IT’S taken half a dozen years – but hasn’t it been worth the wait?

These are the stunning new changing rooms and clubhouse which have transformed Clifton Park.

The two-storey block, which replaces the tired, old wooden buildings in place since the 1960s, have gone down a storm with members of York Cricket Club, York Rugby Union Club and the squash and tennis clubs.

And no wonder.

With six changing rooms, all with shower blocks, a function room which can seat more than 200 people and a balcony overlooking 22 and a half acres, the new buildings have injected fresh confidence into the Shipton Road sporting centre.

Nick Kay, secretary of York Cricket Club, declared the development “the best sporting facility in the north of England bar none”.

“A function room which can seat more than 200 people and a balcony where you can see all the sporting conflicts across Clifton Park,” he said.

“It is superb. We have been very, very lucky. The design and the build have been on schedule and, for me, it is the best sporting facility in the north of England bar none.”

When asked about the contrast with the old changing rooms, Kay continued: “We were about to get shut down if truth be known. The changing rooms were always ranked lowest in all the rugby statistics and cricket merit tables. They weren’t good enough for the facilities on the pitch.

“We have probably the best amateur rugby pitch in the area and we certainly have the best amateur cricket pitch in the area but the facilities that stood by them were not good enough.

“It has been probably five or six years in the making. We had trouble with planning and getting the plans right to suit the environment. The funding has also been a big issue to us. We have had a couple of setbacks along the way but some incredible work has been done by five or six incredibly dedicated individuals which has seen us through.”

Niall Barry, chairman of York Rugby Union Club, said: “The players don’t know what to do with it. They can actually have a shower now. They love it and there is a real sense of pride.

“Leading the team out of that place is a bit different to the old wooden buildings. There’s a lot of good feeling surrounding it and we haven’t lost the traditional rugby club atmosphere.

“You are looking out at 22 and a half acres of York countryside and the balcony is a stunning place to watch cricket and rugby.”