Denver Ryston Roxham & Fordham Playing field Association
Registered Charity no.800393
HISTORY
The playing field serves the ancient parish of Denver, Ryston, Roxham & Fordham, an area of approximately 10 square miles and a population of approximately 1600.
Although there is record of cricket being played on the field since 1901, the more recent history started in 1976, when the Denver, Ryston, Roxham & Fordham Playing Field Association was formed. The next ten years were spent attempting to secure purchase or long term lease of the playing field from the owners, The Ely Diocesan Board. At the same time, the Association maintained and improved the field and facilities to the best of their abilities, not having a long term lease and, therefore, no grant aid.
From 1986 to 1988, negotiations on a lease offer took place. In order to secure a lease, major concessions had to be made, by accepting that only part of the field which existed at that time was to be included and the remaining land necessary to provide sports pitches would have to be made up of the adjoining land to the north, up to the new by-pass, which was then in arable use. ( The Ely Diocesan Board still retains the right to reclaim the southern half of the existing field and the Downham Road frontage, if they can obtain permission to develop it.)
At that time, the Association found itself in the difficult position of having to finance the conversion of the northern land into playing field, as part of the terms of the lease. Around £5000 was spent on levelling, draining and seeding, all from local fundraising. By 1991 the grass was established enough for the hockey pitch to be relocated, to its current position. Also in that year, Planning Permission was obtained for the new clubhouse and, as a long term lease was now secured, grant aid was sought.
Work commenced on the clubhouse in October 1991, once grants had been obtained from the Football Trust, The Borough Council of Kings Lynn & West Norfolk and the Norfolk Playing Field Association. The building work was carried out almost entirely by local volunteers and the ground floor changing rooms came into use in the Autumn of 1993. The grant aid received towards the building costs totalled £17250 and the balance of approximately the same amount again, all came from local fundraising.
The first floor clubroom area was completed and carpeted in 1998.
The Association has always received the support and financial assistance from the Parish Council, in 1996 this help was increased substantially, in the form of a grant to cover the costs of grass cutting.
In 1999, there was another substantial increase in grant aid from The Parish Council. The increased grant meant less emphasis on essential fundraising for the Playing Field Committee, which could now adopt more of an administrative role.
Without this assistance from the Parish Council, the Playing Field Association would not be able to sustain the ever increasing costs of maintaining the field. Even now, some fundraising is still necessary to supplement the income from the sports clubs using the field.
In October 1999, an application was made for a Lottery Grant, to fund new play equipment and surfacing. The grant was received in 2000 and the work involving new swings & surfacing and renovating and moving the horse was carried out. A seat outside the clubhouse and a trophy display cabinet were erected thanks to a legacy from the late Barney Leftley.
Although the Parish Council continued the grass cutting grant, the increased grant was not forthcoming in 2001. With no additional grant available to the Association the committee had to “draw in its horns” and run the Playing Field on a shoestring.
In 2002 the additional grant aid from the Parish Council was restored and continued through 2003 and 2004.
Denver Bell Sunday FC reformed in 2003 and is currently the only football team using the field. Unfortunately, after many years, the Denver Ladies Hockey Club departed to play on astroturf at Marham. Denver Cricket Club continue to use the field, together with Downham 3rd cricket team which started using the pitch in 2003 on Saturdays.