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Murton Cricket Club was founded in the early 1890's and moved to their current location at the Welfare Grounds in 1934.
During the clubs history in the Durham Cricket Leagues it has been crowned Champions on 9 separate occasions, including 6 times in the past 20 seasons.
The club currently operates a number of teams of varying ages and abilities to provide playing and volunteering opportunities for members of the community.
With 3 senior sides and a thriving junior section of girls and boys aged 4 to 18 years old, training on a Friday evening is a hive of activity at the club.
In light of this, in 2019 the clubs Fund Raising and Management Committee began to examine costs and options surrounding the construction of a permanent non-turf practice facility at the ground.
As an ECB Approved pitch system supplier, Dura-Sport were approached by the club to offer impartial help and advice with regards to facility design, location and specification. Following site meetings and discussions, as well as calls and e-mails, a final design proposal was agreed and an official quotation submitted by the club for funding.
After an unavoidable delay due to the pandemic, funding was secured and planning permission was granted in April. Following some remedial works to the area undertaken by the club, Dura-Sport’s in house installation team broke ground on Monday 28th June 2022.
Following levelling and excavations, 100 tonnes of suitable and foundation material was imported, specified to help to provide the levels, stability, drainage and performance required for the twin bay non-turf practice facility within the chosen location.
The club opted for a full length practice pitch design, with The ECB Approved DSi-pro Vision cricket pitch system specified through each lane, meaning that the same superior shock pad and playing surface is installed from front to back, avoiding any changes in performance or feel underfoot, and any carpet joins, internal framework or trip hazards. The system is surfaced with loam coloured DSi-weave, a superior wilton woven cricket carpet confirmed in an ECB accredited test laboratory as the strongest and most durable available..
The pitches were complimented by DS Evograss, a natural tri-coloured synthetic grass installed in between and alongside each pitch to define them. The material extends to 300mm outside the perimeter of the cage structure to form a synthetic mowing margin around the facility.
The facility design and spike resistant carpet provides the club with the closest non-turf pitch system in terms of look, feel and performance to a well prepared natural turf wicket.
Heavy duty steel work of extended length and height fully encloses the facility, with a DDA compliant lockable entrance and exit gate installed in order to prevent any unauthorised use.
DS extra thick and durable heavy duty knotted netting has been fitted to the entire cage structure, including the full roof in order to help to prevent cricket balls from escaping and enhance facility health and safety.
A 500mm high skirt has been installed at the base of the cage structure to help to avoid any damage from wildlife inspecting the new facility.
Working closely with Club Chairperson and Junior Lead Anthony Potts throughout, the project has been completed ahead of schedule and within the clubs budget.
Anthony Potts said:
"We are thrilled with our new two lane practice facility that has been installed by Dura-Sport at Murton Cricket Club. From first contact their professionalism, expertise and understanding of our requirements shone through. Through the inception, design and procurement period their team worked closely with us to produce an options appraisal that allowed us to make an informed decision regarding the direction of our project. They also provided expert advice and information that allowed the project to achieve planning permission, meet our budget and excite our members. Installation started on programme in June and completed ahead of programme thanks to the effort and dedication of their in-house site installation teams. Installation works went smoothly without impacting local residents and users of the adjoining primary school. We hope that this fantastic new practice facility will not only develop our junior and senior members but attract new members to the club from our community."
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