Grant boost for Croft (From Swindon Advertiser)

Grant boost for Croft

7:10am Tuesday 25th October 2011 in Cricket

CROFT Sports Centre has jazzed up its cricket facilities after being awarded a £85,736 grant from the England and Wales Cricket Board.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) awarded the grant to Croft in partnership with Sport England.

The Swindon Borough Council-owned Croft Sports Centre was identified by the Wiltshire Cricket Board and by the ECB as a Centre of strategic and developmental importance due to its ability to contribute to the ECB’s goal to develop cricket through encouraging people and partnerships to deliver national goals at a local level, and to inspire people to play cricket.

This multi-sport centre was awarded a grant of £85,736 towards the cost of up-grading the indoor cricket facilities. p>

The Wiltshire Cricket Board’s cricket development manager, Peter Sykes, said: “In view of the major multi sport developments taking place at the Croft Sports Centre we were delighted to accept an opportunity to work in partnership to up-grade the cricket facility.

“The grant from the ECB and Sport England has enabled us to provide a high quality four bay net facility with excellent lighting in accordance with ECB specifications.”

“As part of our cricket development programme we seek to develop a centre of cricket excellence complimentary to the other sports facilities at the Sports Centre.

“The facility is in a priority area and we will organise coaching courses for young cricketers and the nets will also be available to clubs.

“The Swindon Indoor Cricket League will also benefit from this excellent community facility.”

Cllr Keith Williams, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Corporate Services, said: “We have recently transformed our outdoor football pitches at Croft so we are grateful to the England and Wales Cricket Board and Sport England for this generous grant to up-grade the indoor cricket facilities.

“We are confident the improved facilities will become a focus for cricket development in the Swindon area and there is no doubt they will add much value to the sports centre.”

Sport England’s Director of Property, Charles Johnson, said: “The up-graded indoor cricket area will obviously help the development of sport at Croft Sports Centre and in Wiltshire.

“We are confident that the ECB’s strategic approach to investing in high-quality, sustainable facilities will help cricket to attract and retain many new participants.

“In this particular instance, this improved facility will be welcomed by experienced players and youngsters who are keen to progress in cricket and we are pleased to support grass roots sport.”