Venue to continue hosting first-class cricket following major upgrade

The future of first-class cricket matches in Scarborough has been secured following the completion of a half-million pound upgrade to the town’s historic ground.

Scarborough Cricket Club – with support from North Yorkshire Council and the Scarborough Town Deal Board – received a £250,000 contribution from the £20m Towns Deal fund allocated to the town to carry out repairs, improvements and upgrades to its North Marine Road Ground.

Further funding was provided from the England and Wales Cricket Board and the club with additional council funding bringing the total investment to £509,627.

The works saw the refurbishment of currently derelict space under the west stand to improve the spectator experience by providing new male and female toilet facilities, a changing places facility and a faith room.

The stand also benefited from structural repairs, waterproofing and new seating to replace the old damaged wooden seating.

Improvements were also made to the north stand, provision of new disabled toilet facilities at the Trafalgar Road stand and upgrades to the WiFi internet connections and CCTV infrastructure.

The investment means the club will be able to meet new stadium standards being introduced by the England and Wales Cricket Board and continue to host Yorkshire county cricket matches as one of its outgrounds.

Executive member for open to business, Councillor Derek Bastiman, said: “Scarborough Cricket Club has been at the heart of the town for more than 150 years and this investment will ensure it remains there for many years to come.

“Having first class cricket at one of the country’s most famous grounds is vital not just for Scarborough’s economy, but for the region’s too.

“The crowds that come to watch the matches and the money they spend means jobs for local residents and income for our businesses.”

Scarborough Cricket Club’s president, Bill Mustoe, said: “It has been a pleasure working with the Town Fund team, North Yorkshire Council and the ECB to continue improving the spectator experience to benefit and enhance our reputation of being the best county cricket outground in the country and an international tourist destination.”

Scarborough Cricket Club’s North Marine Road Ground was first opened in 1863.

Today it has a capacity of 9,000 and hosts the annual Scarborough Festival where Yorkshire brings its teams to the coast. The festival attracts thousands of cricket fans to the town as is one of the highlights of the county cricket schedule.

The funding for the upgrades to the ground came from Towns Fund money awarded to Scarborough by the Government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in 2021.

Minister for Levelling-Up, Dehenna Davison, said: “I am proud to see that Scarborough Cricket Club remains at the heart of its community just as it has been for over 150 years.

“Everyone has been bowled over by the renovations to this historic club. And I am proud too that the Government has been able to support this project with some of the area’s £20.2m Town Deal that will see the club through to its double century.”