A BELOVED cricket club which has become an integral part of its local community is asking the public for help after severe weather conditions led to structural failures at their base of operations.

Woolley Miners’ Cricket Club is deeply ingrained within communities in Barnsley, growing from the former Woolley Colliery and establishing a welfare scheme with a community club in Darton.

Generations of players have picked up the sport thanks to the team and in the wider community they’ve been using their facilities to run a variety of activities.

However, their future has been plunged into doubt, as the extreme weather that has battered the borough over the past few months including snow storms damaged the venue’s roof.

It’s subsequently caused leaks throughout the building, with groups like the Woolley Grange Residents’ Association already having to cancel their pre-planned meeting there as rain water was flowing directly into the room.

As such, the group have begun an online fundraiser in which they’re hoping to raise £15,000 to cover repair work and put in protections to prevent any future damage.

Trustee of the Woolley Miners’ Welfare Scheme charity, Richard Ledger, told the Chronicle: “I was a part of the club when they merged with the old Barnsley Cricket Club around eight or nine years ago.

“The two clubs came together and it’s been really successful ever since.

“But the problem has been keeping up with the infrastructure the current roof is about 16 years old.

“We’ve been patching it up once a year for the last three or four years.

“After this last storm though it’s a real mess.”

While the club’s work continues to attract attention and support, Richard admits that keeping such a group running is harder now than ever before.

“Money’s tight and parents have other things that they’re worried about,” he added.

“We scrape by even though everything’s become more expensive and volunteers are less plentiful.

“There are numerous grants that are helping us do bits and pieces, but the problem here is we’ve got this big flat roof that insurers don’t want to touch.

“Currently we’ve got a big tarp on top held down by breeze blocks just to stop the leaking.”

People have already started to help with the group’s online fundraiser, with £2,625 already donated.

“Local councillors have visited and they’ve been very receptive, but they can’t wave a magic wand and make things happen.

Coun Richard Denton said: “Woolley Miners Cricket Club is a long established part of our community , providing sport and social activities for a diverse range of people.

“Darton East councillors are proud to be associated with the club and are committed to working alongside the management to explore how they can be supported through the council and other funding sources.

“As we expand our communities it is imperative that we retain high quality sports and recreational infrastructures that can be a real and vibrant local hub, promoting physical and mental health for our residents.”