Cricket fan and Co-Chair of the All Party Sports Group in Parliament, Justin Tomlinson MP, has visited Swindon Cricket Club (SCC) and met with the volunteers who help to run it.
Formed in 1844, the Club is one of the oldest in the UK. It is based next door to the County Ground and has a Grade II listed pavilion which provides a beautiful feature to the ground.
SCC exists to provide opportunities for a wide range of people to play and enjoy cricket. They operate an open membership policy, allowing people of all ages, and from all parts of the community, to play cricket.
In total, the club operates four teams that play in the West of England Premier League and Wiltshire County Cricket Leagues. Teams start with the under 9’s right through to the seniors, as well as a flourishing girls team.
For youngsters, the club runs the All Stars programme, a new initiative run by the England & Wales Cricket Board aimed at providing children aged five to eight with a great first experience in cricket. The programme costs £40 and includes eight 1-hour cricket sessions run at the club, as well as a backpack full of goodies including a cricket bat, ball, activity book, personalised shirt and cap.
The club has recently undertaken a refurbishment of its clubhouse, providing a full bar, kitchen, dance floor and PA system for all sorts of different events.
Justin Tomlinson MP said: “If you are keen to enjoy cricket – either by playing or simply watching – then SCC is a fantastic spot and is ready to welcome new members and spectators. Rightly, as a sport, cricket is keen to see more youngsters and girls getting involved. It is fantastic that here in Swindon we have a brilliant set of volunteers at SCC who are encouraging exactly that, in a beautiful spot.”
For more information, visit http://www.swindoncricketclub.co.uk/ or call 01793 523088
Swindon Cricket Club
The County Ground
Swindon
SN1 2EE
Photo: Justin Tomlinson MP, Robert Buckland MP, Tom Foreman – Chairman, Daniel Harris – Membership Secretary. (Taken from the pavilion with the All Stars Cricket in the background)
