Binfield Cricket Club · Our vision for Gore's Ground
Gore's Ground
A permanent second cricket ground, with junior football in winter
Binfield Parish Council has acquired Gore's Ground, the 6.1-acre field immediately next to our cricket club. We believe it offers a rare opportunity to create more space for local sport while preserving its open green character.
Two needs. One opportunity.
What BCC needs
Our existing ground is full. We hire pitches elsewhere and cap membership because of limited playing space and parking.
What the village values
The Council's earlier engagement highlighted green space, youth provision, sport and wellbeing. Cricket and junior football can meet these priorities.
Sport throughout the year
Second cricket ground
A full-sized cricket square and outfield for senior, women's and junior matches, coaching and an expanded Friday evening All Stars programme.
Junior football
Working with Binfield Football Club, we propose 9-a-side junior football on the outfield in winter. No adult football is proposed.
Illustrative concept only. The proposed layout is subject to detailed assessment and agreement with Binfield Parish Council.
More cricket in the village
Today BCC hires grounds in Winnersh, Waltham St Lawrence and at Desborough College. With a second ground, four Saturday league teams could play their home fixtures in Binfield over the season, alongside more junior, senior and women's cricket throughout the week. That means less travel for players and more home cricket for families to enjoy.
More room for juniors and All Stars
Our junior section, with nearly 150 players, is effectively full because of limited space for matches and training. Friday evening All Stars is also capped by space and parking. A second ground would allow more local children – both boys and girls – to play cricket and more families to enjoy summer evenings at the club.
A new pavilion for both grounds
On BCC's own land, a modern dual-aspect pavilion could overlook both grounds. Better catering, hospitality and spectator facilities would welcome cricket and junior football families without placing another substantial building on Gore's Ground.
Two Green Spaces. One Opportunity.
Cricket is one of the few sports that preserves large areas of open, well-maintained grassland. Our proposal would keep Gore's Ground predominantly green, with cricket in summer and junior football in winter.
But there's another important benefit. Securing a permanent second ground next door would remove the pressure on BCC to consider relocating elsewhere, helping to safeguard our existing cricket ground as green space too.
One opportunity to help protect two of Binfield's green spaces for future generations.
A greener, more resilient club
We could explore substantial rooftop solar panels, battery storage and efficient heating to reduce energy costs. Rainwater harvesting, water storage and a potential borehole could help irrigate both grounds, subject to feasibility, costs and permissions.
A practical starting point
BCC has served Binfield since 1865 and has the experience to help deliver these sporting facilities. We remain open to discussing other community uses once their space, cost and practical implications are clearer.
Have your say
If you support cricket and junior football at Gore's Ground, please complete the Council's five-minute survey and explain what matters most to you in your own words.
Closes Friday 20 November 2026
Open the Council's surveyBCC is preparing a fuller proposal for submission to the Parish Council.
BCC's proposal is not an agreed Council plan. Any development would be subject to consultation, feasibility, permissions and funding.
Questions & answers
FAQ
Who owns Gore's Ground?+
Binfield Parish Council has acquired Gore's Ground, the 6.1-acre field immediately next to our cricket club. The Council is running a community consultation to decide how it should be used.
How do I support the club's proposal?+
Complete the Council's five-minute survey and explain what matters most to you in your own words. The survey closes on Friday 20 November 2026.
Is adult football proposed?+
No. Working with Binfield Football Club, we propose 9-a-side junior football on the outfield in winter. No adult football is proposed.
Would a new building go on Gore's Ground?+
No substantial new building is proposed on Gore's Ground. The idea is a modern dual-aspect pavilion on BCC's own land, overlooking both grounds.
Will the field stay green?+
Yes. Gore's Ground would remain predominantly open and green, with attractive planting and seating for players, families and spectators.
Is the club open to other community uses?+
Yes. We remain open to discussing compatible community uses once their space, cost and practical implications are clearer. Any development would be subject to agreement with the Council, feasibility and funding.
Does Binfield Cricket Club have a Plan B?+
We are optimistic that we can develop a proposal that works for the Parish Council, local residents and the cricket club.
However, if expanding onto Gore's Ground proves impossible, we would need to explore relocating to a larger greenfield site outside the village, with enough space for two or three cricket pitches.
There is a successful local precedent. In 2012, Wokingham Cricket Club moved from its historic ground in the town to a new two-pitch facility in Sindlesham.
Such a move would inevitably raise questions about the future of our existing ground.
But we want to be absolutely clear: this is very much our least preferred option. BCC has been part of village life since 1865. Our overwhelming preference is to stay where we are, expand alongside our existing ground and remain a thriving community hub in the heart of Binfield.
What happens next?+
BCC is preparing a fuller proposal for submission to the Parish Council. We will keep this page updated as the consultation progresses.