Target reached!
If we are successful in our aims, any extra funds raised would be put towards launch...
East Bergholt Cricket Club Covid 19 Fundraiser
East Bergholt, England, United Kingdom
Aim
During Covid we saw revenue losses of £10k. EBCC are trying to raise £20k, to help to continue to provide cricket to our community.
East Bergholt Cricket Club - Playing cricket since 1745
Our Story
The first game involving the Gentleman of East Bergholt was a fixture versus the Gentleman of Ipswich in 1745. In more recent times, the club plays its cricket in the Two Counties Championship (Suffolk and Essex). The first team is in Division One and the second team in Division Five.
We pride ourselves on encouraging children into cricket and we field Junior Teams for All Stars (Ages 5-8), Dynamos (Ages 8-11), Under 11's, U13's, U15's and are looking to start a Sunday Academy Team to bridge the gap between junior and senior cricket.
East Bergholt Cricket Club is a community club where the majority of players live in the village or are connected to it. We organise a number events and strive to be a sociable club. The club's cricket festival is very well known and has attracted a number of teams and players to Gandish Road such as the full England Ladies team led by Charlotte Edwards; an ex-England XI including Derek Randall, John Lever Alan Butcher, Peter Such et al. Other notable attendees include Brendan Cole, Hugh Cornwall, Matt Holland, Alan Brazil, Ronnie Irani, and Henry Blofeld.
Players that have represented East Bergholt include former leading Essex spinner, Ray East; former Essex and England Fast Bowler Neil Foster, whose sons continue to play regularly; Phil Caley, the former record holding Suffolk Captain, who also captained East Bergholt. Opposition players to have stepped out at Gandish Road include the current England Coach Chris Silverwood and one of the England's fastest ever bowlers Ty Mills.
Why we need your support
The Covid Year of 2020 was tough for all of us; disrupting lives and livelihoods. The timing could not have been worse for East Bergholt Cricket Club. 2019 was the greatest year in the club's history; we were promoted to Division One for the very first time and our second team won our first ever championship. Momentum was with us and expensive preparations were made for an exciting season. Sadly, the Two Counties Championship season was not cancelled until very late so we incurred most of the costs of preparation but no income. We lost nearly £10,000 during 2020 and now we doing everything we can to raise funds to fill that hole and come out stronger.
We are aiming to raise £20,000 in order to replace the lost funds, carry out essential ground maintenance work, repair and potentially replace our net area and prepare adequately for our juniors for this coming season, in terms of equipment, qualified coaches and facilities.
We have also applied to the Sport England Active Together Fund, hoping they will approve our application for funding of up to 50% of our target. However, to receive this, we need to reach our overall target of £20,000 from at least 100 separate pledges.
OUR FUNDRAISING GOALS
1. To encourage Children to get out and play sport
During COVID, children like so many others have suffered with mental health issues, not being able to get out and play sport. We will revitalise and introduce a new cricket academy to supplement our existing members, recruiting, coaching and arranging matches for between 100 and 200 boys and girls aged 5 to 16 within a safe environment with qualified staff.
Ex England Womens Captain Charlotte Edwards supporting our Junior Cricketers
Winter Junior Nets at the East Bergholt High School
Ex-Australian International Batsman Stuart Law inspiring our Junior Cricketers
Awards Day
Suffolk U19 T20 Champions 2016
2. To run and maintain the facilities
Due to the COVID summer of 2020, a lack of funds saw our facilities fall into a state of disrepair. We will recruit the expertise, resources and equipment to maintain and develop the club’s cricket facilities, notably the playing area (wicket) for both senior and junior cricket and investment in netting facilities for coaching.
3. To fund events that raise money to fulfil last year's loss
Last year, all of our Fund Raising initiatives had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. Many require upfront investment of capital. Our purpose of fundraising is to generate capital to invest in the facilities and services needed to put on fund raising events. This will enable the club to attract more people to engage in sport by organising events within the community and help replace the £10,000 loss last year.
Cricket Festival
Fundraiser EBCC vs England Ladies
Pram Race Fundraiser 2019
How will this money be spent?
The club relies on a number of volunteers each year taking on a whole host of responsibilities at the club. In addition to this, each year, we incur significant costs that include preparing and maintaining the ground, pitch and facilities & equipment pre and post season, insuring the club, paying for the utilities and upkeep of the building and making sure that when everyone turns up to play or to train, that we are able to do so.
Normally, all of these costs are covered by the subscription and membership fees, bar profits, social events, fundraising and of course the sponsorship that we receive from local businesses.
In addition, this year there are a number of necessary jobs that need doing which we are having to defer, in some cases. This means that by the time we can afford to do them, the situation will be worse and the associated costs will have escalated.
These jobs include:
- Investment in All Stars, Dynamos and Sunday Academy Junior Cricket
- Investing in a groundsman and qualified coaches
- Repair/Replacement of net facilities
- Sight Screen repair
- Outfield improvement
- Servicing and repair of machinery such as roller, mowers
- A new mobile cage net to allow increased training numbers for the community
- Repainting and general improvement of Club House
- Investment in Changing Rooms and Showers
- ECB Coach Education courses
Our Community Involvement
The pavilion is a multi purpose facility used for local sports and community groups as well as social events for those wishing to book it. The bar & patio, looking out over the cricket field, are a lovely setting to enjoy a drink and a chat with friends whatever the weather.
As a club, we are heavily involved with Community Events, such as the renowned East Bergholt Charity Pram Race, 'Stars in Their Eyes' Music Night, Food and Music Festival, hosting and supporting the village fete as well as providing our marquee, bar and volunteers for the U3A (University of the Third Age) annual dinner.
Charity Pram Race
WEST End musical characters raced through the streets of East Bergholt in the annual charity event. There was fantastic support around the entire course, with family entertainment and other activities at the Constable Hall, the pubs, and a village market at the church - also on the route. The family activities at the Cricket Club on Gandish Road included children’s races such as three-legged racings. As a community, we raised over £3,000 for a variety of charities.
Annual Dinner Fundraiser
Community 'Stars in Your Eyes' Annual Event run by EBCC
Each year, we hire the Community Hall to host the annual 'Stars in Your Eyes' event. With 200 people in attendance each year from East Bergholt and the local Community, this event is one of the highlights of the year.
U3A Annual Dinner
Our support to the community extends to provide the U3A group with our marquee, access to our catering and volunteers from the Cricket Club to man the bar for their Annual Dinner.
Thank you
We won’t succeed without your help. If the majority of members and parents could donate £10 we will go a long way to achieving our target, but please don't let that be the limit of your generosity should you wish to donate a larger sum! Please donate whatever you can to ensure the future for our wonderful club.
Sport England: Active Together has provided £6,000 of match funding
This project successfully funded on 13th May 2021