20th November 2006
Cupar Cricket Club Joins Forces With Bader Garden Group
One of Fife's oldest sports clubs has announced plans to link with a Cupar community group which is seeking to build a world-class garden and tourist attraction.
Cupar Cricket Club members agreed to join forces with the Douglas Bader Community Garden group in a move which could bring international sport to the town in the next five years. The Strathmore League side, which was established in 1884 and whose home ground is located at Duffus Park, has suffered badly from vandalism in recent seasons.
Since early 2005, the Bader group has been working on a project masterplan with leading European design specialists to transform the park. Dependent on Lottery funding, the existing Bader garden would be removed, and an entirely new 'enabling' garden constructed which could attract tens of thousands of visitors to the town. 
Cupar Cricket Club Captain Paul Trayner (left) hands over a club cap to Ian Stanger when visiting the club's vandal-hit clubhouse during a site visit. Ian Stanger, a planning specialist with designers idpartnership, is a veteran Scottish cricket star and has donated two international shirts to the club to raise funds.
As part of a community partnership arrangement which also involves Fife Council, Elmwood College , Fife Constabulary, and the RAF.
Cupar Cricket Club's existing clubhouse would be demolished and the wicket moved 40 yards to accommodate the development, which would be accessed via Elmwood College. Alongside the garden, a multi-purpose community 'hub' building is planned, which would include community and business facilities, a café, and a conference room.
Custom built changing rooms for the club and a new club room which would overlook the wicket are planned to be included in the new building.
Paul Trayner, Cupar Cricket Club's first team captain and owner of TNT Travel in Cupar's Ferguson Square, said: "This is a tremendous opportunity for the club to gain a top-rate facility and for us to attract new players.
"Our aim is to build up our Junior section and hopefully start a woman's side, and these facilities would help us achieve our goals. We were approached by the Bader group and have now formally agreed to work alongside them to help make this project a reality.
"Already the Scottish Cricket Union has thrown its support behind the scheme, and if we succeed with these ambitious plans there is every chance national representative matches could come to the town of Cupar."
Andrew Gold, Project Manager for the Douglas Bader Community Garden group, praised the club for their willingness to adopt a flexible approach to the scheme.
Mr Gold said: "Our group has had tremendous cooperation from everybody in the town and every single person is behind us. We are delighted to accommodate the club in the new building, on the proviso that facilities would be multi-functional and capable of being used by other groups and organisations.
The building is being designed by idpartnership, one of the UK 's leading architecture and design practices, with a range of prominent and diverse projects throughout the UK and abroad.
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