Glam Ace Opens Fantastic New Facility at Fugitives

11th July 2013 | Mallory Gray

John Glover, with Members of Newport Fugitives at the Opening Ceremony

Glamorgan bowler John Glover was delighted to open Newport Fugitives Cricket Club’s superb new practice area.  The England and Wales Cricket Trust (EWCT) awarded a grant of £17,032 to the Newport Fugitives Cricket Club towards the cost of a two bay synthetic practice area.

Newport Fugitives Cricket Club was identified by Cricket Wales, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Sport Wales as a club of strategic developmental importance in the Newport area.  The club’s Chairman of Cricket, Gareth Davies, said: “It was fantastic news when we were awarded the grant as we urgently needed to provide some quality practice facilities.  We are delighted with the new facility and the non-turf pitches are excellent and are ideal for the coaching and development of young cricketers.  We have seven qualified ECB coaches and the new facility has enabled us to introduce a much more structured coaching programme which will benefit all age groups.

"In recent times the club has made good progress both on and off the field and we have achieved ECB Clubmark status.  We have three senior sides and we have over 90 junior cricketers.  We also have close contact with the local schools, Cricket Wales and Gwent Cricket Association age group matches are played on the ground.  Schools are also invited to use our ground and facilities.

“We are pleased that the ECB has recognised the work we do in support of the development of the game and we are extremely grateful for the most generous financial support given to us by the England and Wales Cricket Trust.  We regard the grant as an investment in cricket at the club for the future.  We also acknowledge with gratitude the fundraising efforts of our members.”

The Official Opening of the new facility took place on Monday 8th July at 6.00 pm.

Director of Cricket Wales, Peter Hybart, said: “I am pleased that the club has been awarded the grant because they have an outstanding cricket development programme and they have worked hard to promote cricket in the local schools and community.  Cricket Wales recommended Newport Fugitives Cricket Club because they have enthusiastically embraced all the ECB development policies and the facility is key to further development of cricket in that locality.”

EWCT Trustee, Brian Havill, said, “The England and Wales Cricket Trust is pleased to support projects that sustain high quality participation and enhance facilities.  It is important that cricket clubs have access to funding, such as through this grant aid programme, that allows them to make their facilities available to the local community, schools and community groups.”