A Devon cricket club is stepping up to the crease with plans to modernise its facilities, thanks to a sponsorship boost aimed at improving the matchday experience and supporting the next generation of players.
Heathcoat Cricket Club has received £1,000 from housebuilder Edenstone to support improvements at its ground at Whitnage Road in Sampford Peverell.
The club, which operates across two sites, has more than 325 playing members. This includes four Saturday league sides, women’s hardball and softball teams, a range of T20 and social teams, and a junior programme catering for children from the age of four.
Vice-chairman Chris Salter said: “Our vision is to be the best cricket club in Devon, while supporting cricketers of all ages and abilities to play to their full potential.
“We’re on a mission to promote, organise and foster amateur cricket of the highest standard in the Devon area. Central to our ethos is enjoyment of the game and the development of young cricketers.”
He said funding secured through the Devon Cricket Board and the England and Wales Cricket Board would support improvements focused on increasing participation among children, women and people with disabilities.
Chris added: “Heathcoat Cricket Club was successfully awarded funding towards the digitalisation of our Sampford Peverell ground at Whitnage Road.
“We’re using the grant funding for a new electronic scoreboard to replace the failing manual board; to upgrade the IT hardware to facilitate live scoring; build a score hut; to purchase camera equipment to live broadcast matches and update Wi-Fi facilities.
“The grant funding only covers 80% of this so we’re grateful to Edenstone for their sponsorship, which will help towards our ongoing fundraising for the improvements which will help future-proof the ground.”
Alongside the upgrades, the club aims to grow junior membership by five per cent each year and increase women’s membership by 50 per cent annually.
The ground is located around a mile from Edenstone’s nearby housing development, The Orchards.
Edenstone operations director Chris Edge said: “As good neighbours and proud supporters of grassroots sports, we were keen to help Heathcoat Cricket Club.
“Sport is a great way to meet people, stay fit and active and develop life skills such as teamwork and communication. We wish the club the best of luck with the works and for the cricket season and beyond.”
The latest phase of homes at The Orchards has now been released. More information is available at https://edenstonehomes.com/developments/the-orchards
