ALTHOUGH the rain-sodden cricket season has now drawn to a close, one county club has an extra incentive to look forward to the next campaign.

Strollers Cricket Club will be celebrating their 50th year next season.

And, after nearly half-a-century without a permanent home, the club have now set up base in Fownhope.

The previously nomadic club, who have, in the past played their matches at a variety of temporary homes including the King George’s Playing Fields in Hereford, John Kyrle High School and Ledbury Rugby Club, have shown their intent by raising £10,000 through fund-raising, grants, loans and donations to construct a new square in the south Herefordshire village.

And now, this latest move will hopefully bring a permanent venue for the GB Liners Marches League club to play their home matches.

With a team of more than a dozen volunteers, the club constructed a new square in just five days.

“A great team effort began with the foundations of eight inches being dug out for the seven-pitch square,” said the club’s Mark Powell.

“This was then filled with 80 tonnes of gravel and 80 tonnes of loam, which was levelled and compacted by hand.”

The club hope to start their 50th anniversary year next season with the first team playing on the new grass square, while the second team will continue to use the artificial pitch. Then in 2014, both sides will use the grass square.

Club secretary and former captain, Martin Skirrow said: “This is an exciting time in the club's history.

“It is the first time we have undertaken a project of this size and also in establishing a home for the club.”

He added: “This is the start of a new era for the club and I hope that having this base will allow the club to continue and flourish in Fownhope.”

The club is looking to recruit new players for the 2013 season and anyone interested in playing should email Strollers at info@strollerscc.co.uk or check the official website strollerscc.co.uk