Ilkeston - The Rec
w/e 28 May 2017
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490

After a week of glorious weather, hot sunny days and cloudless
skies, the wind got up on Saturday, rain fell in the morning
and the temperature dropped. It was only to be expected - it's
a Bank Holiday weekend! With no new photos to share we made our
way to the Rutland Sports Park as these two signs proclaim from
the Oakwell Drive car park.
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A similar sign greets visitors from the West End Drive entrance.
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The "Rutland Sports Park" name is reinforced on the
Tennis Centre which was built over the old terracing and outdoor
tennis courts.
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In the redevelopment of the ground the terracing in front of
the old 1925 pavilion was removed and replaced with two flights
of steps plus another name board.
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Whereas people previously could sit on the pavilion terracing,
they now assemble on the grass to watch the cricket but the sign
leaves them in no doubt as to where they are.
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At one time of day County Cricket matches were played here lasting
three days with huge crowds occupying all sides of the ground.
Now it's just local teams playing one-day games.
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The Rutland Sports Park Pavilion through which access is gained
to the all weather football pitches and which contains a gym
sits on the opposite side of the ground to the Tennis Centre
although the cricketers still use the old pavilion.
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The modern scoreboard on the wall of the Tennis Centre replaced
the hand operated free standing board some years ago.
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It was from the free standing scoreboard that tickets could be
bought and equipment hired by the general public for a game of
pitch and putt (top left) on a six hole course or a game of putting
on an eighteen hole course (top right). Both facilities have
now been lost. You could also pay for a game of bowls or an hour's
tennis. The tennis courts behind the Tennis Centre have been
converted to cricket nets (bottom right) which, like the bowling
green (bottom left) are securely locked behind security fences.
It would appear that these days if you want to enjoy many of
the facilities on the Rutland Sports Park you either have to
belong to a Club or pay an annual subscription.
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I suppose all the changes are what commonly passes for "progress"
but nostalgia longs for the old days when you could just turn
up, pay your dues and enjoy a game of whatever took your fancy.
The signs for the Rutland Sports Park are everywhere but the
lintel on the old access at the corner of Oakwell Drive and West
End Drive where cricket fans queued to enter the ground for those
County matches, is still inscribed "Rutland Recreation Ground".
For me and many more of my age, it doesn't matter how many signs
there are, the Rutland Sports Park will always be simply "The
Rec".
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