A DALE cricket club has received a double boost after receiving grants totalling almost £3,000.
Raby Castle CC has received £1,725 from the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) return to cricket grant scheme.
A further £1,000 has been received from the County Durham Community Foundation to support the club’s junior teams.
The return to cricket grant will help the club cover its essential running costs during the pandemic and help in preparations for the resumption of recreational cricket at Raby Castle.
Club secretary Steve Caygill said funding from the community foundation would pay for equipment and cover other costs involved in the development of junior teams in the coming season.
Despite uncertainty about whether recreational cricket will be allowed to resume in April as scheduled as a result of Covid-19, the club has signed up to two ECB-backed junior schemes.
“For the fourth season, we will run All Stars Cricket, a programme which provides boys and girls aged five to eight with a great first experience of cricket,” said Mr Caygill.
In the past three seasons – including last year’s Covid-hit programme – the All Stars scheme has proved extremely popular at Raby Castle, with dozens of children taking part.
Mr Caygill said the club was also planning to run the new Dynamos programme, which is designed for eight to 11-year-olds as a follow on to All Stars.
The club is planning to field teams at U9, U11 and U13 in the Durham Cricket Board Junior League.
Raby is also joining dale neighbours Middleton-in-Teesdale CC to put a combined U15 team in the league.
“After three years, Raby Castle CC junior section is now well and truly up and running and we now have more than 30 juniors,” said Mr Caygill.
The cub has also signed up all its junior coaching volunteers to the Coach Assist UK platform.
“Coach Assist UK will provide all players with an opportunity to grow and develop their game cricket skills and understanding of the game,” said My Caygill.
“On top of this, all junior members will get access to their very own online academy profile, which gives them access to hundreds of videos, interviews with professional players and regular live coaching sessions with professional players and experts.”
For more details on Raby Castle CC’s junior section, contact Mr Caygill on 07708 220426.
Raby Castle CC will hold its annual meeting via the Zoom platform on Wednesday, January 29 at 8pm.
