Torrential downpours that came with Storm Chandra left many homes, businesses and roads under several feet of water at the end of January.
Donaghcloney Mill Cricket Club were no different and, in fact, they may have been among the worst affected in Co Down.
The “devastating” floods submerged the club’s grounds under almost six feet of water.
Regrettably, all playing equipment, training gear and essential club items were destroyed as they lay soaking under water that took days to clear.
The incident caught the attention of Alderman Mark Baxter, who has since launched a Just Giving fundraising appeal to help get the club members back on their feet.
In a video posted on social media, the Alderman can be seen standing outside the club pavilion where water marks are evident on the steps – a clear mark to the extent of the submergence.
In the video, Mr Baxter said: “You can see where the water line went right up and into the pavilion. There was six foot of water covering this whole area.
“It hasn’t been seen like this ever before in anybody’s memory.
“As you can imagine, River Lagan flows down around the side of the cricket pavilion here so it’s very, very hard to get insurance here because, I suppose, essentially you’re on a flood plain.”
The Alderman explained that the club have done so much for the community over a period spanning 100 years… a history he is determined not to see lost.
“It’s been the very epicentre of this community and the whole fabric of the village was built around the factory, the cricket grounds, the athletic grounds, and so the history and what they have done and what they have achieved over the last number of years has been phenomenal,” he continued.
“It’s going to take a lot of money to get this place fixed again. Machinery was floating, tractors were covered in water, lawnmowers, rollers, all the things the grounds crew need and they are all volunteers down here too.
“So what I’ve done is, spoken to some of the community, spoken to the club, I’ve been in the pavilion today and I’ve seen all the damage.
“I’ve put in a Just Giving page and we are asking the community to reach out and try and help over the next number of months to try and raise some money to get this cricket club back up and running again.
“As I say, it’s here over 100 years and I don’t want to see this cricket club lost to Donaghcloney. Anything you can donate at all, send a message, speak to any of the guys in the club, come to me, you will see some posters going around the village as well with a QR code and you can scan that QR code even as you are walking past and make a donation.
“Let’s get this cricket club back up and running again.”
The Just Giving page has been set with a target of £20,000 to rebuild the club and replace damaged equipment.
In just a number of days it has already surpassed the £16,000 mark and continues to climb at a rapid pace.
Donations can be made to the fundraising page directly here.
