SHUGBOROUGH SHUT TO SPORTS

As a National Trust member, I was at Shugborough Hall, in Staffordshire, today with chums and chums' misses enjoying some freedom, socially distanced, in a stately home; walkabout, lunch picnic, read the history of the place, discuss Tottenham squad.....and drive home across the glorious midlands and Peak District. I sort of, came across the sporting venues that had used the Estate's facilities prior to "lockdown". All seemed well but what of the future? The estate was handed over to the NT, appropriately, in 1966 in lieu of death duties.

The National Trust plans to evict The Great Haywood village football and cricket teams from one of its "landed" estates, despite pleas from players who fear that losing their pitches will damage an important part of village life. Cricket has been played on the estate since 1861 but the club folded in 1963 through a lack of players. There will be no chance of resurrecting the club under any circumstances following this latest plan.

The trust has told the football teams that it is ending “non-traditional uses of the parkland” at the 900-acre Shugborough Estate in Staffordshire, the former ancestral home of the Earl of Lichfield. The NT wants to return the grade I-listed parkland to its 19th-century historical design and says that the use of pitches conflicts with that aim, even though they occupy only about 1 per cent of the estate. Non-traditional? Neighbouring Stoke City might have a thing or towo to say about that, since the Potters became an official football club in 1863....founded by Old Boys of Charterhouse School, who happened to be putting in the local railway system, the chaps needed a game to let off steam! Shame!

Below is the grand facade of Shugborough House. The estate "served" the local residents in many ways.

Great Haywood FC have played on the estate for 30 years and will have to move to a new site which could involve a loss of players. However, the National Trust says it will work with "Sports England" to provide sporting activities on the estate that will have a "minimal impact of the estate". Ironman events appear to one of the activities preferred by the NT. Conservation is the "core principle" behind the planned future programme involving charitable events.

The club plays in the Staffs and District Sunday League Div 1 and after 6 games "this season" lie second from bottom! Played 6, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 5, Goals For 10, Against 20 = 1 point. Their most recent match on Sunday last v Seighford B ended 3-6, a 10.30 kick off, so maybe the chaps after the Covid lay off were a little out of "salts". They have had a number of high scoring games this season...typical Sunday league!

Sadly, there has been no investment into the sporting clubs but local activities in Shugborough have been improved by a £157,000 grant from the Parish Council providing a BMX track, skatepark, youth shelter (somewhere to have a quick fag! and get the spray cans out) and a new footpath.

However, I can recommend the Shugborough Estate, a jewel in the Potteries. 

Nearest pro clubs? Stoke City, Port Vale and Burton Albion. Pots, Port and Pints