Ampthill Town CC Community Crowdfunder 2026

Aim

To transform our practice net area with new flooring and refurbished protective netting, alongside refurbishment of the outfield areas.

Join us for our big push to ensure our playing and training facilities are urgently updated so our club continues to thrive in 2026 and beyond! 

About us 

Ampthill Town Cricket Club, nestled in Ampthill Great Park, is a community-oriented cricket club, offering inclusive cricket and social opportunities for all ages and skill levels. We are a thriving and inclusive organisation open to all abilities. 

We run seven adult teams (men’s and women’s), 11 junior age-group sides including a thriving girls section and one of the largest All Stars and Dynamos programmes in the country. Each Friday in May and June, more than 180 children aged four to eleven enjoy fun, engaging cricket sessions. From our All-Stars & Dynamos from 4 - 11 years old to competitive play across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire & Home Counties for our men & women, we aim to foster participation in cricket, guided by a welcoming and supportive atmosphere.

Over the years, the club has welcomed high-profile visitors including the highly respected MCC Women’s team, Bedfordshire County sides and the renowned Lashings World XI. It has also seen several of its own players progress to first-class cricket at Leicestershire and Northamptonshire County Cricket Clubs, a source of great pride for a community club.

Our history

Ampthill Town Cricket Club has played cricket in Ampthill Great Park since the late 1800’s and is steeped in history. The club is amongst the largest in Bedfordshire and is highly regarded in cricketing circles throughout the County and beyond. It is a Focus Club for the Bedfordshire Cricket Board and has achieved ECB Clubmark Accreditation.

Our ethos

Our volunteer led cricket club strives to encourage greater participation in cricket be it playing or socially. Guided by a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment our commitment is to minimise the financial barriers so that we attract people from a wide cross section of society, including a significant proportion from the less well-off and socially deprived communities.

Why are we crowdfunding?

Following the significant redevelopment in 2025 of the cricket pavilion, we’re now focused on the next phase of our journey, by enhancing our practice net facilities and investing in vital ground and outfield surface improvements. Our goal is simple but ambitious: to create outstanding, future-ready facilities that inspire participation for all ages and abilities, develop talent, and position Ampthill Town Cricket Club as a true standard-bearer for community sport in Bedfordshire.

New outdoor benches

• New pavilion social area and kitchen

While our members and the wider community have already dedicated hundreds of hours to reach this stage, we would greatly benefit from additional funding to help ensure that our improvement aspirations can be fully realised.  

How we’ll spend the money raised

As we have focused on maintaining our current playing facilities while we completed our clubhouse redevelopment, these are now in urgent need of attention. With the sheer numbers of adults and children using our club this has resulted in many areas becoming not fit for purpose. 

In addition as our club is situated in a historic park and grounds, ensuring our facilities are maintained and kept up to a high standard is challenging given the open access nature of our grounds and nets. The impact of climate change and recent dry summers have impacted on the quality of our outfield area.  

To transform our practice net area with high-quality new flooring and modern protective netting, alongside a full refurbishment of the cricket ground outfield, creating outstanding, best-in-class training and playing facilities that Ampthill Town can be proud of. Specifically we are seeking additional funding to support: 

• Improving and upgrading the flooring in our 4 training nets.
• Refurbishing and repairing our nets to ensure we have safe practice for all.
• Renovating the scorebox stairs adjoining the outfield which are in urgent need of repair. 
• Rejuvenating the playing outfield to a high quality suitable for the standard and level of cricket played by the club.   
• Renovating the steps from the pitch to the clubhouse

Community impact

Ampthill Town Cricket Club truly embodies the spirit of community, serving as a place where residents of Ampthill and the surrounding areas come together to play, socialize, and connect. Well known to all, the club holds a special place in the hearts of locals.

Enhancing our playing and training facilities will not only enable more members of the community to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of participating in sports but will also elevate the club into a premier social destination. Whether it's watching a thrilling cricket match or simply gathering with friends on a sunny afternoon, we envision the club as the go-to spot for summer enjoyment.

Moreover, our vision extends beyond the cricket season. We continue to aspire to make our facilities accessible year-round for community use, catering to various groups and events. By providing a versatile space, we aim to enrich the lives of individuals of all ages, allowing them to fully appreciate the exceptional location that Ampthill Town Cricket Club calls home. 

Friday evenings in the summer are given over to popular “Social Friday” fixtures against local groups, including Ampthill Rugby Club, Bedfordshire Young Farmers, London Zoo, local pubs and club sponsors, reinforcing the club’s strong community links.

Beyond cricket, the pavilion has become a true community hub. It has hosted a wide range of local events, including the Mayor’s Civic Reception, serving as HQ for the Ampthill Fireworks Committee, the Ampthill & Flitwick Pride Picnic, and supporting local charitable initiatives such as Ampthill Vs Cancer.

From cricket matches to civic receptions, quiz nights to charity events, Ampthill Town Cricket Club remains at the heart of local life, honouring its history, while building for the future.

How you can play your part

There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.

1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!

2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.

3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!

4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 30th June 2026 at 9:00pm