Improving facilities for all at HSCC

Providing cricket for all

Since merging in 2007, Hampton and Solihull Cricket Club has continually sought to improve our performances, our facilities and our engagement with the wider community. This has seen us work hard to develop a successful and growing junior section and become early champions for the growth of women’s cricket.

To support the next stage of our journey, we need your support to further boost our junior and women’s game and improve and expand our training and playing facilities. With your help we can give greater opportunities to more people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the sport we love. Working with local schools we are planning to host a Local Schools Girls u13s Festival this summer as the first of an annual event, however we need to repair and improve our facilities.

Impact of Covid-19

In both 2020 and 2021 we were impacted by Covid-19 as cricket games were cancelled, we were unable to fundraise, whilst our costs to maintain the ground and buildings remained the same.  As a Club and for our members investment was made during Covid in outdoor all-weather seating and tables so we were able to support Junior training nights when held, in a safe environment for both players and parents. This has resulted in social member numbers increasing by over 100 as the ground became a hub and meeting point in the local community. At the same time, we have seen increased demand from new and existing players to take part in cricket and we have been focused on growing women and girls participation in cricket. We now need to improve the playing and training facilities. 

United by Birmingham 2022

With the Commonwealth Games T20 Cricket being held locally at Edgbaston the opportunity to further strengthen our links with our local community through the raised profile Ladies cricket will have is literally once in a lifetime. Building on previous Open Days for Ladies to give cricket a Fun-Festival style try, summer 2022 will provide an opportunity for Mums and Daughters to experience both cricket and the community atmosphere that our central Solihull ground and facilities provides, again allowing us as a club to support Marie Curie. 

Having founded our Ladies section in 2018, last year we took the next step and provided separate coaching and coaches for girls. As one of the county’s leading Ladies clubs, we are excited about the Commonwealth Games coming to our region and see this as a wonderful 'stepping stone' to engage even more ladies and girls in playing cricket following on from the interest generated by the success of both mens and ladies Birmingham Phoenix teams in last summers inaugural Hundred competition. We are keen to have improved facilities to enable Festivals to be held for both new starters and those looking to come "Back to Cricket".

We are keen to build on the success of 'pre-covid' taster fun days to encourage more community participation, also raising more money through such events for our neighbour, the Solihull Marie Curie Hospice. Last Summer one of our juniors Rufus, raised £3,030 across 180 different donations using the ground for a "Bowlathon".

Top Quality Coaching 

Having identified the importance of providing playing and practice facilities for all our teams and players, we have supported this by the creation of a high class coaching structure. Led by former Warwickshire player and coach, Steve Perryman, we believe we have assembled a coaching team that is unique in club cricket, to work with our men’s, ladies and junior members improving their skills and, most importantly, helping them to enjoy the game. 

Supporting our home grown coaches will be former England internationals Jim Troughton and Geoff Humpage, and former Warwickshire players, Phil Oliver and Ateeq Javid, along with former Warwickshire Academy director, Roger Newman. 

For the 2022 Season, following the success in 2021 of running the All-Stars scheme we are also running the  Dynamos programme for 9-11 year olds.

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What you will be funding

• New artificial wicket – enabling us to run more matches and training sessions
• Improve our existing grass nets – improve the playing surface in the net area  
• New netting – new netting to increase our practice capacity and maintain safety

New artificial wicket

We will completely renovate our existing, very tired artificial pitch at the top of the square with a top of the range, ECB accredited artificial pitch. This will enable us to run more matches, especially when damp, and provide a quality surface for training.

Developing our existing grass nets

To support our future coaching plans, we must continue to develop our practice facilities. Our intention is to create a grass practice area of the same standard as our main square, which will be open to everyone in the club.

New nets

Our current netting will be repaired and strengthened, allowing us to expand our training to different groups and abilities whilst still ensuring everyone’s safety.

Your support can help us reach our goal

Our goal is to raise £20,000 through this project, which will be used provide quality playing and practice facilities for all.

Growing our club in the community and building on success

Throughout the pandemic, local residents have been able to use the grounds to take walks and the fresh air and many have become firm friends and members of our growing social club – some even taking the chance to play in internal charity matches and the extra facilities will also support increased participation. Over the last three years the ClubHouse is now used by Darts Teams, Fishing Club and regular dominoes, card and cribbage evenings. 

Looking forward, In August 2022 we are hosting the Muslim Youth Association's Midland MKA T20 Fundraising tournament. We also will continue our relationship with Warwickshire Senior cricket who provide games for Over50s, 60s and 70s to continue to enjoy the game they love. 

Whilst outside we have created a separate area that is regularly used by an outdoor nature Tots group who in the summer meet daily. 

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 Highlights of our 2021 season:

• New club pathway successfully implemented, which has seen a number of 13 and 14 year olds successfully integrate into senior teams
• Strong growth of the ladies section, playing hardball and softball matches
• Introduction of girls section with over 20 girls now being coached together on Friday nights
• 90 youngsters attending ECB All Stars and our own Junior Coaching sessions with teams at u10 through to u14 age groups
• Raised over £5,000 for charities
• 150 new social members over the past 2 years as result of increased involvement across community