Cricket club bowled over by Bloor Homes donation
Long Itchington Cricket Club is to carry out a major upgrade of its practice facilities for the 2019 season. The club has raised £25,000 to pay for the work, which includes a donation from Bloor Homes.
As part of the revamp, the existing practice pitch will be completely relaid and brand new nets will be installed at the club’s Stonebridge Lane ground.
This latest investment comes just three years after the club completed work on a brand new pavilion, and chairman Steve Crosthwaite is hoping the improved facilities will encourage even more people to join the rapidly growing club.
He said: “We have three senior sides and a thriving junior section and the new net facilities will provide a much-improved playing surface which will enable our players to practice their skills more effectively.
“The existing nets have been in use for around 20 years and are getting quite tired. The concrete surface and matting has become more uneven over the years so we are replacing this with a specialist cricket carpet manufactured using the latest technology, laid on a tarmac base. This will provide a far more consistent bounce, and will enable our players to practice in proper match conditions.”
“As a club we are always looking to upgrade our facilities to ensure we can continue to attract new members and we hope the new practice facilities will encourage more young people in the village to take up the game."
“We are extremely grateful to Bloor Homes for their generous donation towards the new net facilities, which we aim to install before the start of next season. The support of local businesses is extremely important to us and we are always on the lookout for sponsorship opportunities which can help the club to grow further.”
Bloor Homes, which donated £500 towards the new facilities, is currently building a range of two, three and four-bedroom homes for sale at its Lilac View development off Marton Road.
Michele Rose, Regional Sales Director at Bloor Homes Midlands, said: “Long Itchington Cricket Club is a very important part of the local community so we are proud to be supporting its efforts to improve the practice facilities at its home ground.
“We’re looking forward to seeing the new net facilities in place next season and we hope the upgrade will encourage more people in the village, including residents at Lilac View, to join the club.”
For more information about Long Itchington Cricket Club, visit www.longitchingtoncricketclub.org.uk.