Invest in our game—new nets need you @BoveyCricket

Aim: Help raise funds for our community cricket club at Bovey. We're building 2 fully-enclosed, all-weather cricket nets for all to use.

Who are we?

Welcome to Bovey Tracey Cricket Club
Founded in 1850, Bovey Tracey Cricket Club is proud to call the picturesque Recreation Ground—nestled on the south-eastern edge of Dartmoor—its home. For 175 years, we’ve been at the heart of the local community, and today we remain committed to being a welcoming and inclusive club for all.

Cricket for Everyone
We believe cricket should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age, gender, race, background, or ability. Whether you're a player, a supporter, a social member, or simply a visitor, you’ll always receive a warm welcome at our club.

Our goal is to create a safe, supportive environment where people can enjoy the game, develop their skills, and be part of a vibrant cricketing community.

Why are we crowdfunding?

We are embarking on a major upgrade to cricket practice facilities in our community to meet the growing demand for both training and matches. The expansion of Bovey Tracey and the continued success of our club have led to a surge in membership, now standing at over 600 members. 

Founded in 1850 and celebrating our 175th anniversary this year, we are a self-funded, volunteer-run club, fielding four senior league teams on Saturdays, a women’s league team on Sundays, and 11 junior teams as well as a new women’s softball team this year. With 80 games played at The Recreation Ground last summer, our facilities are stretched to their limit.

We plan to build two brand-new, full-length enclosed nets. These nets will feature synthetic run-ups, allowing use even in early-season conditions when the ground is too wet. Right now, our two existing nets rely on run-ups from the outfield, which creates a major challenge:

❌ We can’t use the nets for training when a match is being played.

❌ We can’t use the nets when ground conditions are poor and the grass is wet.

❌ We can’t play a match when the nets are in use.

But with our brand-new, fully enclosed nets, everything changes!

✅ More Matches – We can host more games, especially junior matches on weekday evenings.
✅ More Training – Players can train and practice even when matches are underway.
✅ Year-Round Practice – Thanks to the fully artificial surface, training won’t be limited to cricket season—you could even have a net session on Christmas Day (if it’s warm enough!).
✅ Supporting Local Schools – The new nets will be available to local schools, giving more children the chance to play and develop their skills all year round.

This is a game-changing upgrade for our club and community—let’s make it happen together!

How we’ll spend the money raised

We’re building for the future, and every contribution counts!

This exciting project comes with a £85,000 price tag, and we’ve started our journey towards this goal. In addition to club funds, we are applying for grants (many thanks to Bovey Tracey Almshouse Trust and the ECB County Grant scheme).  Sport England have pledged £7,500—provided we can match it with a minimum of £7,500 on this Crowdfunder site.

Every penny goes towards making these nets a reality! Please support us in any way you can and help us build a brighter future for cricket in Bovey Tracey. Thank you!

Community impact

We take immense pride in our role within the local community. At Bovey Tracey Cricket Club, our aim is to keep cricket affordable, so that no-one is priced out of playing a sport they love. Our dedicated volunteers share a single mission—to support every player, from juniors to seniors, in reaching their full potential. We work with local schools and the Devon Cricket Foundation, making our cricket facilities available to all.

Beyond cricket, we are committed to protecting and enhancing our local environment. We’ve planted over 250 metres of new hedging at the ground, installed a borehole to reduce water usage, and further embraced sustainability with solar panels. We’re already well ahead of business recycling standards, ensuring that 100% of our waste is recycled. As part of this latest project, we’re adding bike racks to encourage more people to choose two wheels over four.

We’re not just building better facilities—we’re building a stronger, greener, and more inclusive community.

In Memory of Kelly Luscombe
Our new nets will be dedicated to Kelly Luscombe, the much-loved captain of our Women’s XI who sadly passed away in February. Kelly was an inspiring leader whose encouragement and belief in every player—regardless of ability—helped shape the future of women’s cricket at our club.

Her inclusive spirit, passion for the game, and commitment to developing others leave a lasting legacy.  She is deeply missed.  Naming the nets in her honour is a tribute to everything she gave to Bovey Tracey Cricket Club. 

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!