Cricket club gets £50,000 changing room complex (From Halesowen News)

Cricket club gets £50,000 changing room complex

10:20am Friday 3rd July 2009

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YOUNG cricketers at Halesowen Cricket Club are set to reap the benefits of new £50,000 changing room complex.

The new building, next to the pavilion, will be officially opened at the Dog Kennel Lane club’s annual Paul McCann memorial match against the Royal Navy on Sunday July 19.

It has been funded by a £51,059 grant as part of the Government’s £9.4million Community Club Development programme, after Halesowen was identified by the England and Wales Circket Board (ECB) as deserving because of its youth programme.

Club project manager Steve Baker said the new facilities would be a great boost to the club and its youth programme, which caters for 135 junior cricketers.

Steve said: “We are delighted when we were awarded the grant because the additional facilities were a priority need.

“In recent times the club has made good progress with facilities and we have a strong junior section.

“One of the advantages of the new self contained facilities is they can be used independently by the schools which means we are increasing participation and the playing of the game by giving schools the opportunity to use our playing facilities.”

The new facility includes two changing rooms, toilets and showers, along with an umpires changing room.

Steve added: “We are pleased the ECB has recognised the work done at junior level and we are grateful to them for their most generous support because we could not afford these facilities from our own resources.

“We regard the grant as an investment in cricket at the club for the future.”

The Community Club Development programme has seen grants allocated to selected clubs across the country, with the aim of increasing participation in cricket across the community.

ECB facilities and funding manager, Bruce Cruse, said it was delighted to have invested in Halesowen’s project.

He said: “It has been planned to inject new impetus into the playing future of the club and its community.

“I am confident that as this investment matures the club will go from strength to strength.”

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