Who are we?
Morley Cricket Club, established in 1889, is a family-focused club providing high-quality, safe and inclusive sporting and social facilities for both the local community and our members.
We offer cricket coaching and competitive cricket opportunities for all, with boys, girls, men’s and women’s teams ranging from under 9s up to our first XI who play in the Bradford Premier League.
Run by a team of volunteers, we currently have 40+ senior male cricketers, 20+ senior women cricketers, and 80+ junior cricketers playing for us. We also put on community events, run national coaching schemes, such as the ECB’s All Stars, and provide a hub for other sports clubs in the town, including running, football, and rounders.
Why are we crowdfunding?
Our changing rooms have seen better days. They were built when we only had men's cricket teams playing here. Most years we just give them a lick of paint and move on. But it's clear now that, with so many juniors enrolled with the club, and both girls' and women's teams, they are no longer fit for purpose.
The team rooms are dated, poorly laid out, damaged, and uncomfortable. The toilets were designed with men in mind. And the showers afford no privacy.
At the moment, the space is under-utilised because it is so unappealing to many potential users. It also makes it hard for us to attract more women and girls to the sport.
How we’ll spend the money raised
We will fully refurbish the team rooms and re-configure the toilets and shower room to make the whole area a more welcoming space for senior and junior players: both male and female. And even for away teams!
The work will include the installation of player changing units in both the Home and Away dressing rooms, complete with hooks, shelves and under-bench storage. Lockable boxes will be included to keep valuables safe. A new floor will be laid, modern lighting installed, and a privacy shield added to the window.
"The whole area will be a more welcoming space for senior and junior players: both male and female. And even for away teams!"
In the shower room, we will add a partition wall and a lock on the door/s to give privacy to those having a post-match or post-training shower. At the same time, we will remove the urinals and install more cubicles, as well as wash basins. Everything will be clean, bright, modern and inclusive. Feminine hygiene product dispensers will be installed and a new floor laid.
Community impact
The refurbished changing room area will directly benefit the nigh-on 150 local people who already play cricket at Morley CC including, importantly, the juniors and female players who up-to-now have been underserved by our facilities.
It will hopefully also attract more people to play the game - especially women and girls - as they will be able to change and freshen up in modern, clean facilities.
Other beneficiaries will include the other sporting organisations who use the club and teams playing in the many tournaments and county and representative matches we host each year including: matches played by Yorkshire County Cricket Club's junior pathway teams; the Bradford League's prestigious T20 Finals Day; and the popular West Yorkshire Women and Girls League Softball Cricket Finals Day.
Thank you from everyone at Morley CC for your support.
How you can play your part
There are three simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a success.
1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success! There are lots of great rewards on offer in return for your support.
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 BIG shout-out!