Who are we?
Over Wallop CC (OWCC) has to be just the best name ever for a village cricket club, and are on the Hampshire/Wiltshire border. Our aim is to become the thriving centre for Senior, Women’s and Youth cricket in the mid-Test area, providing welcoming, safe, enjoyable but competitive opportunity for all.
Why are we crowdfunding?
All cricket clubs need safe practice nets. OWCC's net has been condemned because it was dangerous. It had been badly-made in the first instance, and had deteriorated to the extent that it was unsafe to use, Injuries had been caused, and it is now beyond use.
We are desperate to create a new, 2-lane net facility, this is existential for our club.
OWCC have been very active in trying to raise funds ourselves, with hogroasts, fundraising raffles & events in the village pub, newsletters, posters, and fantastic auctions with fabulous prizes, well-supported by our community.
We have been successful in securing grants from local authorities as well, but we need your help, please, to boost our efforts to the required funding level.
We need to raise a further £12,500 WHICH SPORT ENGLAND WILL FUND-MATCH £ per £ FOR EVERY POUND WHICH WE RAISE and this will give us our target of £25,000 to complete the project.
Increased membership, new Women's and Youth Sections
Our aim is to attract more senior players and to start both a new Women’s and a new Youth section, and the new nets will help us both attract and retain these by providing great facilities. This will generate increased playing members engaged in healthy physical activity which will benefit all, improve well-being and provide a vibrant focus for the local community.
Resolve inequality and improve physical wellbeing
This is a rural setting, with small villages scattered over a wide area. Entertainment and retail facilities are sparse, and public transport is limited. There are no organised summer sports clubs for women or young people in The Wallops and surrounding parishes and no other cricket clubs in this specific area. (c12,000 residents. 51% female. c1900 aged 5-19yrs From 2021 Census ). With new nets, OWCC can provide the hub to resolve this inequality.
- Benefits from Practice Nets
Senior cricketers can hone techniques in a focussed manner. Better skills & technique = better performance;
better performance = better results;
better results = increased success & enjoyment;
increased success & enjoyment = better attractiveness to the club as a whole for players & supporters alike.
- New, or lapsed players, will learn within the inclusive & welcoming culture & environment of OWCC. They can receive quality coaching and encouragement from our volunteer coaches.
- Juniors (both boys and girls) will be encouraged to take up and enjoy outdoor physical sport. Childhood obesity, teenage inactivity, the lure of anti-social behaviour, and lack of sports facilities outside of school for young girls especially are nationwide concerns.
- Women’s novice cricketers will develop skills in a safe, welcoming, encouraging environment. Coaching will be given and skills developed to help establish a functioning women’s team, developed from social softball cricket to start off.
How we’ll spend the money raised
OWCC have secured Planning Permission for the new nets, and have the full support of Over Wallop Parish Council, who own the ground. We have an ECB-approved contractor on standby to start work immediately.
The project would deliver two full-length nets, 33m long, fully enclosed netting cages to prevent danger from stray cricket balls.
One lane will have stump-to-stump markings to help improve both batting and bowling accuracy. Two lanes will increase the amount of practice time for all in a set training session. In use, groups could be divided by ability, by experience, by age etc etc to provide the most-appropriate level of practice to increase enjoyment, skills and safety.
Community impact
Over Wallop village is sited in the midst of 12 parishes, none of which have a cricket club. OWCC is already the vibrant social hub of this community, and the practice nets will be open to all for use.
We envisage the nets will provide two main benefits:
- Specific skills improvements for cricketers whether they are experienced, lapsed, or new to the game. Every improvement in skills brings better performance and results. That in itself attracts people to support and participate- everyone loves a winning club. Greater social cohesion, identity, fun, involvement all follow as people become more associated and engaged.
Supporters and family members turn up to games to encourage and support, and everyone goes down to the village pub afterwards, which brings very welcome trade into the village. - Ad-hoc opportunities for sport with the nets being open to the whole community, we envisage parents practicing with children, women who find a little free time, siblings during school holidays, a gang of mates, girls and boys, all just rocking up and practicing simple bat & ball skills as and when.
These opportunities are vital to encourage more physical activity in a fun, healthy, outdoor, wholesome way. The improvement in everyone's physical and mental well-being will be enormous.
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!