Stalybridge Cricket Club On Course To Reach Crowdfunder Target To Build New Nets

Stalybridge Cricket Club is on course to secure a  new, two-lane netting facility at Gorse Hall Road.

At the time of writing, the club’s Crowdfunder page had received donations totalling £19,906 towards a £20,000 target. The deadline to reach the target ends on Friday (16th).

It’s welcome news for Stalybridge, who compete in the Derbyshire and Cheshire Cricket League, as the nets are much-needed and will be used by every age group upon completion.

The project, which will be match-funded by Sport England, is the latest plan from the club to further strengthen its membership base, usher in a new wave of players, and to lay the foundations for a promising future.

Stalybridge, whose first team ended their campaign with defeat to Charlesworth and Chisworth in division two last weekend, place great emphasis on improving their ever-expanding junior section.

Such has been the focus on developing the juniors in recent years, second team vice-captain Adam Harwick won a prestigious award in 2021.

Adam, who has a longstanding allegiance with the club, having progressed through the ranks himself, won the ECB Grassroots Cricket Award - Connecting Communities category.

In his latest attempt to drive the junior section forward, Adam hosted a two-day holiday camp during the summer holidays for interested players in the local community.

The camp, which attracted a mix of current players and new faces, gave youngsters the opportunity to improve their skills in a fun and friendly environment.

Now, with the winter months approaching, and to keep the youngsters affiliated with the club, training sessions will move indoors.

Speaking to Reporter Sport at the holiday camp, Adam said he was delighted with the club’s current structure and feels the future’s bright at Gorse Hall Road. “I’m really chuffed with myself for winning the award, as it was based around connecting communities. The camp kind of ties into what we’re trying to achieve, as it not only gives the youngsters something enjoyable to do, but it also helps out their parents in terms of work.

“Our focus is one hundred per cent about developing the juniors and improving their quality, rather than picking up results. It’s all about building a strong pathway into the first team, second team and third team. 

“We’ve had mixed results this season, although it’s been good in a certain way as we’ve been trying to incorporate the juniors into the setup. We’re looking to build over the next two years to get them ready for first team cricket.

“This is how we want our club to grow and it’s the only way that it’s going to work for us. A lot of our players, who have been here a while, are a lot older now and so we need to pass the baton to the kids. 

“It’s not just about the players, though, as volunteers are huge to us. Having parents associated with the club has helped to drive us forward, as they’ve gone from watching their children to becoming board members and on the committee.”