Urban Cricket gets Broad backing

England and Nottinghamshire's Stuart Broad opened the npower Urban Cricket facility in King Edward Park, Nottingham

England paceman Stuart Broad and his father, former England and Nottinghamshire batsman and current ICC match referee Chris, today officially opened the new npower Urban Cricket facility in King Edward Park, Nottingham.

The new facility, which has transformed a disused area of the park, is the fourth of five purpose-built cricket facilities to be opened across the country as part of the Urban Cricket initiative.

It provides a permanent space for children in Nottingham to learn and practice their cricket skills, turning them into possible stars of the future.

Broad junior, who joined Nottinghamshire at the end of the 2007 season, said: “It's fantastic to see initiatives such as npower Urban Cricket giving youngsters the chance to get out there and play the game.

“It’s going to make a real difference to the local community and will hopefully produce plenty more first class cricketers for Notts.”
Five school playgrounds in the Nottingham area have also been redeveloped into Urban Cricket Zones. These zones will help children with an interest in cricket to practice and develop their skills.

The schools that have benefited from this project are Jesse Boot Primary, Greenwood Infant and Nursery, Greenwood Junior, William Booth Infant and Nursery, Sneinton Church of England Primary, Hogarth Primary and Nursery, Bluebell Hill Primary, Huntingdon Primary, Sycamore Primary and Walter Halls Primary and Nursery School.

Working in partnership with Nottingham City Council and the Nottinghamshire County Cricket Board, the development of the facility and its five supporting zones, creates a tiered community development programme with a clear route for children to follow, from learning basic skills all the way up to playing club cricket.

Broad senior, who played 25 Tests and 34 one-day internationals from 1984 to 1989, added: “The npower Urban Cricket facilities are a great way of developing a legacy for the game and allowing children in the area to practice their skills.”