In the year 2000 the idea was born to build a cricket ground specifically for the development of young people and those with special needs. This task was taken on board by the Sussex Young Cricketer Educational Trust. A site had been identified in the beautiful surroundings just north of Brighton and the downs in a village called Blackstone.
There existed a 5-acre site, which was occupied by the local Stoolball and Youth Football team. Cricket had been played on this ground since 1954 but sadly dwindled away. The plan was to extend this into a 9-acre venue, which would boast two cricket grounds and one football pitch.
To achieve this goal it would require an awful lot of resources both human and most importantly financial. Fundraising began in 2000 and it took 18 months to secure enough funding to get the project off the ground. Ground work commenced in 2001 to convert the ageing ground with sub-standard, if you can say that, changing and toilet facilities into a beautiful, fully equipped sports ground, specifically designed for cricket.
We have been lucky enough to have gained sponsorship through NatWest for revenue costs incurred from activities and would like to acknowledge there support. In Addition to the NatWest financial support, under the Government’s Business Sponsorship Incentive Scheme, Sportsmatch, we have been awarded pound for pound match funding. This has amounted to £60k over the next 3 years for which we are very grateful.
The facility is used for the following cricketing activities:
- School/Club Tournaments
- Area Cricket Fixtures
- Women’s Cricket Fixtures
- Visually Impaired Fixtures
- Junior County Squad Training Day
- Junior County Squad Fixtures
In addition the venue is home to the Local Stoolball and Youth Football team.
