Burridge employ contractors to aid with drainage

Beleaguered Burridge have engaged specialist contractors in a desperate bid to solve the acute drainage problem at their Botley Road ground.

Contractors are slitting the entire outfield in an attempt to get the water away from the ground which currently bears more resemblance to a swamp than a cricket pitch.

The heavy rain of the past fortnight has waterlogged the entire outfield. Burridge's scheduled ECB Southern Electric Premier League match against Liphook & Ripsley on Saturday is already off.

"It has become totally depressing to everyone at the club," said Burridge chairman Richard Bundy.

"We have spent many a man hour trying to get the water away, but we are up against nature and so far there is little we have been able to do.

"We spent a lot of money last winter mole draining the ground and, because of the dry winter we had, were able to get out and do quite a lot of pre-season work.

"But we've not been able to get any machinery on to the ground for the past fortnight because it is so wet."

Burridge have managed to play only one home Premier League game so far and lie third from the foot of the table, with one win (at Portsmouth) in four outings.

Burridge 2nd XI have only managed to play three Hampshire League County Division 1 fixtures since May 11.