Durham City Cricket Club is on the brink of promotion to the regional premier league, three decades after rejecting a chance to play there.
The club is now one step away from making it into the North East Premier League, provided they triumph in the impending playoff against Newcastle City Cricket Club.
The historic achievement came about after the team secured a victory over Mainsforth Cricket Club by 6 wickets in the last league game on Saturday.
Durham City Cricket Club’s board chose not to join the elite league which would have taken them down a semi-professional route in the early 1990s, because of an ambition to retain the club’s community values.
Their refusal to join the regional premier league federation, introduced by the English Cricket Board, led to many top players joining premier league clubs in search of more challenging competition.
Left with a weakened first team, the club turned its attention towards development of budding cricketers over the past two decades.
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Today, the Durham City Cricket Club boasts one of the largest junior sections in County Durham, with an impressive line-up of 18 teams.
Their investment in youth development has produced some fine cricketers over the years, including Daniel Hogg, a recent alumni who had an outstanding start in his first-class debut for Durham County Cricket, capturing 7 wickets for just 66 runs in a game against Nottinghamshire.
The upcoming playoff victory could signify a full-circle moment for the club, placing it in the top-tier league it had declined to join previously.
Chairman of Durham City Cricket club Arnab Basu, said: “We recognised that building from within was the key to long-term success.
“Growth of our women and girls section has been particularly impressive with nearly 100 girls playing across the junior and senior teams.”
“We’ve built a strong community, developed our players, and created a culture of success.
“Winning the league after 37 years shows what can be achieved when you stay true to your values.”
Basu sees the club’s trajectory from reconstruction to champions as a testament to how a club rooted in tradition and community can make a comeback.
“Our journey stands as an inspiring example of how a club can rise again where everybody feels welcome to enjoy cricket in a safe and inclusive environment.”
