In 2025 we will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of sport being played at Cricketfield Lane. We believe that Bishop’s Stortford Cricket Club is the oldest club in the world to have played on the same ground throughout its existence since 1825.
As we approach that milestone we are delighted with the health of our organisations and the drive for progress. Over the last few years, new tennis courts have been built and others resurfaced, the ’bubble’ being erected each winter to allow all year round tennis. Two padel courts are currently under construction giving members an opportunity to play this sport that is rapidly growing in popularity, and the new junior cricket pitch which has recently opened. In addition, the Bishop’s Stortford North Consortium have donated 2 acres of land in Ash Grove to us, which will be used to further expand our facilities in the future.
As well as extending and improving our facilities, our total membership has grown significantly doubling in the last 10 years. We now have more teams than ever playing competitively and the Cricket 1 st Team won the Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League Championship in 2021.
Socially we are very active, with events such as the annual Beer and Music Festival growing more and more successful, and the club has twice been named CAMRA Club of the Year for the whole of East Anglia. This success has greatly increased bar profits which have been used to subsidise the cost of maintaining our sports facilities, including our award winning grounds, in accordance with our charitable objectives.
Bishop’s Stortford Community Sports Club is a vibrant sporting and social organisation that is building for the future, ready to take the next step and build a wonderful new pavilion in time for our bicentenary.
The Charles Edwards Pavilion, built in 1972, is now at the end of its useful life. Growth in membership and our plans for the future require a larger space for spectating and socialising as well as improved changing facilities.
Regulars will know that the roof frequently leaks, the building is cold and expensive to heat and the number of toilets is insufficient to cope on busy summer days.
Investments over the last few years, such as the outside patio, have helped us cope with increased demand but further growth will be restricted by the size of the CEP. The lack of inside space and facilities stops us from hosting events from parties to conferences or from providing daytime facilities.
The ongoing housing development on Stortford Fields and elsewhere in town is increasing the demand for community, social and sporting facilities
This creates an opportunity for Bishop’s Stortford Community Sports Club to meet that demand and become a central hub for the local community throughout the year, hosting events both sporting and social while always making space for our valued regulars.
We need a facility to feel proud of and an inviting environment for players, spectators and members of the local community, where we can welcome visiting teams and their supporters; providing the best in amenities as well as sportsmanship.
While many of us have great memories of good times spent in the CEP over many years, now is the time to move forwards and open the doors to a new era.
The new pavilion will provide essential supporting facilities needed to give everyone in the local community the chance to participate in sporting activities, regardless of ability and to have the best chance to reach the level of excellence to which they aspire.
A larger pavilion with a roof terrace will more than double the amount of space available for spectating and other social activities, including daytime facilities such as a coffee shop. A members’ area will allow us to host functions while continuing to provide members with a private space.
Designed to a high standard to minimise the environmental impact of the building and maximise the lifespan of the new pavilion for future generations to enjoy.
Catering for the increasing local population will generate greater profits to secure the future of sport at Cricketfield Lane to enable the further enhancement and extension of our sports and social facilities.
The Bicentenary Pavilion will be a warm and welcoming pre- and post-match venue and a hub for social activities for all our members and the local community.
The plans that have been drawn up in consultation with members, clubs and staff will allow us to realise the potential of our site in what is surely the most idyllic setting for sport in the Bishop’s Stortford area.
The new pavilion will replace the Charles Edwards Pavilion with just the squash courts being retained. It will be located on the same site but expand towards the clock pavilion.
Members and visitors will enter the pavilion through an impressive entrance foyer leading to the enlarged social space. In fine weather, floor to ceiling folding doors will open out onto a patio at the same level, seamlessly creating an even larger area.
Throughout the year, large screens will continue to provide coverage of all the big sporting events and a new kitchen will allow us to open a daytime coffee & tea shop, which will offer the best snacks and cakes!
The flexible space can be partitioned to create a members area, with its own bar for use when the main area is hired out for functions.
Doors will lead out to a short corridor to access the bigger male and female toilets and, beyond that, the squash courts, changing rooms as well as the disabled toilets and baby-changing facilities.
On the first floor will be a spectacular roof terrace with its own bar and toilet facilities, providing unrivalled views over the main cricket pitch and some tennis courts. This terrace will catch the sun late into summer evenings to create a lovely spot for relaxing with a glass of your favourite tipple!
Also, on the first floor there will be an office and a meeting room for use by clubs.
Outside, as well as the extended patio, the car park will be enlarged and electric car charging points will be installed.
The whole building and all the facilities will be fully accessible, including a lift to the roof terrace for those unable to use the stairs.
Sporting facilities will include:
The pavilion will be built to the latest environmental and energy efficient standards including features such as:
Finally, in addition to all those enhancements, a small extension will be built onto the existing clock pavilion containing a changing room dedicated for use by umpires.
The Bicentenary Pavilion project, including the associated landscaping, will cost approximately £1.8 million and we have identified over one third of the funding.
The new Pavilion will benefit all our members and the whole local community, and the project offers a way for everyone to be involved in supporting sport and social activities at Bishop’s Stortford Community Sports Club. If you are a member, you may like to make a contribution as an appreciation of the enjoyable times you have spent here and to secure these wonderful new facilities for current and future generations of members to enjoy. If you manage or own a local business, you may wish to sponsor all or part of the new building. However you choose to give, your generosity will be greatly valued.
Members may contribute either through a donation, for which tax-efficient giving can enhance your generosity, or through an interest-free loan which will be repaid in the years following the completion of the pavilion.
Recognising your generosity
All those who give to the project will be invited to a special opening event at the Bicentenary Pavilion, bringing together friends and supporters in celebration of Bishop’s Stortford Community Sports Club.
Gifts over £1,000 and loans of £5,000 or more, will be recognised as follows.
Bicentenary Club
Highlighting the forthcoming 200th anniversary of sport played on the site, the Bicentenary Club will be open to all members donating £1000 or more (before gift aid) or loaning at least £5,000. Benefits will include:
All benefits will last 10 years for donors or until your loan is fully repaid.
Vice Presidents Club
Those members willing to donate at least £10,000 (before gift aid) or loan £20,000 or more will be invited to join the Vice Presidents Club. Benefits will include:
All benefits will last 20 years for donors or until your loan is fully repaid.
Tax effective giving
As a charity, BSCSC can reclaim tax on donations if you complete a Gift Aid declaration, substantially increasing the value of your gift. Every £1 you give will be worth £1.25 to the Pavilion project and If you pay higher rate tax, you can claim back the difference between your higher rate of tax and the basic rate of tax on the total gross value of your donation.
The following table shows the impact of Gift Aid on various levels of donation.
| Gift Amount | Value to BSCSC | Cost to 40% Taxpayer |
|---|---|---|
| £40,000 | £50,000 | £30,000 |
| £20,000 | £25,000 | £15,000 |
| £10,000 | £12,500 | £7,500 |
| £8,000 | £10,000 | £6,000 |
| £4,000 | £5,000 | £3,000 |
| £800 | £1,000 | £600 |
| £400 | £500 | £300 |
Sponsorship & Naming Rights
Local businesses wishing to make a sizeable contribution may do so via a sponsorship arrangement which can be linked to naming rights for parts (or all) of the pavilion.
Opportunities for naming rights include:
Other potential benefits include the hire of the pavilion for functions, VIP area at Beer & Music Festival etc.
