Gloucs support CricketForce again

Gloucestershire's Chris Taylor and Tom Stayt help out at Chipping Sodbury for NatWest CricketForce

Gloucestershire’s players will be out in force around the county for NatWest CricketForce next weekend.

The 2010 initiative, from March 26-28, will be the biggest in the project’s nine-year history with more than 1,600 clubs taking part and an estimated 85,000 volunteers: a larger volunteering programme than the Olympics.

It is aimed at rejuvenating local cricket clubs and giving volunteers an opportunity to get involved.

The majority of the squad are visiting local clubs across the county to help with their volunteering weekend. All the cricket clubs in the region were invited to inform Gloucestershire of their plans for NatWest CricketForce and the county have allocated players to visit all the major projects.

In the north of the county, Chris Taylor and David Payne will be visiting Kingsholm CC and Painswick CC. Both clubs have big plans for the CricketForce weekend and will have a variety of tasks for the players to help with.

Painswick are joining forces with their local youth club to renovate the old pavilion on Painswick’s Recreation Ground, the club’s original home which they are set to return to this season.

Work on the existing pavilion, home of the church-run youth club, will include painting, knocking down some old showers, and hopefully replacing the kitchen.

Club chair Steve Pegram, one of the driving forces behind the club's regeneration, said: "CricketForce is brilliant for us - we need to make it work. Even before the season starts this is our most important weekend of the year.

“Coming back to the centre of the village means such a lot to the club and the support from everyone involved is great."

In Bristol, Twyford House CC is being visited by chairman Rex Body plus Anthony Ireland and Rob Woodman. They will be invited to help with the club’s long list of tasks involved with the general maintenance in preparation for the season.

Twyford’s CricketForce organiser Gary Ball said: "In 2009 Twyford House CC certainly benefited from NatWest CricketForce.

“With over 100 club members, their families and friends attending the day, we completed a whole range of tasks which got the season off to a flyer.

“The event brought the club together and this club spirit and team work was reflected on the playing side as the first XI won the Bristol & District senior division title, the Bristol & District plate competition and the fourth XI won their division in their inaugural season.

“A great day, we were well assisted by staff from NatWest and had support from Jon Lewis and Anthony Ireland - an excellent result all round. Bring on NatWest CricketForce 2010.”

Anyone willing to spare a few hours on March 26, 27 or 28 to help your local club please leave your details with natwestcricketforce@ecb.co.uk.