Cumnor Cricket Club have been awarded a £31,769 grant from Sport England towards building a new three lane net facility.

 The club, with the help of Oxfordshire Cricket Board’s cricket development officer Ashley Rump, secured the funding which was pivotal to reaching their target of £50,000.

 Club chairman Roger Mitty said: “It’s just extraordinary. When we got the grant we were absolutely bowled over.

 “Before there were genuine concerns about safety in the nets and the facilities were totally inadequate.

 “It’ll now mean we will feel much safer and the consistency will allow us to coach youngsters more efficiently.”

 Alongside gaining the grant the club managed to raise £15,000 themselves through a number of fundraising events including fantasy cricket and even running little tuck shops.

 And Mitty revealed that everyone involved with Cumnor C.C had a part to play in their success.

 “During last season the whole of the club, from the youth teams through to mums and dads got involved and everybody pitched in.

 “We even managed to persuade some local businesses to donate us some money.

 “It was really hard work, but the end result is amazing.”

 Building work on the nets begin at the end of February with the beginning of the season the target for the opening of the facility.

Article by Martin Key