TEMPLE Cloud Cricket Club have a new home - only eight months after being told to quit their ground.
A club spokesperson writes: "The club, founded in 1919, are a volunteer led, not for profit community cricket club; facilitating over 2,500 cricket interactions in 2024 ranging from their first XI coming fourth in the West of England Premier League to fielding their first ever girls’ team.
"However, this all became at risk when their landlord issued them with a break clause notice at the end of the 2024 season. Leaving them just 8 months to find a new home and have it ready for the 2025 season.
"Now based at their new home in the not-so-distant village of Farmborough, Temple Cloud Cricket Club have a newly refurbished pavilion consisting of home and away changing rooms, umpires changing rooms, toilets plus disabled access and baby changing facilities, a social area with a bar and a patioed outside viewing area of the ground itself.
"This opportunity and these facilities mean that Temple Cloud Cricket Club can provide a vast range of cricket to the connecting community. Running two senior teams and always looking for new players to join, a mid-week senior team, under 13s and under 11s and an all-girls team which is a first for the club in its 105-year existence plus hosting All Stars and Dynamos training programs.
"The support that Temple Cloud Cricket Club has received has been nothing but fantastic. One of the most exciting things for the club has been the backing they have received from England and Somerset Legend Heather Knight OBE who attended the ground on Friday the 9th May to meet all the youth cricketers.
"After holding their official open day at the end of April, in partnership with Farmborough Parish Council where Councillor Sam Ross cut the ribbon and invited the hundreds of people that came out in support to have a look around the newly refurbished pavilion, Temple Cloud Cricket Clubs season started on the first weekend of May and it wasn’t one to disappoint with both senior teams taking the win.
"The first XI hostedg the first game at home to Wembdon Cricket Club where they batted first for a respectable score of 237/8 (50.0) managed to have all Wembdon Cricket Clubs batsmen out for 112 on 27 overs.
"While our second XI took the trip to Winscombe Cricket Club where they secured their first win, batting first they hit 258/7 (40.0) then bowling Winscombe Cricket Club out for 206 on 38 overs.
“Both youth teams got off to a good start for the season as well as they take home wins in their first games.
"This past weekend saw the first XI take on Taunton Deane Cricket Club as the set off on their first away game of the season while the second XI hosted their first home game of the season to Kilmington & Stourton Cricket Club.
"Temple Cloud Cricket Club partnered with Farmborough Parish Council would like to thank the hundreds of people who donated their time, expertise and money (that was raised through the crowdfunding campaign) to make this happen. Without whom they would not be in the position they are today to keep playing cricket at the level they are.”