Fundraising for changing facilities

Who are we?

We are Irthing Vale Cricket Club and Border City Lacrosse, based at Cotehill Park Sports Ground, Brampton, Cumbria.

We are strong advocates for community engagement and providing sports opportunities for people in the local area and North Cumbria and the Borders. 

Irthing Vale Cricket Club have resurrected cricket at the ground, improving the playing surface and growing the team and are looking to supplement their current teams with dedicated junior and ladies teams over the coming years.  

Border City Lacrosse are Cumbria's only Lacrosse Club, actively engaged in growing the game throughout the county and supporting local schools to introduce lacrosse to their curriculum.  Our mens team play in the north of England lacrosse league (NEMLA) and we currently have fledgling junior and ladies sessions.    

Lacrosse was recently introduced to the world games in Birmingham Alabama and the hope is that it will become a full Olympic Sport in 2028. Cricket continues to grow in popularity with new formats such as The One Hundred, alongside 20/20 and limited over matches.

By developing our own talent, we hope to see local residents benefit from the opportunities that will arise over the next few years from the playing opportunities we are providing at the ground.

Why are we crowdfunding?

The current Clubhouse is cramped and does not have adequate changing space or washing facilities.  We hope to raise enough to bring a portacabin type building onto site to create a new changing area.  

With your help we can reach our goal.  

Be sure to check out some of our rewards!  We are adding new ones the whole time, it’s our communities way of thanking you for your support.

The existing clubhouse

Existing home and away changing rooms

Our Vision

By having dedicated changing rooms with showers, we will have the facilities to attract more players and visiting teams and increase our own membership.

The changing rooms will be used by both clubs year round and will allow us to ensure additional safeguarding requirements are met with any vulnerable playing groups.  Whilst the proposal is for a modest modular building, it will have a huge impact on the practicality of the ground.  

Good changing facilities attract participation.

The sort of container type changing room we would like to install at the ground

Our Community, Cumbria, Brampton and Cotehill Park.

Border City works to provide Lacrosse training in local schools and opportunities for anyone in Cumbria.  

Alongside our partners Irthing Vale Cricket Club we are working to make Cotehill Park Sports Ground a true community asset.

The two clubs have already transformed Cotehill Park with the addition of the lacrosse pitch, new fencing and improved maintenance of the adjacent rights of way. Further to this, the clubs have created over 40 community allotments on adjacent waste ground and improved access and parking.  

This has ensured that the entire ground is a community asset with increased usage and reduced instances of anti-social behavior.

Border City Lacrosse is a community Club and has supplied equipment and coaching support to William Howard School Brampton. 

In addition we are now working with Ullswater Community College and  Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Penrith.  

We have also put on coaching sessions for local Scouts and Brownies, other sports teams, Primary Schools and outreach groups including refugees and the disadvantaged.

Irthing Vale Cricket Club continues to provide cricketing opportunities for anyone who wants to play in the area, regardless of experience of ability.

In addition the ground is made available for anyone who wants to use it during the week, whether its the lical school kids in the cricket nets or families having a kick around on the pitch, we are accessible to all.

United by Birmingham 2022

Border City Lacrosse and Irthing vale Cricket Club are looking to create a sporting legacy in Brampton and North Cumbria.  

With this years Commonwealth Games in Birmingham shining a light on the sporting potential in the UK, this is the perfect time to further develop the opportunities for kids and adults to play our sports in north Cumbria.  

Women's cricket is one of the fastest grown sports in the UK and made its Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham 2022.  Through our continued work and fundraising, we hope to capitalise on the positive benefits of its inclusion in this years event by attracting female players  to our ground.

The knock on effect of sport is huge, it creates healthy bodies and minds and promotes self confidence and social opportunities.  Whenever the UK holds a major sporting event we see renewed interest in participation across all sports and after a strong summer of UK sport we hope to attract even more players these coming seasons.

Sporting opportunities are limited in this area and we want to continue the push to healthy activities and affordable sport.  

The pandemic has created problems for all Clubs, with reduced playing numbers and investment issues.  But as we move forward, we will see a bounce back and need to put the infrastructure in place to deliver on the legacy that the commonwealth games has provided.

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. Create a fundraiser of your own. Use the button on our page to get started. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!