Barca top the lots at Spondon
by Alan Rowley, 19th May 2006

Spondon Cricket Club have raised well over £1,000 from an auction held in their impressive new pavilion on Locko Road. Over fifty lots, ranging from sports memorabilia, vouchers, tickets, even a Christmas pudding, went under the hammer of Simon Beresford of Bamfords Auctioneers.

A packed pavilion enjoyed a successful event, organised by club scorer Barbara Roberts, to raise funds for equipment for the club. Barbara organised a similar auction six years ago, which raised over £1,200. Initial estimates suggest that this figure was exceeded this time.

Barbara said she was surprised to get so many good items. She said: "I'll be writing to everyone who donated to thank them and tell them how much we raised. The money will be spent on new equipment, and will benefit the younger members as well as the adults."

Top lot was a pennant signed by European soccer champions FC Barcelona which was knocked down for a cool £310. A pair of grandstand tickets for the Formula One British Grand Prix went for £200. Surprisingly for a Derby based club, a signed Nottingham Forest shirt went for £50, easily the highest priced of several football and cricket shirts.

An excellent buffet was provided by the ladies and a raffle was also held. The club, which moved to their new ground in time for the 2006 season, are currently enjoying their first season in the Derbyshire Premier League, and are looking forward to being granted permission to hold Premier League games at their new ground in 2007.