9th October 2012
| Mallory Gray
Dewi Richards (Chairman) and other members of Bethesda CC are joined by CDO Gerallt Jones and Ally Pitman (Cricket Wales Board Member)
Bethesda Cricket Club has received £360 from Wales’ leading energy supplier, SWALEC as part of a Cricket Community Development fund for clubs to purchase new equipment kit or facilities.
The scheme, which is in partnership with Cricket Wales and Glamorgan Cricket, provides funds to support recreational cricket and grow the sport at a local level.
Bethesda Cricket Club has put the funds towards purchasing a waterhog. Club Chairman, Dewi Roberts, said: “This season we went without playing for eight weeks because of the wet weather. The minute we had the waterhog delivered it meant we could get back into playing.
“We heard about the Development Fund by reading it in our paper and through our local Cricket Development Officer and we decided to apply. We wanted to buy a waterhog for ages because the sheet we had just held the water so wasn’t practical. Now we have it, it will certainly help us for next season and seasons to come.”
Bethesda Cricket Club has two adult sides and three youth teams. The club is on a recruitment drive for its U15s, U13s and U11s and is currently working closely with local schools to attract younger players.
Jonny Petrie, head of sponsorship at SWALEC, said: “We hope that the Community Development Fund will encourage more people to get involved with the game of cricket and we hope to strengthen it at grassroots level. We’re exceptionally pleased to offer the support to Bethesda Cricket Club.
“As official venue sponsors of the SWALEC Stadium and official partners to Glamorgan Cricket, the Community Development Fund is one way in which we are reaching out to people across Wales, who play, watch, or are involved with cricket to ensure it remains one of Wales’s favourite national sports.”
As well as receiving £360, the club was also given free tickets to a Glamorgan Cricket match.
Colin Metson, community and cricket development manager at Glamorgan Cricket, said: “We’re delighted to be working with SWALEC again on this community initiative. Community clubs have an important role to play in the overall development of the sport so it’s key that these clubs are supported and have the necessary equipment, kit and facilities to enjoy the game at its full potential.
“This initiative is great because by asking clubs to match fund their allocations, whole club and community will get behind the initiative for the benefit of its players.”
Peter Hybart from Cricket Wales said: “By providing funding to local clubs across Wales, SWALEC is taking an active role in promoting cricket and ensuring the future success of the sport.
“Grassroots cricket is at the centre of many communities in Wales and so these funds will provide a boost to ensure the sport keeps on growing and attracts new players to the game.”
Since last year, the SWALEC Development Fund has supported 31 clubs for more equipment and facilities.
For further information on SWALEC’s sponsorship of Glamorgan Cricket and how to get involved visit www.SWALEC.co.uk/cricket