England and Wales Cricket Board - Case Study

Demonstrating Best Practice and Impact within Community Cricket Development.

County Cricket Board

Shropshire

County Sports Partnership

 Shropshire

District Development Group(s)

Local Education Authority

 Shropshire County Council

Project Start Date

1^st November 2002

Project Completion Date

Ongoing

Funding Streams

Club Resources. Foundation for Sports & the Arts Grant. Sport England Grant. Network Club Grant. Shropshire County Council Grant.

Location (Inner-city/Urban/Rural)

Rural

IMD Ranking

Clubmark Status

Not registered

Registered

Accredited

Author and Title

Jim Roberts

Date

01/09/2010

Background.

1880.   In 1984 Reg Purslow a real stalwart of the Club found a Parish Magazine showing a Cound Cricket Club Scorecard of cricket being played at Cound in the early 1880's.

It is believed that the ground at that time was on the other side of the Church near Cound brook.

1889. A Concert was held in the Guildhall, Cound on the evening of Thursday November 28^th whereby the sum of £5. 10 shillings was raised for the Cricket Club.

1900. The existing Pavilion and Ground was provided by the owners of the Cound Estate for the workmen.

1905. On Saturday 15^th July Cound entertained a team from Newton-Le-Willows, Lancashire which included  a Mr Dowson who had played for Surrey and all England.

During the winter of a new square was laid through the generosity of the President  A.C. McCorquodale which made it possible to have a pitch either way.

1913. On 7^th January a supper was held at the Cound Lodge Hotel.  The usual toasts where offered by Mr Thursby the Chairman to the King, Clergy, Vice-Presidents, Captain etc. Members and visitors contributed to an enjoyable informal programme.

1919. On 19^th July the end of the First World War Peace Celebrations where held on the Cricket Ground. Following the children's sports a splendid tea was given by Mrs McCorquodale in the Guildhall and a large Marquee.

1955. The Club managed to raise sufficient funds to purchase the ground outright from the Cound Estate.

1969. Mr Ronald England who had recently moved into the nearby Rectory permitted the Club to run a Electricity and Water supply to the Pavilion. Up to that date the Club had no Electricity supply and Water had to be transported to the ground from the Village Hall in a large drum on wheels.

1974. The Club become one of the founder members of the Border Counties Cricket League.

1979.  The Club made a tremendous fund raising effort to enable a Tearoom and Toilets to be built. Up to that time the nearby Village Hall had been used.

Club President Freddie Fry  donated sufficient funds to purchase a practice wicket and nets.

1984.  The Club held a Centenary Dinner at the Mytton and Mermaid Hotel at Atcham.

The 1st XI where the Bank's League Division 2 Champions.

The Club made the decision to build new Changing Rooms and spent the next four years trying to obtain a grant.

1991. The 1^st XI where runners up of the Shropshire League Division 4 and promoted to Division 3.

1994. The 1^st XI where relegated from Division 3 of the Shropshire League to Division 4.

1995. The 1^st XI where promoted from Division 4 of the Shropshire League to Division 3.

1996. The 1^st XI where promoted from Division 3 of the Shropshire League to Division 2.

2001. The 1^st X! where winners of the Shropshire League Division 2 and promoted to Division 1.

2002. The Club plan new Changing Rooms and decide to seek a grant.

2005. The Foundation for Sports and the Arts award the Club a £12,000.00 grant if the Club are able to raise a similar figure.

The 1st XI where runners-up in the Shropshire League First Division.

The 2^nd XI where runners up of the Shropshire League Division 5 and promoted to Division 4.

The Club held a 125th year Celebration Dinner at the Four Crosses, Bicton.

2006. Planning permission for the new Changing Rooms was given in the Spring and the Building was erected on 26th August.

During the Winter of the old Pavilion was converted into a Club Room and Tea Room with Kitchen facilities.

All internal work on the Changing Rooms and old Pavilion where carried out by the Club Members.

The Club received a grant of £5,000 from Sport England to purchase a Heavy Roller.

The Club purchase half an acre of ground to the rear of the new Changing Rooms from David Waller the owner of Cound Hall.

2007. A new Double Bay Practice Net was purchased with the aid of a grant from the County Network Fund. 

The Club appointed a Clubmark Co-ordinator and a Club Development Manager.

The Club formed a dedicated Fund Raising Committee.

2008. The Club purchased a used set of covers from Newport CC.

The Club receive a grant of £5,000 a purchase an Outfield Mower.

The Club achieved Clubmark accreditation on 15^th October.

The 2^nd XI where runners up of the Shropshire League Division 4 and promoted to Division 3.

Aims and Objectives.

The main aim was to raise sufficient funds to build new Changing Room and to convert the existing Pavilion into a Tea Room.

Erect a new Double Bay Practice Net.

To update all the existing Machinery.

To purchase a set of Covers.

To erect new fencing around the ground.

Main achievements to date.

The new Changing Rooms are fully functional.

The old Pavilion has been converted in to a Tea Room.

A new Mains Electricity and Water Supply have been installed.

A new Double Bay Practice Net has been erected

A second hand Heavy Roller and Outfield Mower have been purchased.

A set of second hand Covers have been purchased.

A new Fence has been erected on three sides of the ground.

Main partners involved.

Foundation for Sports & the Arts.

Sport England.

The Network Club.

Shropshire County Council.

Club Members.

Hometyre.

Wynnstay.

Cafe Saffron.

Key factors for good practice.

A five year Development Plan.

Monthly Meetings.

Spend time planning and communicate regularly.

Keep the Club Website up to date and interesting.

Encourage as many Club Members as possible to become involved.

Apply for grants.

Spread the word to as many old Members as possible.

Run as many Club Fund Raising activities as possible.

Hold a Club Day with a Presidents game and a Junior game involving Parents and as many existing and old Members as possible.

Work hard and have fun.

Make the Club a place where Members become friends and make it more than just a Cricket Club.

What is still to be achieved?

Build a new Kitchen, Umpires Room and Score box.

Purchase additional land to enlarge the playing surface.

What mechanisms are in place to ensure sustainability?

Monthly Committee Meetings.

A five and ten Year Plan.

Involve as many Members as possible in the running of the Club.

Monitoring and Evaluation process.

Monthly Committee Meetings.

Note comments from visitors.

1

£60,000 has been raised and spent on the Club facilities since 2005.

2

Club Members donated over a 1000 hours to carry out improvements.

3

Achieved Clubmark Accreditation.

4

Encouraged over 30 Club Members to be involved in the running of the Club.

5

The Club now have 2 Level 2 and 5 Level 1 Coaches.

Thriving Club and Junior Section.