UPPERMILL CRICKET Club has taken delivery of state-of-the-art roll-on covers for the square at their Leefields ground.
They cost £4,000, but all but £500 came from a grant which was approved by the Lancashire Cricket Board.
The funding forms part of the England and Wales Cricket Trust (EWCT) Small Grant Scheme, supported by Waitrose, which creates a sustainable future for affiliated cricket clubs through vital improvement of their facilities.
Waitrose, the England team sponsor, supported the scheme by pledging £100 for every four or six scored across the entire home international summer in 2014. The Waitrose donation, alongside investment from Sport England and the England and Wales Cricket Trust, has allowed more local communities to benefit from refurbishments to kitchens and social areas, the purchase of covers, supporting ECB’s Get the Game on campaign, and environmental sustainability in cricket clubs.
Uppermill chairman Chris Bird said: “We are really delighted to receive this grant to upgrade our facilities. It’s provided valuable support for what would have been an expensive project and helps provide a long-term investment to benefit the local community here.”
Mike Gatting, ECB’s cricket partnership ambassador, said: “We’re passionate about creating a sustainable future for cricket clubs and their communities across England and Wales. Small grants to clubs like Uppermill make a huge difference to their long-term future”.
Rupert Elwood, head of marketing for Waitrose, added: “As they prepare for a busy summer of fixtures, we are proud to see the positive impact these funds will have on local clubs. We are especially excited that so many clubs are investing in their kitchen and social areas.
“This grant scheme is dedicated to grassroots cricket, supporting clubs as they build their fundraising activities and ensure a longstanding future as a key part of the local community.
“We are also delighted to announce we’ll be running the Waitrose Boundary Fund again this year. During the upcoming Ashes series, we’ll be donating £100 for every four or six scored by England.”
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