In these times, however, costs are much higher and recent extensions to the two changing rooms have cost the club £800.

The extensions, which double the size of the rooms – they are now 20ft x 18ft – are improvements brought about partly by pressure from the county club and partly in connection with a modernisation scheme which the club hopes to continue over a period of years.

The pressure from Northamptonshire came in an ultimatum which threatened that if conditions were not improved there would be no more county matches at Rushden. The changes made claim the Rushden men, are much more than the minimum improvements demanded by the county administrators.

When the match between Northamptonshire and Kent starts tomorrow the players will find new enlarged changing rooms incorporating a wash basin, shower and lavatory. Hot and cold water is lain on and a new water supply for the tea-room upstairs.

Electricity has also been installed, and, thanks largely to Mr. Arthur Lane, an electric clock, measuring two feet square, has been given by the Northamptonshire Supporters’ Association. It will hang above the veranda of the pavilion.

At least a dozen extra cars will be able to park inside the ground now that the fencing near the entrance at Blinco Road has been put back eight yards.

It is estimated that the ground will this year hold about four thousand people.

All work on the ground has been done under the critical eye of Mr. Charlie May, secretary since 1948 and a regular player from 1925 until he took the secretary-ship.

“I think the ground is good enough for any cricket team there is,” he said this week. “It’s a scorer’s pitch.”

Recalling some of the past matches played on the ground. Mr. May said confidently that there would be good play unless the weather was bad. It has always been so in the past, he declared.

“Northamptonshire have always won as many games as they have lost here,” he said.