Sussex offer incentives

Sussex are offering a host of incentives to clubs within the county that register for NatWest CricketForce 2007 – including tickets to a NatWest Pro40 league game.

NatWest CricketForce 2007 promises to be the biggest volunteering event ever seen in sport. In 2006, over 1000 clubs and 70,000 volunteers took part, realising £25 million worth of investment in grass roots cricket. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday March 31 and Sunday April 1.

Sussex Cricket Development Manager, Andy Hobbs, has written to all club secretaries across the county encouraging them to register and take part in NatWest CricketForce 2007, and outlined some extra special benefits when they do.

“We feel that this event is such a good opportunity for clubs that we must show our support for it as a county,” he said.

The incentives for clubs to register in Sussex include:

• Tickets to a NatWest Pro40 league game (game to be confirmed)
• Player or member of staff from SCCC to attend the club’s event at some point over the weekend (guaranteed for first 60 clubs to register only)
• Player or member of staff to bring either the C&G Trophy or County Championship Trophy to your event (guaranteed for first 60 clubs to register only)
• The clubs which contribute the most over the weekend (as per their registration) will be presented with a trophy at the NatWest Pro40 league game for which the free tickets are provided.

Sussex are also being pro-active in trying to generate involvement in NatWest CricketForce from among the local communities across the county.

They are writing to all SCCC members asking them to volunteer for their local event, and advertising for volunteers through the SCCC website.

Sussex will also be writing to all SCCC sponsors and national CricketForce sponsors asking for local support; and writing to all local volunteer bureaus, Local Authorities and County Sports Partnership asking for support.

“We will centrally co-ordinate any support coming through these channels and direct them to their local club’s project,” explained Hobbs.

In addition, the best 15 projects judged from the event details clubs submit while registering online for NatWest CricketForce 2007 will win clubs a half day’s coaching from one of Sussex’s community cricket coaches.

And, lastly, the four best projects as registered will be featured in a DVD production by Sussex TV.

Any clubs in Sussex that have any queries should contact Andy Hobbs on 01273 827104 or email andy.hobbs@sussexcricket.co.uk