Oxenhope entertain Silsden to christen new facilities (From Keighley News)

Oxenhope entertain Silsden to christen new facilities

2:00pm Thursday 12th July 2012 in Sport By Sportsdesk

Oxenhope will play the first match on their new centenary pitch this Saturday when they welcome their illustrious local rivals Silsden, from the North West Counties League, for a pre-season friendly (2pm).

For the last four seasons, Oxenhope’s first team have had to play their home games at Marley while their pitch at the Recreation Ground was refurbished to West Yorkshire League standards.

The £35,000 investment has seen the lower pitch lengthened and widened and a new drainage system installed to provide a superb, flat playing surface.

Also the club itself have constructed dug-outs and a perimeter fence, while the clubhouse and changing rooms have been updated.

This has coincided with the club celebrating their centenary, and it is a far cry from when Oxenhope United was formed in 1912, when they played in a farmer’s field in Leeming and changed in a cow shed.

The club not only want supporters to turn out in force on Saturday but also former players.

Further in information is available from club secretary Ray Broadbent on 01535-646957.