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General Cricket => Cricket Admin, Facilities and Fundraising => The Groundsman => Topic started by: uknsaunders on April 15, 2016, 09:13:39 AM

Title: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: uknsaunders on April 15, 2016, 09:13:39 AM
The ECB have made some kind of effort to help small clubs in recent times, possibly not enough compared to what they spend propping up the county circuit but there grants available. Things like covers/sightscreens/ equipment are great but maybe what clubs need is better drainage? Especially right now when games are getting called off left right and centre due to unfit pitches.

Now proper county level drainage isn't an option but surely something can be done on a more basic (cheaper) level?
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: roco on April 15, 2016, 09:16:23 AM
Fully agree with this as we haven't lost many games to wet surfaces as we spent thousands (Very lucky we had a god fund raising year) on drainage but many grounds I see if there is any rain its off as a lot of clubs just cannot afford it
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: liscon12 on April 15, 2016, 09:24:09 AM
I'd imagine a fair few clubs also share there ground in the off season with football and rugby clubs so when are they going to find the time to do the changes to the ground, it could be very hard for them. I like the idea but it all comes down to money which sadly clubs aren't flush with :(
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: thecord on April 15, 2016, 09:34:39 AM
We are looking at drainage in conjunction with the other sports clubs who use the facilities where we play.
It sure isn't cheap but working together may well make it more affordable.
No mention yet of what time of year the works are done mind!
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: edge on April 15, 2016, 09:47:00 AM
When my old club had drainage put in it made a huge difference to how quickly the square dried up, was well worth it! No idea how much it cost though, I assume not a huge amount.
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: ProCricketer1982 on April 15, 2016, 10:03:28 AM
What might be helpful is if people know how to build in basic drainage into outfields or even around the square etc..

Maybe clubs could actually install their own drainage etc
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: mdg20 on April 15, 2016, 10:39:47 AM
It's a massive issue for us, we've quite a large outfield and the minimum cost we were quoted was £20k.
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: JB on April 15, 2016, 11:06:54 AM
I'm part of a family business that does Groundworks & Civil Engineering. We also Construct Natural and Synthetic Pitches and carry out drainage works to existing fields.

The problem with trying to keep the costs down is that the kit to carry the work out efficiently and with the least disruption is very expensive!! Any questions on costs please ask and I will try to give as best a guide to what we would charge so you could see if you are getting ripped off.

Please note that i'm not touting for work as we are flat out at the minute!!!!
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: uknsaunders on April 15, 2016, 11:27:08 AM
I'm part of a family business that does Groundworks & Civil Engineering. We also Construct Natural and Synthetic Pitches and carry out drainage works to existing fields.

The problem with trying to keep the costs down is that the kit to carry the work out efficiently and with the least disruption is very expensive!! Any questions on costs please ask and I will try to give as best a guide to what we would charge so you could see if you are getting ripped off.

Please note that i'm not touting for work as we are flat out at the minute!!!!

I think it would be really useful if you could explain the issues and potential fixes, in layman's terms.
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: JB on April 15, 2016, 11:34:43 AM
What issues are you having?

The most important thing is to find out where the outfall of your system is, or will be. Find the manhole that your drainage runs into.

There are 2 main types of field drainage:

Primary drainage, your main carrier drains and lateral drains. These will involve excavation of trenches to install

Secondary Drainage, Sand Bands/Gravel Grooves/Sand Slits etc. These can be done by displacement meaning that there is no real excavation.

Its no good spending money on Secondary drainage if the primary drainage isnt very good. If you spend the money on the Primary Drainage first, then you can always add to that further down the line.
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: Northern monkey on April 15, 2016, 11:45:29 AM
We are having a nightmare at the minute
The whole grounds waterlogged and no ones seen it this bad before, the land owner thinks there's a spring underneath .
Others have said the village drains are backing up
And others have said its the soil/ rock underneath ?

Both of the weekends games cancelled and we reckon a good two weeks of drying out before we could possibly play on it

With the amount of new housing going up, this problems sure to get worse
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: JB on April 15, 2016, 11:51:36 AM
If you can find the manhole where the existing drainage system is connected you can lift the lid and see if there is anything coming out when its raining. If there is nothing coming out of the drains from your field, you have either a blockage or collapsed drain. If its been poorly maintained it might be that the water isn't getting through to the drains.

If you lift it when its wet and the manhole is filling up with water, then you have problems with the drainage away from the pitch.

A good bit of investigation is key to try to find where the existing drainage is
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: JB on April 15, 2016, 11:53:26 AM
Our field normally drains well, its saturated at the minute!! Its a council owned field though and they don't want to know about any maintenance.
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: Northern monkey on April 15, 2016, 12:12:20 PM
I will try and locate the manhole cover next time I'm up there and have a look
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: JB on April 15, 2016, 12:33:29 PM
I will try and locate the manhole cover next time I'm up there and have a look

Let me know how you get on, take some photos!
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: simonmay5 on April 15, 2016, 12:44:30 PM
I will try and locate the manhole cover next time I'm up there and have a look

Make sure your not unblocking the drains with the customs mate 🙈🙈🙈🙈
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: Northern monkey on April 15, 2016, 01:01:18 PM
Those bats are going near the ground until it's dried off a lot Simon

Spoke to our chairman today and he's never seen the ground as wet!
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: simonmay5 on April 15, 2016, 01:23:04 PM
Those bats are going near the ground until it's dried off a lot Simon

Spoke to our chairman today and he's never seen the ground as wet!


I know mate down our ground is like a bog
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: TGB1997 on April 15, 2016, 01:43:03 PM
I've heard that our club is planning to have an underground water and drainage tank to help keep the outfield as green as possible. Would be awesome if that did happen
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: Roaster323 on April 20, 2016, 01:15:48 PM
Those bats are going near the ground until it's dried off a lot Simon

Spoke to our chairman today and he's never seen the ground as wet!
We are in exactly the same position, groundsman said he is a month behind due to not being able to get any equipment on the square its been that wet, and dont forget the rainfall over winter has been exceptional. We have a problem in one corner of the outfield where the ground is constantly wet/soft. Rodded the drains back from the outfall manhole and hopefully it may make some difference. League pitch inspector said we can play this weekend if we bring the boundary rope in from that corner. (Easy fours eh?) Root cuse is that the drains are probably 80 years old or more now and just need modernising.We are are applying for a sport england grant but apparently everythings been put on hold. quotes are around 15k to re do that half of the ground
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: Vitas Cricket on June 27, 2016, 03:32:56 PM
Not quite on the same subject but this is new for 2016

http://www.durantcricket.co.uk/outdoor/run-bund-pitch-protection (http://www.durantcricket.co.uk/outdoor/run-bund-pitch-protection)
Title: Re: Time to look at Drainage for cricket grounds?
Post by: ppccopener on June 27, 2016, 03:51:55 PM
drainage?

Saturday I was at my ground with 7 others taking surface water for 4 hours using waste disposal bins. Yes we scooped the water off the ground with bins.

Village?   yes absolutely..especially as I fell down the clubhouse carrying a bin and sprained my ankle badly.

we stuck the oppo in on a nightmare pitch and rolled them out for 80 then knocked them off 3 down. I was 2 not out

was it worth it?  I dunno really !! :) :)