Hadfield Cricket Club bowled over by new investment

Hadfield Cricket Club is celebrating the successful opening of its brand-new net facility, marking a major milestone for grassroots sport in the area.

The new two-bay artificial net facility at the club’s Newshaw Lane ground officially opened on Friday 26 June, providing local players with access to high-quality training facilities right on their doorstep.

The project forms part of a wider £50,000 package of improvements made possible through funding secured from a Sport England grant (of £15,000), an ECB loan, and – more so – to the incredible generosity of players, members and junior parents. 

The club can also be thankful for donations and support from Glossop & District Round Table, High Peak Borough Council and High Peak Comps. 

The club also plays a crucial role hosting large public events like Glossop Grillfest in addition to hosting community social groups, food banks, warm spaces, as well as private events. 

Richard Ball, Chairman of Hadfield Cricket Club, said:

“This is a real ‘game changer’ for Hadfield. 

“My own involvement with the club goes back 50 years and my family’s since our founding in 1923. This is without doubt one of our greatest days. 

“After some difficult years which saw our junior section decimated, it has been the tireless dedication of Richard (Tranter, Head Coach) that has got us to where we are today. 

“I thought it was fanciful 18 months ago when Richard said he would deliver something I have wanted for 30 years, the missing piece that the club needed, but how thrilled I am to sit here now seeing what he has done to push the club onto a new chapter in its 103-year history. 

“This facility really lays the platform for the club’s development. Those youngsters who have come through – and are coming through – our All Stars and Dynamos programme can start to make even bigger strides with their hardball development. 

“With this new facility, we can really let them loose! Recent performances in our Under 9s and Under 11s have already supported this, and I look forward to seeing them progress to Under 15s, Under 17s and into the senior setup backed by the best possible facilities”.

Hadfield’s Junior Head Coach, Richard Tranter, has rightly earned plaudits from his Chairman, his Club President, and his fellow players and members for leading on this momentous project, but he was keen to stress that it has been a real community effort.

He commented: “I came through the club myself as a junior and have been a key player for the 1st XI for over 15 years, but nothing has brought me more pleasure than overseeing the development of our junior set up in recent years. 

“The new net facility really is the icing on the cake, and I hope juniors and seniors alike use the nets to drive the club forward for many more years. 

“There are far too many people to thank but I want to pay particular thanks to our Club President and Chairman, but also to Sinead (McAlinden, Junior Assistant Head Coach) to Alex, John, Krish and my other teammates who support our juniors week in week out. 

“We also have a number of parents who coach, who give lifts, who support, who score, and much more besides; I hope their kids are as grateful as I am for their support. 

“Without countless volunteers and unpaid devotion, this wouldn’t have been possible”.

Hadfield has seen a massive increase in junior participation in recent years, from zero to 80+ kids on a Friday night. 

The Club currently boast Under 9s, Under 11s and Under 13s teams, whilst their new Girls’ team goes from strength to strength in its first ever year. 

This was the driving force behind getting the nets. 

Their senior team, meanwhile, boasts two Saturday XIs and a midweek Social XI.

The new facility will provide a safe, all-weather facility for year-round practice, it will support youth development and coaching across all age groups and, more widely, will allow for more involvement from local schools and social teams.

Hadfield’s new net facility is a fantastic example of how targeted government investment aligned with devoted volunteers and volunteer organisations can deliver lasting benefits for our communities. 

These new practice nets will not only help players of all abilities to develop their skills in a high-quality environment, but they will also inspire more people, especially young people, to get involved in sport. 

Just as importantly, this project supports the ECB’s and country’s wider ambitions around sustainability, health and wellbeing, and building stronger, more connected communities for the future.