IT'S not only the team that have a new look at Golcar.
For the club have just officially opened their excellent new changing facilities and scorebox (in a ceremony performed by former Swallow Lane favourite Brian Turner) and are now busily giving their clubhouse an up-to-date new image.
Down has come the wall separating the best lounge (which overlooks the bowling green) from the main body of the building, while the old-fashioned window seats have been ripped out, and the whole building is being earmarked for re-decoration and re-furbishment, with new carpets, blinds and furniture.
And much of that is down to new secretary Claire Woodhead-Turner who is obviously determined to impose a much-needed woman's touch.
Claire has been on the scene at Golcar for several years, and has served on the general committee for the last four before succeeding to the secretary's post at the annual meeting earlier this year.
"We've already had a new carpet laid and are working on the floor at the far end, and we've plans to put up new blinds," said Claire. "And hopefully in the not too distant future we would like to put in some new furniture and generally make the place more attractive, which in turn will make facilities more conducive to come for a drink."
But like every club, Golcar have their share of problems, which according to skipper Dave Robinson are mainly caused by local children playing football on the field and local dog owners allowing their pets to exercise and use the ground as a toilet.
"We are frequently getting youngsters coming on to play soccer, even kitted out with football boots and sticking posts in the ground!
"The club have spent over £2,000 during the winter on work on the outfield and it's going to be ruined by kids playing soccer.
"Golcar is a village club, and there for the local community, but there are a minority of people not supporting it by allowing these things to happen.
"I would like to see local people coming to support the club. And it doesn't necessarily have to be on the cricket side, because we also have a strong social side.
"We've been putting bands on in the clubhouse and holding race nights and other social events which I would love to see them supporting.
"We're getting a lot of positives from the majority of Golcar people who want to see Premiership cricket at Swallow Lane. We now have a core of very good people working very hard behind the scenes, selling boards and sponsorship, etc, for the club.
"With the new changing facilities and scorebox, and a refurbished clubhouse this is going to be a premier set-up. We need to be there - and we need to stay there!"
