Stayley Cricket Club

At the end of the 2007 Season, a fire swept through our club's changing rooms.  The fire destroyed this historic building, the last link to our 1930's role in Great English Cricket; but was halted before it could reach the main clubhouse.  Our thanks go out to Greater Manchester Fire Service, who worked extremely hard in difficult circumstances.

	A sad view of the changing room steps. For decades batsmen have run down these steps (or reluctantly walked back up them).  The true date of the buiding is unknown, but it is shown in our club's roll of honour (1918). Note that the signage shows extensive damage - and that the roof is completely lost!
	Clearing Up. This is possibly the strangest picture of all.  The fire was extremely hot (all those 1900s materials in it's construction) but these plastic chairs somehow survived - though a bit less functional. The clear-up took several days
	Source of the Fire The fire-crew pointed out to me where the fire was started.  It was deliberately caused by a petrol fire underneath the seat of the Stayley dressing rooms (yellow x in picture left). From there it spread to the roof and the rest of the building.
	Steve and Billy Billy is picking up a roof joist that has fallen through during the fire.  Steve is looking up through the destroyed roof of the building. Between them is a 'secure' kit locker - containing all the pads etc for the junors.
	Heat The heat of the fire was such that this sink exploded. On viewing the remains of the building, much of its cement had turned to powder. If you look back on the first picture in this article (where Steve is standing at the top of the steps), the whole archway could pushed by hand - and pretty much any interior walls. As the site could not be completely vandal-proof (after all these are the scum who broke in and started the fire), the site was demolished to make safe.
	Sad Remnants These are not the current score-tins, but the ones from 1950s -  kept for a special event, such as the Tanner Cup final.
	Future? Personally, I find this the most distressing image. This is whats left of our slip-cradle. Normally, it looks like a row-boat and fielders learn how to work with an unpredictable ball by the way it rolls 'out the boat'. It will take years to get the money for a new one.  And I  can hear the commentary now.Oh no! He's let that go past ..... or .... that's another opputunity missed!...or...that was a dolly! The truth is that if you care about cricket, it begins with fielding.