 The council sought to offload the ground to a community-based organisation in 1984, with a lease being agreed with the Plessey Club.The Milne Memorial Sports Ground Co. Ltd was formed to acquire the lease and manage the day-to-day running of the club.When first acquired, the clubs membership was only open to employees and ex-employees of Plessey's and J. Samuel White & Co. Having been disused by until 1984, the cricket ground and football grounds had been used for hay making, the tennis courts and bowling greens were in a state of disrepair, as was the pavilion.