After many years of work, with fundraising and campaigning from the East Christchurch Shirley Cricket Club Junior and Senior Committees, Burwood Park finally will have a home artificial wicket for Juniors to play on.

Thanks to the Coastal-Burwood Community Board, Christchurch Junior Cricket Association, Christchurch Metropolitan Cricket, East Shirley Parents and City Council, the East side has another asset for sport.

The ground will be named after popular, and well known Christchurch Metropolitan Cricket Life Member, East Shirley and Christchurch sporting stalwart John W. Grocott, who passed away this year. His son's Tim (current ECSCC President and Shirley Boys High Principal) and David Grocott (Senior Head Coach for East Shirley and SBHS) put the shovel in the ground to get it all started. The pitch is on the old Burwood Bowling Club site.

Thanks to Andrew Robertson from AR Concrete and Chris Lewis from Terra Firma Turf for helping East Shirley get the project across the line.

The concrete went down on the 19th August, so the J.W Grocott Oval will be ready for use in February.

Article added: Wednesday 19 August 2020