Middlesex CCC declare interest in Barclays Bank Sports Ground

Middlesex County Cricket Club today announced that they wish to purchase the Barclays Bank Sports Ground in Ealing, West London.

Barclays are selling the ground at the end of the current cricket season after 81 years. The ground includes two cricket squares, tennis courts, outdoor swimming pool and indoor sports and recreational facilities, along with bars and conference rooms.

Middlesex have played at Lord's for the past 123 years, and, when they can't play there, they play at Southgate. They do not envisage playing first class cricket at Ealing.

"Lord's is the best place in the world to play cricket" said Vinny Codrington, the club secretary. "However, we do not own a blade of grass, and that hinders our development".

"Our aim is to set up the finest cricket academy in the country" Codrington continued. "Our business plan is aimed at 8-17 year olds and with 5 million people and 600,000 children in Middlesex, we have an amazing catchment area. We want to attract everyone who is interested in cricket to use our Academy. That includes schools, clubs, women, ethnic groups, the disabled, whoever wishes to take advantage of the facility. The ground at Ealing almost exactly fulfils our requirements and is an excellent location".

Middlesex are also keen to involve the local community and are sensitive to the land being Metropolitan Open Land. There would be very little in the way of structural alterations and these would mainly be internal. They do not envisage creating problems by increasing car parking.