2024 Recap

2024 has been a transformative year for the cricket division at Verde Sports. Despite battling wet weather throughout the year, we’ve completed some stunning developments and installations. Collaborating with both returning and new customers, we continue to lead the way in delivering high-quality cricket facilities in the United Kingdom. This year we continued to innovate and tackle projects that initially seemed unfeasible. However, we proved once again that anything can be achieved!

January to March was exceptionally wet, and much of our time was devoted to completing projects, delayed by the heavy rains of September and October 2023. One particular project during this period was at Prestbury Cricket Club in Cheshire, completed by Duncan Ross Ltd. For years the club had been told they lacked the space for a proper practice facility. However, with careful planning, we constructed a solution that accommodates the club's ever-growing senior and youth teams. With a base structure that won’t impact the drainage of the site, the installation was completed in three weeks (including some interruptions from the weather) and was ready for the beginning of the cricket season.

This period also marked a significant milestone for Verde Sports as we bid farewell to our esteemed colleague, Peter Dury, who retired after many years in the industry. Peter could trace his work back to the beginning of cricket’s relationship with NTP, as his father had been a pioneer in the development of these pitches. Peter had been involved from the outset, joining Verde Sports in the late 90s and leading the cricket division ever since. He now enjoys a well-deserved retirement, having passed on his extensive knowledge to our current team – and happy knowing he no longer needs to measure a facility in the driving rain again!

From April to June, our installation teams were in full swing, catching up with the delays caused by the persistent wet weather. The team at Cover Solutions, led by Carwyn, took on an impressive installation at Cheltenham College. They upgraded the school’s existing facilities to bring them up to date, delivering exceptional work that allowed us to continue working with them as one of our trusted installation teams.

Our installation teams of John Barnes Lawn and Landscaping, SJ Surfacing, Cover Solutions, and AJ Richardson worked tirelessly to get through the work. Work was particularly hard at Corbridge Cricket Club, where AJ Richardson battled continuous rainy weather to install a three-lane practice facility. The installation was officially opened (fittingly in the rain) by former England Captain, Paul Collingwood MBE.

July to September saw a return to a more even pace, compared to the previous quarter! A highlight of this period was at Stapleton Cricket Club. Verde reconfigured some concrete nets into a new facility, complete with one of our ECB-Approved Premier Systems. The team at Cover Solutions did an excellent job, even with the presence of the local fox and wildlife who had taken an interest in the new nets. Meanwhile, at Long Eaton Cricket Club, John Barnes and his team had completed a brilliant two-lane installation. Proudly situated in the local park, this installation represents the club's first dedicated practice facility. Long Eaton C.C. has been nothing but effusive ever since, describing the installation as a game-changer for their training and development.

Finally, to wrap up the year, October and December have passed as expected. We have been busy with quotes, rather than installations, as the wet and cold conditions make it difficult to ensure the high-quality standards we uphold. During this period, Peter Berry – who has taken over from Peter Dury (Peter to Peter, to not confuse anyone!) has been travelling across the country, planning projects for 2025. With our order book filling up nicely for 2025, let us know how we can be of service to you!

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