Summer Sports - Cricket


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The committee embarked on further development plans, and funds soon became available to build a two storey extension to the pavilion that was actually opened by famous West Indies cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers


Former Head Groundsman Leslie Thompson, left, with grounds convenor Gary Thompson


But, thanks to the efforts of a passionate and visionary committee in the mid-1980s, the full potential of Carrickfergus Cricket Club started to reveal itself. When the committee drew up ‘a sound,


aggressive business and development plan’, the current clubhouse and grounds were opened in 1988. Encouraged by that opening, the


committee embarked on further development plans, and funds soon became available to build a two storey extension to the pavilion that was actually opened by famous West Indies cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers.


And it didn’t end there as the grounds


received an overhaul with improved drainage, a pitch extension and a top quality double-berth practice installation to cap it off in the last fifteen years. As the club membership grew, funds


totalling £250,000, including a boost from a loan, became available to modernise and enlarge the lounge bar and kitchen, on top of improvements to the changing facilities and provision of storage for ground maintenance equipment. Nowadays, the club enjoys operating from


its expanded base and grounds that extend to around almost four acres in size. Within the site there are ten wickets, one artificial playing surface and two practice areas. Looking after the grounds is a real team


effort but, at the helm, is grounds convener Gary Thompson and head groundsman Michael Kennedy. Gary has been in the position for the past


eighteen months and says he learned the ropes from his uncle Leslie Thompson who was the head groundsman at the club for “a long, long time.” Michael has been the head groundsman at Carrickfergus since April 2015.


Gary freely admits Leslie “taught me


everything I needed to know about looking after the grounds, and then some.” A banker by day, Gary has enjoyed his role, but insists it’s a real team effort when looking after the grounds, as was discovered during


54 I PC AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017


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