Settlers Park has been the ‘go to’ ground for many sporting activities over the years. Many great games have been played there, be it cricket, soccer or rugby.
However, according to the various sports unions that use Settlers Park on a daily basis, the standard of the ground has gone downhill over the years. The Ladysmith Rugby Club and Northern District Cricket Union (NDCU) feel that their complaints have fallen on deaf ears.
The cricket union says that throughout their cricket season, the pitch was never prepared correctly or was left uncovered and got wet due to the rain. They add that the side screens were damaged and not repaired, and the grass was not cut on the outfield or around the ground, causing them to lose many cricket balls due to overgrown grass.
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The change rooms don’t have running water most of the time, which means the players can’t shower or use the toilets. The rugby club is faced with the same problem. In addition, the floodlights don’t work. Recently, they had a night game in poor lighting conditions, with the players commenting that it was like playing in the dark. When the players went into the change rooms after the game, there was no hot water for them to shower; just cold water.
Both unions say they pay a R350 fee for each day they use the ground and it doesn’t look like the money is used for anything, as the ground and its facilities are left in such a poor state.
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