Huge cash award for cricket club (From News Shopper)

Huge cash award for cricket club

5:03pm Thursday 1st December 2011 in Cricket

A BECKENHAM cricket club has been given a major cash boost after being awarded a grant of £32,445 towards the cost of a three bay synthetic practice area.

OD Cuaco CC, which is based at St Dunstan’s Lane, Park Langley, use the three bay synthetic practice area to help their successful coaching and development programme.

As well as the £32,445 from the England & Wales Cricket Trust Limited (EWCT), the Lord’s Taverners also contributed £4,000 towards the total project cost, which came to £45,000.

The EWCTs grant aid programme aims to finance capital projects, including renovations to improve facilities which contribute to sustaining and increasing participation.

OD Cuaco CC was identified by the Kent Cricket Board and by the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as a club of strategic and developmental importance to the grassroots game.

Vice chairman at OD Cuaco Howard Smith said: “We were delighted when we were awarded the grant because we urgently needed to upgrade our practice facilities.

“The three bay synthetic practice area is excellent and the high quality ECB specification has provided the ideal safe pitches which are so important for the development of young cricketers.

“We have approximately 100 junior players at the club and our qualified coaches will be able to introduce a much more structured coaching programme for all age groups.

“In recent years the club has made good progress and we have achieved ECB Clubmark and Focus Club status.

“We are also a Chance to Shine Club and provide coaching and play opportunities in the local schools.”

Mr Smith added: “We have also developed an active partnership with Langley Park Boys’ School and this means the school teams will have the opportunity to have match play and practice on the club ground.

“Naturally we are pleased the ECB and the Kent Cricket Board have recognised the work we do at junior level and in the development of cricket in the area.

“We are extremely grateful to the England & Wales Cricket Trust for the most generous grant and we also acknowledge with gratitude the grant from the Lord’s Taverners.

“Without this support we could not afford such a top class practice facility from our own resources.

“We regard the grants as an investment in cricket at the club for the future and also a benefit for the community.”

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