Swindon Cricket club are excited to share that early in the New Year we will be removing our existing practice nets and replacing them with a brand new, top of the range three lane facility, meeting all the current ECB standards. These will be in place ready for the start of the 2023 outdoor season.

The nets are a key part of the club, enabling safe and targeted practice for juniors, seniors, women, and those with disabilities. Our currently facility was starting to show the signs of age, so we have taken the proactive approach to update and upgrade them now. This was backed up by member feedback, which also outlined a key upgrade to be a longer run up area and a close power supply (already delivered with thanks to STFC).

To make a project of this size and substantial cost possible we have been lucky to have received significant funding boosts from a few of sources.

• The most substantial funding grant has come from Crapper & Sons Ltd. The money has been made available through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) which is administered for Crapper & Sons Ltd. by Community First, the Rural Community Council for Wiltshire.
• A large grant from the England Cricket Board via the Wiltshire County Grants Fund. Thanks to Wiltshire Cricket’s Pete Sykes for all his help in this area.
• A donation made to the club following the passing of former member Alan Warren. Alan was a keen cricketer and umpire throughout his life and spent many hours watching cricket at the club.

In addition to the above, funds raised through the clubs large annual events will be used to make up the remaining third of the project cost. Thanks to all that have supported them by volunteering or attending.

Thanks also to Kevin Thompson (club legend) and Blaine Norridge (Treasurer – also a legend!) who have given their time to help complete the substantial paperwork required to make a project of this scale happen, to install company S&C Slatter, and to 4D Architects Studio who provided us with services to help us through the planning process.

We can’t wait for construction to get started and to see them in use.