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Fire rips through 100-year-old cricket club

Rob Dawson
10/ 9/2008

MEMBERS of Hawk Green Cricket Club in Marple have been left devastated after a fire ripped through their clubhouse leaving their centenary celebration plans in tatters.

The blaze - believed to have started after a cigarette was discarded in an outside bin - began just before midnight on Saturday.

Fire crews were called by residents of nearby Hazel View and firefighters were on the scene within 15 minutes.

The fire tore through the bar and the roof, while fire crews from Marple, Offerton and Stockport fought through the night to prevent the flames spreading to the rest of the building.

Investigations are still ongoing into the exact cause of the blaze.

Hawk Green committee member Stuart Needham said: "The cricket was called off because of the weather but a few people stayed for a drink and to watch the football.

"They left at about 11pm and by 11.45pm the building was on fire.

"The building is totally gutted. It has only just had a new roof put on about five months ago but it’ll need a new one now.

"There are two games left in the season and we will have to make some alternative arrangements but they will still go ahead.

"The changing rooms are still usable because it is a brick building but the rest is timber and it’s completely destroyed," he added.

Club Chairman Roy Cartledge said: "The fire started by the front door and has then gone up into the roof.

"There is damage to the bar, the club room and the kitchen, and the electrics have totally gone."

The cleanup and the building repairs are likely to cost thousands of pounds and there is also a doubt as to whether the club’s centenary celebrations, due to take place next year, will now go ahead.

Mr Cartledge added: "The cost of the damage will definitely be six figures but until the insurance company have been in we just won’t have a clue.

"We are very worried about the centenary celebrations. In theory they were going to start on January 1 and that might not be possible now, but we have been in touch with the England and Wales Cricket Board so hopefully we might be able to get some sort of loan.

"But at this point, everything will be governed by what the insurance company say."