Back in 2014 we drafted a cricket facilities strategy for the London Borough of Newham. We worked with Newham Council, the England and Wales Cricket Board and Essex County Cricket Board. the project is regarded as an example of best practice by the ECB and has lead to real improvements on the ground.
We’ve now been asked to work again with the council on a wider strategy looking at all the pitch sports in the borough and working with the Rugby Football Union, Rugby League, the FA, England Hockey and the cricket bodies.
One of the key issues and most interesting part of the project is the wide range of organised but unaffiliated activity which takes place across the borough. This includes the Lidelan Football League which is a well run league of 24 teams all drawn from players with a South American background. Every Saturday at the Memorial Park near West Ham tube station is a celebration of latin football, music and food.
Memorial Ground is also the home to East London RFC Kings Cross Steelers RFC. The photo shows the Steelers (in blue) in their recent match against Dagenham.