In an age where everything is a sequel, a reboot or a re-make, we’re left to wonder are there any original ideas left?
Well, how about trying to build a baseball diamond in the New Forest?! After all, the famous line from Field Of Dreams says “If you build it, they will come.” This story differs from the original Kevin Costner film in two very big ways. Firstly rather than being ‘the national pastime’, as it is in America, baseball still remains an incredibly niche sport in England. Secondly, rather than having a farm that stretches from horizon to horizon which to build a full baseball diamond, here in England to call baseball a grassroots sport implies that there is some grass with which to put roots.
In practice this has proven incredibly hard.
Despite this, and with much effort and an unrelenting resolve, that is exactly what The New Forest Baseball Club has achieved. There lies a small stretch of level grass not yet utilised for football and not fiercely protected by cricket that offers some hope for its members to deliver on its main purpose; To develop and grow this great sport that we love and that brought us together.
Just two years ago, a rag tag bunch of men and women of varying baseball experience combined to create The New Forest Thunder Knights. Entering its third year, having grown from an initial 16-player team to a two-team, 50+ player organisation, it is now time to take the next step and build a forever home.
Now for the obvious similarity between the 1989 film and the plight of our cause, building a baseball diamond is not cheap, every ‘diamond’ we play on for our league games are of differing quality. From the longstanding quality fields of Brighton and Bristol to the school grass field our Single-A squad played on in 2024, British baseball’s growth relies often on the kindness of strangers and the dedicated fundraising of its members within its community.
So here we are, baseball cap in hand, asking you the British fans of baseball, whomever you support. Will you help us develop the sport we collectively love and help it to grow on our shores? Who knows, maybe the next British baseball star first played on a field you helped to build and later leads Team GB to a World Baseball Championship!
For more information on the new baseball diamond The New Forsest Baseball Club are aiming to build, you can visit the Crowdfunder page and maybe even donate.
The New Forest Baseball Club can be found on Instagram, TikTok and Twitter.
Featured image – courtesy of Shaun Barrett
