CRICKET legend Jack Russell was shocked when he visited the burned out shell of Stroud Cricket Club’s pavilion which was destroyed in a suspected arson attack in 2006.

The Farmhill pavilion held many precious memories for the former England wicketkeeper, who was born in Stroud and began his career as a teenager with the club.

Firefighters believed the blaze which swept through the building off Stratford Road causing damage in excess of £100,000 was started deliberately.

“I’m absolutely devastated,” said former Archway School pupil Jack, who played 54 test matches for England, scoring nearly 2,000 runs and taking 153 catches.

“Even when I was playing for England I always came back here. I spent so many happy hours here with my teammates.

“I don’t understand why this has happened or how someone could do this. What did they achieve apart from causing pain and anguish?

“They can burn the place down but they can’t burn the memories.”

Luckily, a clock erected on the score box near the building in 1988 in memory of Jack’s brother David Russell, who also played cricket for Stroud, was not damaged.

David sadly died of a brain haemorrhage when he fell and hit his head during a night out after a match.

The site has now been turned into housing and the cricket club moved to a new ground in Ryeford in 2010.