Uppermill chief salutes cash boost

CRICKET: 

UPPERMILL Cricket Club has seen a grant bid to enhance its facilities approved by the Lancashire Cricket Board.

The boost will allow the club to improve the quality of its wickets using new roll-on covers.

The funding forms part of the England and Wales Cricket Trust (EWCT) Small Grant Scheme, which helps to create a sustainable future for clubs byt helping them to improve their facilities.

Waitrose, the England team sponsor, has supported the scheme by pledging £100 for every four or six scored across the entire home international summer in 2014.

The donation, alongside investment from Sport England and the England and Wales Cricket Trust, has allowed more local communities to benefit from refurbishments of kitchens and social areas, to buy covers, support team boosting campaigns and improve environmental sustainability.

Uppermill chairman Chris Bird said: “We are really delighted to receive this grant. It has provided valuable support for what would have been an expensive project.”

Mike Gatting, ECB Cricket Partnership Ambassador, said: “We’re passionate about creating a sustainable future for cricket clubs. Small grants to clubs like Uppermill make a huge difference to their long-term future.”