Cricket match moved after Travellers pitch in York village

As reported by The Press today (Tuesday, August 4), caravans are camped in Rufforth Playing Fields, off the B1224 Wetherby Road.

The fields are home to Rufforth and Marston Cricket Club, Rufforth Tennis Club, Rufforth United Football Club and a newly formed Rufforth Circuits, according the Rufforth Playing Fields Association.

A spokesperson for Rufforth and Marston Cricket Club said this afternoon that nine caravans were set up on the playing fields and the first arrived on Monday.

The club spokesperson said: “We’ve had to move a game tomorrow (Wednesday) to Heslington and the club are letting us use their pitch at no cost.

“But we have to fulfil a fixture on Saturday and that will cost us £130 to book another pitch in order to do so.”

According to the England and Wales Cricket Board’s online cricket club platform, the club fields two men’s senior teams in Yorkshire leagues and a midweek XI, plus boy’s and girl’s cricket and softball teams.

The spokesperson said the club was working with the police and bailiffs at a cost to them.

City of York Council said it would only become involved if the landowner specifically requested its services, as the encampment is on private land.

The Press has contacted North Yorkshire Police.