Flood-hit St Asaph Cricket Club 'fighting for survival'

The club says it feels the time has come to make the community aware of its plight

With the start of the cricket season imminent St Asaph Cricket Club faces one of the biggest challenges in its 151-year history.

The club needs to raise £300,000 to replace facilities lost in November’s devastating floods.

The club is fighting for survival after its pavilion was wrecked, £20,000 worth of maintenance equipment lost and ground and practice nets ruined.

The cost of demolition and providing temporary facilities for the coming season has added another £10,000 to the bill.

With the recent bad weather having delayed repairs to the ground, the club - which plays in the North Wales Premier League - faces a race against time to bring the ground up to scratch by the start of the season. The club also has junior sides which operate in the North Wales League.

The floods from the River Elwy left a thick coating of silt and stones which has to be removed before the grass can be treated,

A mobile unit is to be installed as dressing-rooms for the coming season and refreshments will be provided at the nearby Plough Hotel.

Chairman Gareth Ryan said they had not publicised their plight until now because they were conscious of the devastation and personal loss suffered by so many local home-owners and businesses.

An appeal has been launched to pay for the repairs and to help build a new clubhouse in time for the 2014 season, which will cost an estimated £300,000.