MEMBERS of a rounders team are in shock after being made to leave their home of more than 40 years.

On September 12, Eagley Pike rounders team received a text message saying Eagley Cricket Club would stop hosting rounders matches due to commitments to T20 cricket.

Doreen Perkin, secretary at Eagley Pike, said she was ‘gobsmacked’ and has now been left with just six weeks to find a new place to play for the next season.

She was also shocked that, after such a long association, the team was informed by text message rather than being told face-to-face.

Dunscar Bridge Ladies and Fernhill Farm Stables also play at Eagley and will need to find a new home.

Mrs Perkin said: "We have played at the cricket club for around 45 years, I have played down there for 35 years.

"When I found out I said, it is disgusting. I got a text from a third party. I am absolutely gobsmacked.

"There are three teams who play there and we have been left with about six weeks to find somewhere new to play. The AGM is at the end of next month or the start of November and we need to say then where we will be playing.”

Mrs Perkin added: "It is just the way we have been treated. They were quite happy to take the £200 off us a few weeks ago."

In a statement, Dave Miller, secretary at Eagley Cricket Club, said the club is undergoing a period of regeneration with eight Eagley Cricket Club teams using the pitch.

Junior matches are being played on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays as well as T20 on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Mr Miller said: "As you will appreciate, this level of use places significant demands on the cricket square and the associated outfield. No one is more conscious of this than myself given that I assist in looking after the ground on a voluntary basis.

"To assist in managing wear and tear of the outfield, we have recently curtailed its use for junior football matches in the winter as it needs time to recover from the cricket season. Suffice to say, we now need to take the same decision with rounders to look to improve the outfield throughout any given year."

He added that senior teams have practice sessions on Tuesday evenings and the space where the rounders teams play is needed for this, and there are also health and safety implications.

Mr Miller said: "Finally, we have major redevelopment plans for the Eagley Sports Complex which, if we can manage to secure funding, would see wholesale demolition of the existing buildings and redevelopment of our valued community facility.

“This would include a new club house/changing rooms/function suite, the remodelling of the cricket field and senior football pitch and the introduction of dedicated junior football pitches, which we do not currently have.

“Subject to the final design solution and land take requirements, we may be able to look at including a dedicated area for rounders to be played safely and without impacting upon cricket activities."