Help Ollie represent Devon cricket in South Africa

Aim

Please help us raise funds towards the cost of Ollie's 17-day cricket tour to South Africa, representing Devon County U15s

Ollie has been selected by Devon Coaches to represent the County on a 17-day tour in South Africa, which is an amazing achievement! However, the Devon Cricket Board require financial support from their players' families in order to run this incredible opportunity. The total cost is over £3,000 which will include travel, accommodation and other essential needs for the duration of the trip. Team shirts are also provided and then given to under privileged players in South Africa at the end of the tour. 

If you read his story and are inspired and feel you are able to offer a few pounds, then we would be so grateful, especially considering the current challenging financial times we are all facing.  

If it's not for you, then we thank you for your interest so far. If you'd like to know more, please read on....

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Ollie is 15 years old, and is currently in year 10 at QE in Crediton. His cricket career began at a very early age, playing for his home team at Sandford Cricket Club. In fact, if you're ever at the Sir Christopher Ondaatje Devon Cricket Centre in Exeter, look closely and you'll spot a young Ollie on the wall there! He has played up through the years, currently representing Sandford in both the junior U15s and men's second and third teams. Four years ago, Ollie was invited to try out for the Devon County Squad and - aside from a back injury limiting his season last year - has been a stalwart in the team ever since. 

Ollie has worked hard over the winter to regain his fitness and was delighted to once again be selected to play in the 2024 season, which includes a 17-day tour of South Africa in October this year. 

As the current Squad's only left-handed pace bowler, Ollie's contribution to the team has earned him his place on the tour and we are all immensely proud of his achievement, and his hard work and dedication to get to this point.

GETTING READY FOR ANOTHER GREAT SEASON WITH THESE BOYS

Ollie is currently taking part in winter training at Exeter University with both his Devon and Sandford team mates - sometimes with two sessions in one day! - before the cricket season really kicks in, in late April / early May. Weekends then become even more hectic, as he plays for Sandford every Saturday and Devon on many Sundays throughout the summer. He also captains the Sandford U15s, who train on a Tuesday night, so it's safe to say that cricket is his life!

The South Africa tour will provide Ollie and his team mates with the chance of a lifetime and an exciting journey filled with challenging matches and cultural experiences, playing against teams from all walks of life. 

THE FINANCES

As you can imagine, there are a lot of costs involved for us in making sure Ollie is able to stick to his cricketing commitments. We have reached a point as a family, where we need to look outside of our own income for some financial support. Cricket is massively under-represented in state school education so alternative funding streams are few and far between. 

OUR PLEA TO YOU

We are covering the costs associated with Ollie's cricket career but the tour, at £3,300 will be difficult to fund without help.

We know that funds are tight for everyone at the moment in the current climate, but even if you can just spare the cost of your morning coffee, it will all help and we will be so grateful. 

If you own a local business, there are opportunities to sponsor Ollie, and promote your business in a tour programme - with over 1,000 copies printed and delivered to all the cricket clubs in Devon. A digital version will also be available online. If you'd like to know more about these opportunities, please email [email protected].

Thank you for reading Ollie's story. It seems only right that he has the last word....

"I am so excited to have this opportunity to represent Devon and my home cricket club at Sandford on tour in South Africa. It's a dream come true for me and I am so grateful for all the amazing support I have received so far. I am looking forward to playing a lot of cricket and making everyone proud. Thank you."

This project successfully funded on 6th April 2024