GCB Clubwatch - Tell us your Story
Clubwatch - Carsons & Mangotsfield CC
The GCB is fully aware and extremely proud of all the hard work that is going on at clubs across Gloucestershire for the development of cricket. In an attempt to celebrate this the GCB will be bringing these stories to you in its monthly 'Clubwatch' section.
Click here if you have a story that you would like the GCB to celebrate
This month its the turn of Carson's & Mangotsfield Cricket Club - one of the GCB's Clubmark Registered clubs.
The club has recently achieved massive success in receiving £50,000 Olympic legacy funding from Sport England's Inspired Facilities Fund.
The Inspired Facilities fund is part of the £135 million Places People Play legacy programme that is bringing the magic of a home Olympic and Paralympic Games into communities across the country. Every sports facility that receives funding will carry the London 2012 Inspire mark – celebrating the link to the Games.
The project aim is purchase outdoor cricket nets for Carsons & Mangotsfield Cricket Club to enable its senior and youth sections to practice and aid overall coaching and development. Currently players use the square, which is not ideal as the wicket gets over used and it's not safe for other sessions to go on at the same time. With the additional facilities it is hoped new members of the community will join the club and additional youth and Saturday teams will be created given the additional capacity available at the ground.
The grant of £50,000 will contribute towards the purchase of outdoor cricket nets with three wickets for practice.
Steve Silk, GCB's Cricket Development Manager, said:
"This just goes to show what happens when a club demonstrates a pro-active to their club development. It is great to see Sport England again support clubs within the county and we are delighted for the club. We look forward to hearing how the new facilities will inspire more young people and adults to take up cricket."
Sport England's Chair, Richard Lewis, said:
"This investment will create will be a fantastic sporting legacy for the Mangotsfield area. This fund has really hit the mark with sports clubs in the South West. It shows we're offering the legacy that people want for their local community. For hundreds of clubs and tens of thousands of people, 2012 will be the year their local sports facilities got better."
The club's Youth Coordinator, Andrew King said:
"The club is absolutely delighted to receive this award as in past seasons we always had to practice on the edge of the square with a temporary net. This means that from April, we will have a purpose built 3 lane net facility which I have no doubt will improve the skills of all youth and senior players and encourage more of the local community to join our club and play cricket. "
Local MP, Chris Skidmore, said:
"Carsons and Mangotsfield Cricket Club is a fantastic local club which is well-respected in the local community, and does great work getting people into cricket. This investment will make a real difference to the club and the local community, and as the local MP I'm really grateful to Places People Play for the award which will leave a lasting legacy for the future of cricket in our area."
PREVIOUS CLUBWATCH SECTIONS
December 2011 - Hambrook Cricket Club