While Bracken Moor is mainly a cricket club it also offers a wider community reach for a range of activities and clubs to support men’s mental health

Stocksbridge cricket club have been given the green light to build a brand new pavilion at Bracken Moor.

Bracken Moor is a sociable and inclusive cricket club that boasts two men’s Saturday teams, two women’s teams and a junior section.

Dom Gentlesmith told the Sheffield Star: “I’m really excited. The building we currently have I think has been in place for over 100 years. And although we’ve tried to maintain it the best we can it needs modernising. It’s great to get started.”

Dom explained that the idea to build a new pavilion has been more in the works for more than seven years.

“It’s been a project since 2019 which started with Matt Price and Ant Siddall. I joined in 2021 and we’ve all been working hard. We’ve had a few ups and downs but are so happy to now have the green light.”

“We’re very grateful to the Stocksbridge Town Fund and Sheffield City Council for putting trust and belief in the project. Because without them we wouldn’t be in this position at all.”

Modernised Bracken Moor to offer huge benefits to the wider community

One the left is Bracken Moor in it's current state. The right image shows an illustration of what the pavilion is likely to look like once the work is finished. (Tom Faulkner TF Design Limited) | Tom Faulkner TF Design Limited

placeholder image — One the left is Bracken Moor in it's current state. The right image shows an illustration of what the pavilion is likely to look like once the work is finished. (Tom Faulkner TF Design Limited) | Tom Faulkner TF Design Limited

Dom explains that while Bracken Moor is primarily a cricket club, it’s also going to now have a wider community reach for a range of activities and clubs.

“We would like to use it as a community for men's mental health, also using it for a games afternoon. We’ll use it for well-being and things to help the wider community as well.”

“We’ve seen in the last few years, particularly in our women’s team, there's been a real growth in participation.

“We’re also entering our first hardball team and the junior teams as well are all going from strength to strength.”

Dom explains that developments are likely to start in spring, with the aim being to finish the project by late September.

“We’re hoping it’ll continue to improve cricket in Stocksbridge and the Upper Don area. So it introduces more people to sport whether it’s females, people new to the game or the wider community.”