Ifield Cricket Club nets fundraising project

Who are we?

Ifield Cricket Club is an integral part of our village community, proudly supporting 5 Saturday senior teams, one Sunday senior team, one midweek T20 team, 7 junior teams, 2 junior girls teams. a Women's Soft Ball team, All Stars, and Dynamos. Our commitment to inclusivity and community engagement is unwavering. However, our current practice facility, in use for over 20 years, no longer meets the standards required for optimal player development.

Why are we crowdfunding?

Our current practice facility has been in place for 20 years and it currently falls short of what is required in terms of standards for a club aspiring to play in the Premier League. The new facility will be an additional two bay enclosed facility constructed to England Cricket Board (ECB) guidelines and will allow practice sessions to go ahead even when games are being played on the square.   This will be in addition to the existing two nets which will remain and be open to the public and children to use pre match or with parents.

We're reaching out to our community, supporters, and cricket enthusiasts to help us raise at least £6,500, which will go some way to helping us complete our exciting new initiative - The Nets Project. This project aims to construct a state-of-the-art practice facility that adheres to England Cricket Board (ECB) guidelines, providing a dedicated and fantastic space for our players, supporters, and the wider community.

Last season through the main summer months there were games on most evenings and at weekend making it more difficult for enough genuine practice sessions to go around.

The Nets Project will open up new opportunities for further development in our women’s and girls teams as well as our junior and men's teams as well as being available to the local community. We are also hoping to be able to host disability cricket in the future.

How we’ll spend the money raised

By contributing to "The Nets Project Fund," you'll be supporting the development of a facility that will:

Empower Women's and Girls' Teams: Create new opportunities for the growth and development of our women's and girls' teams, fostering inclusivity and equality in cricket.

Boost Junior and Men's Teams: Provide a dedicated space for the continuous improvement of our junior and men's teams, nurturing talent from a young age.

Serve the Local Community: Open up the facility to the local community, enabling cricket enthusiasts of all ages to enjoy the sport in a professional environment.

Host Disability Cricket: Create possibilities for hosting disability cricket, promoting cricket as an accessible and inclusive sport for everyone.

All money raised from the generosity of our members, friends of the club, sponsors and our wonderful local community will be put back in to the nets project to ensure sustainability and longevity in order for them to have the positive impact for all those who use them. 

Community impact

• Social Hub and Activity: The team provides a central point for villagers to gather, socialise, and enjoy the sport. Matches become local events, drawing crowds and fostering a sense of community spirit.

• Promoting Health and Fitness: Cricket encourages physical activity and healthy competition, motivating villagers of all ages to participate or spectate.

• Developing Skills and Camaraderie: The team provides a platform for youngsters to learn the game, build sportsmanship, and develop teamwork skills. This fosters a sense of camaraderie among players and creates positive role models for younger generations.

• Preserving Tradition and Identity:  Village cricket teams often have a long history, connecting the community to its past and providing a sense of local identity.

• Boosting Local Economy: Matches can attract visitors who might patronise local businesses like pubs, cafes, or shops, bringing a small economic boost to the region.

Overall, a village cricket team acts as a social glue, promoting health, tradition, and a sense of belonging within the community.

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!