Essential maintenance leads to request for cricketers to move for one season
11/03/2025
The field is in use all year but Bodicote Welfare Fund needed to find a time to improve the facilities for everyone
The need to complete essential maintenance on the Kingsfield playing field in Bodicote has led to Bodicote Cricket Club being asked to play elsewhere for this season. The committee which manages the multi-use site says the work must be undertaken to improve the sports facilities for everyone.
But the cricket club say they are saddened by the impact this has had on them.
Kingsfield and the Bodicote Village Hall at the edge of the field are managed by the charity, the Bodicote Welfare Fund. This is the charity which organises the hugely popular Bodicote Firework Display each year, to raise money to keep the field and village hall running.
The field itself is in use through the year by both football and cricket teams, alongside playing host to a number of other events. To enable the maintenance work can be completed a request was made to Bodicote Cricket Club for them to find an alternative venue where they can play this season.
But the club posted a message on social media indicating they are not happy with the decision. It read: “We are very disappointed to advise that we will not be playing cricket in Bodicote in 2025. This is as determined by Bodicote Welfare Fund, the charity that manages Kingsfield, bequeathed to the village in 1945, and the club’s home for over 90 years.
“This also means that we have had to abandon plans to run a 2nd XI again and gave up their place in the South Northants Cricket League. The 2nd XI would have included a number of young players and recognised our efforts to increase our players’ pool after we almost folded seven years ago.
“We are saddened by the impact on us and on the village community as a whole.”
In response a spokesperson for Bodicote Welfare Fund told Banbury FM: “We are having maintenance work done on the field and they have been asked to play elsewhere for one season.
“These two important facts were missing from the social media post.
“Its a multi-purpose playing field catering for football and cricket teams all year. This will improve the sports facilities moving forward for everyone.”
The cricket club declined Banbury FM’s request to speak to them, but expressed online their gratitude to Broughton and North Newington cricket club, who have allowed them to play home matches at their ground this season.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
