A FORMER England batsman described Davenham as an example for other village clubs to copy when he opened an extension at Butcher’s Stile on Friday.

Neil Fairbrother told members that their expanded pavilion, which includes two new changing rooms and a bigger social space, had made volunteers’ work – spread over hundreds of hours – worthwhile.

“A lot of new builds are cold, breeze block affairs that end up being horrible,” he said.

“So to see what has been done here, where the club has improved its facilities while retaining its identity, is fantastic.

“Village clubs like Davenham are the heartbeat of cricket – it’s where a journey begins for lots of young cricketers.”

The ex-Lancashire favourite, still a regular visitor to Davenham as a player with Grappenhall’s over 40s team, then unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion.

Work started last November on a project supported by grants from governing body England and Wales Cricket Board and Sport England.

It finished in March, shortly before the start of the new season.

Davenham chairman Bob Floyd said the club, which was founded 130 years ago in 1885, had contributed £30,000 towards the final bill too.

He added: “We were ambitious, but we reached the end of the project on time and to budget.

“An outstanding team of volunteers helped to make that happen; they initiated things, secured the funding and appointed a contractor before working tirelessly on countless jobs.

“All of the decorating was done by members in their spare time too."

Fairbrother closed by saying he hoped children who live nearby would be tempted to play the sport.

He added: “The clubhouse will be open most days of the week; as an opposition player, I’ve always enjoyed coming here to play in a friendly atmosphere.

“Make sure you keep it that way; it’s how cricket will move forward.”

Floyd, who also presented life membership awards to Graham Beckett and Ken O’Dowd, vowed to do exactly that.

He said: “Having decent facilities and a proper coaching infrastructure are important to keep boys and girls in the sport.

“The challenge is to get them here, but by aspiring to be a vibrant cricket club then I’m confident we can.”