NatWest sponsors Bristol Youth Cricket League

The Bristol Youth Cricket League has announced that NatWest has agreed to sponsor the League for the next three years.

In a year which sees NatWest celebrating 25 years of supporting English cricket, this sponsorship marks the latest initiative by the bank to develop the sport at a grassroots level.

Other nationwide youth initiatives include Inter Cricket (the alternative to the traditional hard ball game), Summer Camps and the NatWest Speed Stars competition to find the countries fastest young bowlers.

This is in addition to raising the profile of the game through sponsorship of the NatWest International Twenty20, The NatWest Series, The NatWest Challenge and The NatWest Women’s Series.

Commenting on this latest sponsorship deal, Paul Mattock, NatWest’s Regional Manager Retail Banking for Bristol, said: “I’m delighted that NatWest has been able to extend our support for grassroots cricket with this new sponsorship.

"Our aim is to give everyone the opportunity to experience the fun and excitement of the game and we are always looking to introduce new people to the sport. The Bristol Youth Cricket League do a great job of getting Bristol’s young people involved and we are thrilled to be able to support them.”

Jim Donaldson, Chairman of the Bristol Youth Cricket League, continued: “We are delighted to have such a major cricket sponsor supporting our League. Having a high profile sponsor like NatWest will be a big help to us as we continue to work to strengthen links with our Clubs, the County, Local Authorities, Senior Cricket Leagues and Schools.

"We can’t thank NatWest enough for what represents a major contribution to the development of cricket at all levels in this area.”

Speaking at the launch of the new sponsorship, ECB's Cricket Operations Manager (Recreational) Frank Kemp (right in picture) thanked Paul for this innovative sponsorship of local League cricket and highlighted the support that NatWest gives to club and league cricket through NatWest CricketForce, which in 2006 will be held on April 8/9 and the OSCAs recognition event for volunteers.

He praised the hard work of the management of the Bristol Youth Cricket League in arranging cricket for more than 150 teams from over 40 clubs across the Bristol area, making it one of the largest and most progressive Youth Leagues in the country.