Glossop Cricket Club’s Simon Megram is urging the local community to come down and help them get ready for the new season.
The 14th annual NatWest CricketForce is promising to be another blockbuster event with more than 2,000 clubs registered to take part over the last weekend in March.
Tens of thousands of club members and volunteers will come together to clean, tidy, repair and revitalise clubhouses and cricket grounds across the country ahead of the new season.
And as club secretary Megram thinks it is important to have a date booked in the diary to carry out the work with preparations for this season due to take place from March 28-29.
“Because Natwest CricketForce is a national tournament all the clubs are talking about it,” he explained.
“There’s just a big drive to get everything sorted before the season kicks off. We’re planning on tidying the place up, painting some of the benches and cutting back any growth encroaching on the field.
“We’re hoping to have around 30 players come down and help out so hopefully it will be a really productive day.”
The scheme is supported by former England captain and current ECB Managing Director of Cricket Partnerships Mike Gatting.
And Gatting, who played 79 Tests and 92 ODIs for England, is adamant this year’s Natwest CricketForce will benefit more than just the clubs themselves.
“I hope we’re helping the communities as well as the clubs,” he added. “Kids want to go to clubs, and have fun with their mates in a safe area.
“It’s all about the community for cricket clubs, and in some places the clubs can stop kids from being out on the street and doing drugs, in gangs, and other terrible things.
“So these kind of schemes make a difference from that respect too, and it’s nice to think we can help kids move down a different path to all that.
“Cricket is one of those games where you make friends for life, build bridges, and learn a lot of life skills as well. That’s really important so local councils and communities acknowledging that it does make a difference and getting involved themselves is what it’s all about.”
NatWest CricketForce is an ECB project helping cricket clubs renovate and improve their facilities before each season with the help of members and their wider communities. Find out when your local club event is and lend a hand at ecb.co.uk/nwcf
