North Stand Facing Demolition at Scarborough Cricket Club
Stand closed to spectators following a safety inspection
As the cricket season approaches, the first cuts are being made to outfields and supporters are looking forward to long, lazy summer days. At Scarborough Cricket Club, however, preparations have been overshadowed by the closure of the North Stand after an inspection deemed the structure unsafe.
It had become widely known towards the end of last season that the century-old stand faced an uncertain future. Propped up by scaffolding for much of the summer, many spectators took the opportunity to sit in their familiar seats one last time. From its elevated position at the Peasholm Park End, the stand offered one of the most distinctive views of the North Marine Road Ground.
The closure affects the entire structure, including the scoreboard and commentary boxes. There had been hopes that the section nearest the pavilion might be retained, but the decision now leaves the club with the challenge of relocating both scorers and commentators, likely to an upper level of the pavilion.
The club has acknowledged that limited investment in recent years, linked to financial pressures, contributed to the situation. Neil Fletcher, one of six new volunteer board members, said restoring the club’s finances is the immediate priority after losses of £66,000 last year, following £110,000 the previous season and around £40,000 the year before.
In the short term, attention will focus on maintaining the rest of the ground while longer-term redevelopment options are explored, with the aim of safeguarding Scarborough’s place as Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s traditional seaside venue.
