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A community cricket club in Preston is seeking a major funding boost as it aims to upgrade its practice facilities.
Grimsargh Cricket Club is looking to raise more than £60,000 for the overhaul of its current practice net on Grimsargh Green.
The previous nets – now standing overgrown and unusable – are more than three decades old.
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Launched using the Spacehive crowdfunding platform the appeal to help raise funds for the new nets has already received significant backing.
Grimsargh Cricket Club chairman, Phil Garlington, said: “We need a major upgrade to what we have at the moment as it is not fit for purpose.
“Our club is expanding, rapidly, and with the junior players we have coming through now we need to ensure they have somewhere safe and state-of-the-art for them to hone their skills and become the future of this club.”
The club is pitching their project into the Lancashire County Council Culture and Sport fund, who could pledge up to £15,000 towards the new nets.
More than £20,000 has already been secured by the club thanks to a grant from Grimsargh Parish Council who are supporting the upgrade of the nets.
Sue Whittam, clerk to Grimsargh Parish Council, said: “We are fully committed to supporting our sporting facilities in the village and we are pleased to award £20,000 towards the project to upgrade their nets.
“We hope they are successful in their grant applications as the club is a fantastic asset to our community.”
A full planning application has been lodged with Preston City Council for the upgrade of the nets and to club hope to secure planning permission in the coming weeks.
First team captain, Dominic Gerencser, said: “It’s been a massive effort to get to this point with the nets project and to already see so much support from both within the club and the wider community is fantastic.
“Having a proper facility to be able to practice on will be such a boost for all our teams.”
The club and facilities are used also by the Preston NHS team who play their games at Grimsargh’s home ground.
Fundraising activities are planned by the club’s junior teams in the coming months including a sponsored bike ride around the Guild Wheel and a Christmas hamper raffle.
Donations can be made to support the Grimsargh Cricket Club nets project by visiting the Spacehive page.
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