Wednesbury Cricket Club celebrates investment in facilities.

Express & Star

We take a look at Wednesbury Cricket Club where investment is helping the club move forwards .

Transcript

00:00We're here at Wensby Cricket Club and Craig, you're the chairman.

00:03That's right.

00:04And a bit of a celebrate to your night really.

00:06We've got the local councillors here with you.

00:08You've had a bit of money put into the club.

00:10What have you done with it?

00:11Frequently over the last 12 months really.

00:13We've had £70,000 new nets installed which we're standing in at the moment.

00:18We've had a new irrigation system fitted around the square.

00:21Two hybrid wickets installed.

00:24So this was news to me.

00:26So it's a machine.

00:27We'll try and bring it up there, a little clip of it.

00:29And it basically knits nylon into the...

00:33Yeah, it's like a big sewing machine really.

00:35Yeah, yeah.

00:36Nylon twine down, 25mm spread, down 10cm into the ground.

00:42And it helps the lifespan of the wickets.

00:46Yeah, because it's well used there, isn't it?

00:47So it just prolongs that kind of life of it.

00:50And the nets we're in, they were a tennis court once upon a time, weren't they?

00:54They were indeed, yeah.

00:56The tennis club, which is a separate club to us, kindly.

00:59They allowed us to take up this space.

01:01Yeah.

01:02So, yeah, we put the nets here.

01:04We're a small ground.

01:05We've got no space, really, for them to go other than here.

01:08Yeah.

01:09Yeah, so we're thankful to them for that.

01:11And how many people do you reckon you've got kind of tied to the club, using the club, you know, overall, roughly?

01:17Yes, we've got up to 100 children, including All-Stars and Dynamos.

01:22Very good.

01:22We run five youth teams.

01:24Yeah.

01:25And then we've got four adult sides on a Saturday and two adult Sunday sides.

01:29And where's this money come from to do all this work?

01:32Various pots.

01:33Yeah.

01:35Sport England have contributed to the ground improvements.

01:38Entrust and the council to the cricket nets.

01:41Cool.

01:42So, yeah, various pots of money.

01:44Well, I heard the council mentioned.

01:46Cue councillors.

01:48How are you doing, guys?

01:49Just introduce yourselves.

01:50Roll call.

01:51Go on.

01:51Councillor Luke Giles.

01:53I'm councillor Michael.

01:54Council P2U.

01:56Cool.

01:56So, what part of the council played in this, then, in kind of the funding on the various projects we've heard about?

02:03So, obviously, the cricket club applied for SILF funding.

02:06And, obviously, that was to help them do all the work that they've been doing.

02:09And, I mean, they've done a fantastic job here.

02:11Yeah.

02:12I really took my hat off to the club on what they've done with the money.

02:16And SILF funding stands for, just from Armageddon?

02:19Community infrastructure level.

02:21Yeah.

02:22Got you.

02:22Yeah, so that's when there's been developers who have done projects in the area and that kind of stuff.

02:26And there's a bit of money.

02:27Yeah, yeah.

02:28So, it's important, isn't it?

02:30Just for use.

02:31You know, we're always hearing, oh, kids are repaying, they're dossing on the street.

02:35You know, just on that level, having a facility like this is great, isn't it?

02:37Somewhere for them to engage themselves and learn skills, life skills, really.

02:42Yeah, and you look around tonight.

02:44I mean, the amount of kids that are involved, it's fantastic.

02:47I mean, you give them something to do.

02:50And not just, I mean, it's part of Wensbury.

02:52The cricket club is, I mean, these guys have kept this club going through some hard times.

02:57And to see it thriving like this, it's absolutely fantastic.

03:00Yeah, good.

03:01And you'd echo those comments, wouldn't you?

03:04I think, I think the thing is, this is a really historic club.

03:07It goes back, I think, to the 19th.

03:09It's 150.

03:11Wow, 150.

03:12150 years old, you know what I mean?

03:13Yeah, yeah.

03:14I mean, I've been part of this set-up in another sport, but to see the cricket club actually

03:22take this on and sort of improve it to the way it's doing is really brilliant.

03:27Yeah.

03:27So you were playing here before it was the cricket club?

03:31Yeah.

03:32When it was still rugby.

03:33The rugby club used to be part of the sport union, yeah.

03:35And looking great for 152 Peter.

03:38Looking fantastic.

03:40And we've got a female player here, Freya.

03:42And what do you think of the facilities then, Freya?

03:45It's amazing.

03:46I've loved everything, so I've come here three years ago, four years ago now, and I'm never

03:50going to stop at this point now.

03:51Yeah, yeah, that's cool.

03:53We're after more people, aren't we, and more girls?

03:54Well, yeah, I was just going to say, yeah, you've auditioned, you've had a go bowling.

03:58I go, yeah.

03:59So, yeah, you'll be down.

04:00We've been improved on.

04:02Well, we've got the facilities now, so, yeah.

04:05So, yeah, after more female players the club are, aren't they?

04:07Yeah, most definitely.

04:09Me being the only one here, it's lovely if more women come and more girls.

04:13Yeah, yeah.

04:14It's just being more of an inclusive.

04:15environment for me, especially.

04:17Great stuff, great stuff.

04:18Well, well done to all involved guys, and long may the club keep flourishing.

04:23Cheers, guys.

04:24Cheers.

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