A Huddersfield sports club has installed a high tech scoreboard, thanks to a grant from a local landowner.
Rochester Bridge Trust, a medieval charity which owns farmland in Farnley Tyas, granted Almondbury Cricket Club more than £4,000 to install the scoreboard as part of works to upgrade the site for matches and use as a training facility.
Tim Cathcart, Chief Estates Officer at the Trust, explained: “It’s important to support local communities, and so when the cricket club contacted us to ask about sponsorship, we knew this was a good opportunity.
“The club is a valuable part of the community, bringing people together for sport in an open, outdoor environment and we are sure this new scoreboard will improve the match experience for all.”
The new bespoke scoreboard was designed by JP Control. It is fully electronic, LED, operated via an iPad, and is linked to a repeater inside the club house. The scorebox, which is on the roof of the building, has also been completely renovated on the outside, with wood panelling replaced, painted and sealed against weather damage.
Club Secretary David Burns said: “We are very grateful to the Rochester Bridge Trust for the grant towards our new scoreboard, which replaces a second-hand “flip segment” unit that had a tendency to fail at inopportune moments. I’d kept it going for as long as I could but it eventually failed completely last season, when no amount of maintenance could get it to work. This grant means the scores are now visible to all on the pitch and in the club house – and are clearer and easier to read than we have been used to for many years. It’s a significant improvement.”
In total £4,147.80 was granted to the cricket club, which is located in Almondbury, to the north east of Farnley Tyas.
Formed in 1874, Almondbury Cricket Club is always pleased to welcome new members and volunteers. Visit www.almondburycricketclub.co.uk to find out more.
Formed in 1399, Rochester Bridge Trust is a charity which owns and maintains three bridges in the south east. Its work is funded by an estate which includes lands in West Yorkshire. For more information visit www.rbt.org.uk