The History of Goostrey Village Hall & Playing Fields Foundation

Sports in Goostrey began in the 1920s and Goostrey Village Hall & Playing Fields Foundation (Goostrey VHPFF), a non-profit making  Charitable Trust (Charity No. 520053), was founded in the 1960s to provide village hall and sports facilities in the village of Goostrey. The organisation did not at that time own any land and arranged sports on local fields thanks to the goodwill of local farmers.

During the 1960s the VHPFF, with Congleton Borough Council, Cheshire County Council and Goostrey Parish Council, raised funds to construct the Village Hall and Infant School. The VHPFF contributed funds to this property and continues to to be involved in the running of the Village Hall under a Joint Use Agreement with Goostrey Parish Council and Cheshire East Council.

In the 1980s the organisation began to flounder and did not actively promote sport, but it had by that time acquired a piece of land adjacent to the Crown Inn car park. At around this time a group of parents were having problems finding space for their families to play sport and began to meet up in an attempt to find some sports facilities. They were unaware of the VHPFF, and called themselves the Goostrey Recreation and Sports Society (GRASS).

Over a few years GRASS raised its profile and held social gatherings and fundraising activities in the village with the aim of obtaining some land to create a community venue. A wide variety of fund-raising events were held, from a Sports match against Manchester City Veterans (including Internationals) through to music shows, dances, whist drives, sports days and a plant sale (which is still running and raises valuable funds).

When the Trustees of the VHPFF saw the impetus in the community, they suggested that GRASS should join the VHPFF. Under the watchful eye of the Charitable Trust, momentum increased and residential planning consent was obtained for the land adjacent to the Crown Inn. The building plot was then sold, with the money received being retained by the Trustees to be put towards purchasing land suitable for community sports facilities.

Eventually the land on Booth Bed Lane, now known as Goostrey Playing Fields, was purchased freehold by the VHPFF from Cheshire County Council. The Charitable Trust now owned a piece of farmland and the community began the hard work, on a voluntary basis, of converting the land into community sports facilities.

A nearby farmer raked the ground. The local residents walked many times over the land collecting stones and the farmer donated and spread grass seed.

Planning consent was obtained for the Playing Fields as they stand at present with competitive tenders obtained for the facilities. With the voluntary assistance of a local Architect and a Quantity Surveyor the (crown) Bowling Green, Multi-purpose Astroturf pitch (with 3 tennis courts) and car park were constructed. Grants were obtained, including from the National Lottery, the Lawn Tennis Association and The Manchester Airport Community Fund. Eventually the pavilion was constructed and the playing fields as we know them were completed.

The Playing Fields have since been managed by the Goostrey VHPFF, under the rules of both the Charity Commission and the VHPFF’s Trust Deed. The facilities are run by the Trustees on a voluntary basis – “by the community, for the community”. Residents of Goostrey, in effect, own and use the playing fields.

Goostrey VHPFF owes particular thanks to the following for helping to make the Playing Fields a reality:

Original Trustees (all now deceased)
Bob Watts, Geoff Basford, Mary Hooley, John Baxter & Hugh Rees

GRASS members
Jay Ashall, Bill Craig, Willie Dudgeon, Rob Goodwin, Martin Leake & Bill Ollier.

And all Current and Past Trustees, who have acted on a totally voluntary basis to create, manage and develop the Goostrey Playing Fields.