Historic cricket club damaged by fire
ONE of Liverpool’s most historic sporting venues was damaged by fire over the weekend.
Firefighters were called to the blaze at Liverpool Cricket Club in Aigburth Road shortly before 3am on Saturday.
It was concentrated in the three- storey pavilion, and caused extensive damage to the first-floor function room, known as the Grassendale Suite.
However, club managers were relieved that the damage was not as bad as first reported.
It meant the club remained open, and a number of future events already booked can go ahead as planned.
It is believed a marquee will be used while the damage at the function room is being repaired.
Club chairman Peter McEvoy said: “The function room and the terrace has been damaged, including the windows and the wood surrounds and there is a lot of smoke inside.
“No events will be disrupted and we should have the place sorted out in a couple of weeks. We were insured. There have been a lot of volunteers helping to clear up over the weekend.
“I was in Scotland when it happened and I got a call to say the club had burned down, but it’s nowhere near anything like that.”
The function room which was damaged is one of three that the club hires out.
Liverpool Cricket Club was founded in 1807 and is the oldest amateur sporting establishment in Merseyside.
It regularly hosts Lancashire 1st team games on the top pitch, and also has squash, tennis, hockey, bowls, lacrosse and rugby facilities.
