Ashton Ladysmith Cricket Club
Ashton Ladysmith Cricket Club are an open age English cricket team, based in the town of Ashton-under-Lyne in Tameside, Greater Manchester. The club plays its home games at the Ladysmith Sports Centre on Rose Hill Road[1], and competes in the North Manchester Cricket League[2]. The club was formerly known as Ashton St. James Cricket Club and played their games on St Albans Avenue in Ashton-under-Lyne [3].
Thanks to lottery funding the club moved to a new ground on Rose Hill Road, and shortly after changed their name to Ashton Ladysmith, Ladysmith being the name of the army barracks which the ground is now situated[4][5].
In October 2007 Ashton Ladysmith's clubhouse was set on fire [6] and burned down in an act of vandalism[citation needed]. Thanks to the work undertaken by its members the clubhouse was re-generated thanks to various funds.
In September 2010, the club was awarded a £600 grant for new equipment and coaching expenses, as part of a scheme to reduce anti-social behaviour[7].
The club has two open age teams, operating in the first and fourth divisions of the league[8].