Dozens of young people attended a junior open day at Hadfield St Andrew Cricket Club as the summer programme got under way. The event was aimed at children aged four to 13, including those new to the sport.
The club hosted the session at its Newshaw Lane ground on Friday evening, marking the first junior gathering of the season. Organisers said the open day is designed to give local children an introduction to cricket in a relaxed and inclusive setting.
The event acts as a lead in to the club’s weekly All Stars and Dynamos sessions, which begin on 15 May. The initiative, backed by the England and Wales Cricket Board, focuses on introducing children aged five to 11 to the game through structured activities.
Hadfield chairman Richard Ball said the club has worked to create a welcoming environment for families and young players. He said “We try to create an atmosphere here at the Club for the whole community and it has been a great source of pride personally to see our junior section grow and to see so many youngsters enjoying a game that I and so many others at the club devote so much time to.
“Our Open Day was a great success and there were at least 20 new faces. It is really for local youngsters to give cricket a try, even for those who have not played before or who do not know much about it. Hopefully some will continue on for the rest of the year.
“Only five years ago we had no junior set up to speak of but this year we have Under 9s, 11s, 13s teams as well as girls and softball teams and training sessions. It has been down to the hard work of Richard, Siobhan and other club members, parents and families all of whom work tirelessly unpaid that our junior set up is where it is today”.
Junior head coach Richard Tranter said the club has expanded its youth teams and support network. He said “As somebody who came through the Club’s junior setup, it means so much to be able to give back to those now making that same journey.
“Last year we ran three junior teams. This year it is five. We have an Under 13s team for the first time in seven years, and a girls team for the first time ever. A real highlight of last year was seeing the girls play in Derby and at the County Ground.
“As much as I want our senior teams to do well, a club’s success is built upon its juniors and its impact in the community. The enjoyment that the juniors get from playing has been amazing to see and makes it all worthwhile”.
The club expects between 60 and 80 children to attend Friday evening sessions throughout the summer, supported by volunteers in roles including coaching, scoring and safeguarding.
Alongside its junior development, the club is raising funds for a new outdoor net facility and has made improvements to its grounds, including a play area and upgraded clubhouse space.
Organisers said new players and families are welcome to attend future sessions or take part in the weekly programmes.
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