Successful return to Queen's Park for Derbyshire cricket

Published by webmaster for Chesterfield Borough Council in Communities

Chesterfield Borough Council has hailed Derbyshire's return to play first cricket in Queen's Park as a resounding success.

Last week's Chesterfield Cricket Festival (July 26-30) was the first time that first cricket had been played in the Park since 1998, after the Council agreed a five year contract with the County Cricket Club.

Derbyshire stopped playing in Queen's Park - reckoned to be one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the world - in 1998, concentrating their home fixtures at Derby. But they have returned after the Park underwent a £4.7m facelift and the move has been hailed a success.

Although Derbyshire did not mark the occasion with a win - they drew their four day Championship match against Worcestershire and were beaten by Surrey in a one-day match yesterday (Sunday) - everything else about the Festival went well.

The condition of the pitches and the playing area came in for particular praise from players and officials.
And the public responded enthusiastically, turning up in large numbers to support the Festival.
Almost 1,600 spectators attended on the first day, well above the total that would have been expected from the fixture had it been played at Derby.

The other three days of the championship match also attracted good support and the Sunday game brought in just short of 3,000 spectators.

Tom Sears, Chief Executive of Derbyshire County Cricket Club, said: "We have taken £40,000 in gate receipts for the week, double what we might have expected at Derby.

"There is no doubt that the event has been a huge success and we look forward to returning next year."
Cllr Ray Russell, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: "We are proud to have brought cricket back where it belongs, to the historic and beautiful Queen's Park.

"The Festival was an undoubted success, attracting praise from cricket people, the national press and the people who paid to watch the matches. And it was not restricted to local supporters - I met spectators from various parts of the country who had booked into local hotels for the week as well as cricket lovers who had no connection with Derbyshire, Worcestershire or Surrey, but had come to watch purely because they were so pleased cricket had returned to Chesterfield."

Cllr David Stone, the Borough's Lead Member for Leisure, said: "We are delighted with the way the Festival went and I would like to thank everyone whose hard work made it possible, from the many Council staff who worked long hours to the stewards and the volunteer workers of Chesterfield Cricket Club who did so much to ensure everything ran smoothly."

END

Press release issued July 31st 2006