Community cricket club nets funding boost

A North Yorkshire sports club is celebrating after securing funds to upgrade its community facilities.

Harrogate Cricket Club has reached its fundraising target to refurbish the practice nets at its St George’s Road ground, thanks to a £2000 grant from County Durham-based developer Banks Group. 

The improvements will focus on two net lanes, which are free to use year-round, with work due to begin in the coming weeks.

Officials at the club say the enhanced facilities will hopefully encourage more people to get involved in cricket, especially with interest in the sport expected to rise during England’s winter Ashes series against Australia.

Susan Bates, volunteer fundraiser at Harrogate Cricket Club, said: “Our community nets are there for anyone that wants to use them whenever they want to, and they’re well used all year round by both our members and lots of other local residents.

“They offer people of all ages the chance to find out if they like playing cricket without having to pay a membership fee or venue hire costs, and have often provided the first introduction to the game for players who’ve gone on to join our club or other local sides.

“We made improvements to the main practice nets that our members use a couple of years ago, but have since been conscious that the community nets needed work doing to keep them up to scratch.

“Reaching our fundraising target means we’ll be able to get on with improving the all-weather playing surface and repairing the netting in the coming weeks, and we’re hoping to have everything done before the end of the current season.

“We’ve had a great response to our fundraising campaign and are very grateful to the Banks Group for their generous contribution that’s taken us over the finishing line.”

Kate Culverhouse, community relations manager at the Banks Group, added: “Very few cricket clubs provide practice facilities that non-members can use, let alone all year round and for free.

“Harrogate Cricket Club deserves a huge amount of credit for its commitment to providing the local community with such a great opportunity to stay active right through the year, and we’re very pleased to be able to help them maintain it long into the future.”

Harrogate Cricket Club is a recognised centre of excellence in the region, fielding senior men’s and women’s teams in competitive leagues, alongside a thriving junior programme. 

It has also recently introduced walking cricket for over-55s and is exploring opportunities to provide playing options for visually impaired players.

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