Cricket Club upgrades Scorebox

In any other year, Southwell Cricket Club would be well into the season by now. Friday night junior coaching, weekend senior games, kwick cricket tournaments, net sessions, social events and weekday junior games usually keeps Top Ground a hub of activity throughout the summer. However, due to Covid-19, ECB guidance currently only allows for small net sessions – though some would argue that these are much needed!

Despite this lack of competitive cricket, the club continues to progress through its five-year facilities improvement plan. Having installed all weather nets in 2018, work has now finished on installing a new, fully automated electronic scoreboard.

Club Chairman Chris Miller commented: “I am delighted to have the electronic scoreboard installed. Thanks to everyone who worked extremely hard to raise the funds for it. I would like to especially thank Andy Ashworth for his efforts, he raised half the funds on his own doing a sponsored walk around the ground with two prosthetic legs. A marvellous effort. Role on the time we can start to use it!”

Andy has had three children come through the juniors at Southwell and was previously the scorer for the 1st XI. He stated: “My charity walk was an important personal achievement for me in my recovery from losing my legs, but it was made even more special by the fact it raised enough funds to enable the club to replace its old, dilapidated scoreboard. This is the first of many major improvements the club has planned. I feel very proud today.”

Improvements to Top Ground will not be stopping there, however. Chris Miller said: “This is the first in a list of improvements the committee has drawn up. The next two items are a new pitch mower and a modernisation of the club house.”

A just giving page was also set up for donations to help the Cricket Club with the loss of usual revenue a cricket season would create. A fantastic £690 was raised. Thank you to all who have chipped in, fantastic support! 💞

For more information on the club and regular updates, check out our website at www.southwellcc.co.uk

Published July 2020