Morley Cricket Club New Training Facilities

Aim

Update and upgrade our training facilities to give more people in the community the chance to play cricket and other sports.

Who are we?

Morley Cricket & Sports Club was established in 1889 and plays cricket in the Bradford, Mid Yorkshire, Leeds & Wetherby, and Heavy Woollen Leagues. We have three senior teams as well as under 9s, 11s, 13s, 15s and 18s. We also run the ECB All Stars cricket programme, ladies and girls cricket, and summer camps. 

"This project is all about creating more opportunities, and better quality opportunities, for the people of Morley to play cricket and other sports."

Why are we crowdfunding?

Following the hiatus caused by COVID-19, and bolstered by the success and profile of cricket competitions like The Hundred, we have seen a sharp rise in the number of children (both boys and girls) from across the local community wanting to learn to play cricket with us here at Morley CC. 

We have also seen an increase in the number of enquiries from our sister clubs and other local sports organisations wanting to make use of our facilities. 

However, with space, equipment and coaches at capacity, and with safeguarding and health and safety in mind, we have temporarily had to put a cap on numbers playing cricket and other clubs using our facilities. This has left us with a waiting list of children and clubs that we cannot currently cater for. And potentially more in the local community that we cannot serve or provide with access to our facilities. 

At the same time, the quality of training and activities we can offer, and the welcome that we can provide, especially to women and girls, and people with disabilities, is severely limited by the age and condition of our current set-up. 

How we’ll spend the money raised

To respond to the increased demand, and give more children the chance to play cricket and other sports, regardless of proficiency, background, age, gender, race, or financial standing, we will vastly improve our training environment by replacing our no-longer fit-for-purpose outdoor cricket nets and upgrading our bowling green multi-sport area and its dilapidated clubhouse.

"More chances to play cricket. And better facilities. It's a bit of a no-brainer really."

We will install a 4-lane state-of-the-art ECB-approved all-weather nets facility that can be used both by the club and by third parties. This will increase the quantity and quality of training we can offer and provide the local community with another sports facility at a time when such spaces are in high demand. Our floodlights will also be updated so that the facility can be used when the sun goes down. 

We will also renovate and overhaul the bowling green clubhouse (pictured, below). The roof and windows will be replaced and the walls rendered. We will then add an outdoor seating area and a ramp to allow wheelchair access. Inside we will install accessible and inclusive changing facilities, with toilets and changing rooms for male, female and disabled users and visitors. A small kitchen and serving area will also be added and a communal space created that can be used for meetings, community group activities, children's groups, music rehearsals, book clubs and more. 

Finally, the area around the clubhouse and the new nets will be spruced up to make it more welcoming for visitors, with paths cleared and a new parking surface and parking bays added.

"Once completed, the new facility will make Morley CC a more welcoming place for all, but in particular women and girls, and people with disabilities."

Community Impact

The improved facilities will provide a safe, inclusive and fun place for more children and adults to play sports and get active at a time when available space like this is at a premium in the local area. It will become an ideal place to make friends, learn about sportsmanship and teamwork, build self-confidence, boost social skills and improve mental well-being. 

The new facilities will bring the community together too, allowing people of all backgrounds to play and have fun together. We put this social element at the heart of everything we do at the club. Improved facilities will help us to build on this foundation.  

Similarly, it will vastly improve the quality and quantity of training and activities we can offer, and the welcome that we can provide to women and girls, and people with disabilities.

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. If you want to run your own fundraiser to support us, 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!

This project successfully funded on 25th November 2022