MANY of the great cricketing legends would have cut their teeth at the wicket of this former steelworking town's pitch.

Trevor Bailey, Geoff Boycott, John Hampshire, Ken Taylor, Jimmy Binks and Tony Nicholson were just a few of the players who would have graced the pitch of the Consett Cricket Club, in County Durham.

So more than a few tears were shed when the clubhouse went up in flames three months ago - along with a treasure trove of memorabilia and historic photographs.

Club secretary Mike Rogers said: "Watching the fire brigade tackling the blaze was devastating, especially when we realised what we were losing.

"There were old team photographs going back 100 years, historic score cards and autographed stumps.

"Someone remarked: 'This is where we find what we are made of. We can either walk away or start work straight away to rebuild it.' We chose the latter."

Members are now forging ahead with plans to reinstate their clubhouse and have issued an appeal for anyone who can help replace the old photographs.

The club was built by the Consett Iron Company about 100 years ago and its grounds were used for cricket matches, as well as for company sports events.

It was also used by the Durham County Cricket Club for minor counties matches until the early Eighties, hosting second teams from Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumberland and Staffordshire.

Mr Rogers said: "Trevor Bailey, of Essex, was so impressed he said it could have served as the Essex county cricket ground."

In its heyday, up to five groundsmen were permanently employed to care for the fields, with hundreds attending games. In 1981, the club won the Tyneside Senior League and following year the Austin Trophy.

The thriving club, which has a professional player, has three senior and three junior teams, and enjoys a healthy rivalry with the nearby Shotley Bridge Cricket Club.

Club chairman Alan Waters said: "We are appealing to anyone who has old photographs of former teams or anything to do with the club to contact us.

"We are confident we will be able to replace more recent pictures, but are particularly hoping to get ones from before the Second World War."

Work on reinstating the clubhouse is expected to be completed in the first few weeks of the new season.

Anyone with old photographs is asked to contact Mr Waters on 01207-591779.