throughout the year.

(Image: John Marriott)

John also said he hoped the increased interest in the site would help attract more people to the neighbouring bowling club.

He said: “I don’t want to forget the bowling club, they need more members.

“Bowling clubs are not what they were, this is a good friendly club and that needs promoting as well.”