Newcastle cricket club bowled over by support

A cricket club is celebrating a league promotion with support to improve its ground.

Newcastle City Cricket Club has received a £2000 grant from regional housebuilder the Banks Group to install new sightscreens at its Broadway West ground, in Kenton. 

The equipment is required for matches at Division One level, where the club’s men’s first XI is playing its first-ever season following promotion to the North East Premier League’s top tier.

Now marking its 40th year, the club supports more than 200 members with six senior sides, junior teams across all age groups, a girls’ squad and plans to launch a women’s team.

Omar Ahmed, chairman at Newcastle City Cricket Club, said: “The club has been on a real upward curve over recent seasons and we’re aiming to keep that going as we find our way in the top tier of North East club cricket.

“We’ve done lots of fundraising to cover the cost of our step up, as well as to ensure we can keep providing all the training and playing opportunities we offer to our growing junior section.

“Buying the sightscreens represented a big capital outlay for us, so we’re really grateful to the Banks Group for stepping in and enabling us to get them on site in time for the new season.”

The Banks Group, which is behind nearby housing developments including Kingston Village, provided the grant via its community fund, which is managed by Point North.

Jamilah Hassan, community relations manager at the Banks Group, added: “Newcastle City Cricket Club is a fantastic example of everything that a community sports club should be and offers so many opportunities to players of all ages.”

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