A popular cricket club who are entering their 145th year serving the community have been hit with a devastating notice and told to leave their Shawholm grounds by the end of next month.
Poloc Cricket Club have held the lease, within Pollok Estate, for nearly 143 years but have been struck with a painful blow as their factors, Pollok and Corrour Ltd, terminate the lease and tenancy.
The club, which runs cricket sessions for juniors up to seniors, has been given until the end of April to pack their kit and vacate the premises in what's been described as a "massive loss" to the community.
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In a letter sent to members, club president Kenneth Robertson said: "It is with a heavy heart that I write to all club members to make you aware that our factors and landlord, Pollok and Corrour Ltd., have given the club notice that they are terminating our lease of Shawholm and as such we will end our tenancy, of nearly 143 years within Pollok Estate, as of the end of April 2023, at which time we must leave the property and grounds.
"This was intimated to the club, in a meeting with the landlord’s agent, Galbraith, on Thursday 2 March 2023, and confirmed on Friday 3 March 2023.
"The ground is, we understand, to be let, instead, to another organisation that has plans to develop it for other sports purposes.
"Despite the best efforts of the General Committee to consider a workable solution to satisfy the landlord, they have not been persuaded to alter their view"
The club will hold a meeting in the clubhouse on Monday, March 13, at 7.30pm, where they'll discuss the official termination of Poloc Cricket Club.
Mr Robertson added: "Without the use of Shawholm, and a ready alternative venue, the General Committee do not feel that the club can be sustainably run in future."
The news has left club members like Fahid Iqbal - who attended as a junior and re-joined last year - absolutely gutted.
The 39-year-old, who lives in Paisley, believes the land may be sold to a local football team.
He said: "All the members are really gutted because it’s been a brilliant club. There’s loads of families that have been going there and there’s a lot of development for cricket Scotland as well.
"It’s good for the local community and will be missed. A lot of other clubs are gutted for Poloc as well."
Fahid is fighting to try and save the community's much-loved club.
He added: "If this isn’t resolved, everybody will need to find other clubs but most people want to stay. It will be a massive loss for the community.
"It would mean a lot to everyone if this club could be saved."
A Cricket Scotland spokesperson said: "Facilities such as Shawholm are unique and precious to our game, both as places of development for young players, and as hubs of the local community. They should never be taken for granted or discarded in this way; instead, they should be cherished and nurtured to ensure a minority sport such as cricket can survive and thrive.
"Poloc CC has a long and proud history, and has been a focal point for cricket in the south side of Glasgow for generations. The potential dissolving of the club and loss of Shawholm would be a devastating blow to all connected with it, as well as to the WDCU a matter of weeks before the start of the 2023 season."
Pollok and Corrour Ltd were unavailable for comment.
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