The future of Farnsfield Cricket Club

Aim

With the suspension of cricket due to the COVID-19 pandemic Farnsfield CC needs vital funds to ensure the financial security of the Club

WHO WE ARE:

Farnsfield Cricket Club offers cricket opportunities all year round from soft ball tournaments to competitive league cricket, indoor winter nets and junior winter academy.

Cricket has been played in Farnsfield since 1817 and occupied the enviable ground at Station Lane since 1862. Since this time the club has grown and in 2013 acquired a second ground at Edingley which now hosts our Third team home games and at times junior matches.

WHAT WE ARE RAISING FUNDS FOR:

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating effect on the club’s ability to raise funds in the way it is accustomed, with limited club cricket being played, and our clubhouse closed, we are unable to generate sufficient income. Several additional routes, such as Easyfundraising are ongoing but do not come close the amount required to ensure the club survives.  

New and innovative ways to generate funds for the club need to be sought, not only to secure its financial future but to develop cricket, improve facilities going forward and the survival of the game at club level.  

As a solely volunteer run non-profit making organisation, all funds raised are invested back into the Club and the local community. 

There are planned improvements to both cricket grounds and facilities, replacing worn out equipment, investing in new netting areas, resurfacing the car park and replacing indoor furnishings and external front door for improved accessibility and security. All essential, alongside continual maintenance, to ensure that we meet the standards of H&SE and ECB regulations and upholds its Clubmark status.

We actively encourage and support our coaching assistants to progress further and become ECB qualified coaches, with 5 participating in the Level 2 qualification this year, thus widening our scope for outreaching to local schools and clubs.

We would like to purchase new kit to bring it up to new regulation standards set by the ECB for the wellbeing and protection of junior players of all ages, gender and abilities - this would include purchasing new helmets, batting pads, bats and gloves so that any child who attends the Club is able to participate and is able to enjoy learning in a safe and fulfilling environment. 

We aim to also raise funds and invest in our increasing number of female cricketers. At the end of last season, the players and members joined together to convert an underused room at the Edingley clubhouse into a Ladies Changing facility. Unfortunately, with the suspension of play this season this facility has yet to be utilised. 

We have larger capital projects on hold which would see the upgrade of existing changing room and shower facilities at our main ground and the new build of ladies changing and officials’ facilities.

WHAT WE DO AND OUR LINKS WITH OUR COMMUNITY:

Our stunning venue on Station Lane in the heart of the community is used for a variety of purposes.

With a proactive team of volunteers and supporters we work arduously to ensure all members and visitors have a pleasurable experience and we embrace all who visit us to share the club’s ‘one club’ ethos and promote fair play.

SPORT

Having launched the careers of some home grown talent including Paul Franks (Nottinghamshire CCC and England), Brett Hutton (Nottinghamshire CCC, Northamptonshire CCC and England Under-19's) and Sam Wood (Nottinghamshire CCC and England Under-19's) it’s imperative we play our part and continue to offer cricket to future generations in the interest of sustaining the sport in our village and for others to have the chance to follow in their footsteps. 

Throughout the summer cricket season we run junior softball and hardball training sessions on a Friday night, often attended by up to 100 children from Farnsfield village and surrounding area. Run by our volunteer ECB Level 2 qualified coaches and coaching assistants who are representative of our senior teams, we actively encourage children of all ages and abilities to join in have fun and learn the skills and pleasure of playing cricket.                                                                                                  

 We offer competitive cricket for all of our junior members including Kwik Cricket Tournaments for our 6-11 year olds and league hardball cricket for Under 11’s, Under 13’s and Under 15’s with many of our aspiring cricketers progressing to our successful senior teams.            

Throughout the winter our junior academy offers our young hardball players the opportunity to practice and develop their skills in small groups in preparation for the following season and for the step up to senior cricket.                

To compliment the investment we make in our junior players, we offer all year round training and development opportunities for our senior players too, training together throughout the winter utilising the indoor nets at Trent Bridge and at Station Lane throughout the summer cricket season. 

We run three senior teams, all playing competitive league cricket on a Saturday and one team that play on a Sunday. All pride themselves on their team spirit and fair play having signed up to our “Player’s Charter”. The teams have shared many successes between them over the years, as division winners and in receiving regional and league team and individual awards. Many of our players, both male and female, have represented the County at junior level.

Enhancing and expanding our cricket coaching is always a priority and we actively encourage and support those who are interested to become Level 2 ECB qualified coaches with 5 more of our players  / coaching assistants soon to qualify.

GROUPS AND ORGANISATIONS

      ” I would like to thank Farnsfield Cricket Club for the support it has given over these last few years to the elderly peoples groups I organise…" Joanne Crook, Get 2 Gether2 cic

A number of local clubs and organisations rely on the use of our clubhouse to operate, utilising our accessible and spacious function rooms and grounds, including Gether 2 Gether 2 Groups and Farnsfield Friendship Group who provide social interaction, exercise, craft sessions and guest speakers to the over 60’s. 

Slimming World host their Farnsfield Group meetings at the Clubas well as the Royal British Legion , Southwell Ploughing Match Committee who meet to plan local and regional events.

FUNDRAISING AND COMMUNITY EVENTS

Farnsfield Cricket Club has embedded itself and become a thriving part of the local community, hosting a number of fundraising and community events throughout the year.

At our annual President’s Day, we provide entertainment throughout the day including invitational junior tournaments and the John Franks Testimonial match with live music the end the evening. In 2017 had the pleasure of winning against a guest team from Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club who gave up their time to support us in our fundraising.

Our annual Farnsfield Firework Celebration, Parties, Live Sport streaming and live bands attract visitors to the Club throughout the year.

When we are not busy playing cricket or running events, our spacious Clubhouse is available to hire as a venue for parties, wakes, wedding receptions, sports tournaments such as darts, pool and dominoes just to name a few uses.

Being able to offer both indoor and outdoor facilities and catering, the Club has also hosted team building days for local companies, start and end points for charity sponsored walks, most recently for the Alzheimer’s Society, and end of Year 6 parties for the local Primary School.

Last year the Club hosted the The British Police vs The Royal Navy east midlands regional match which despite the weather, was a hugely successful day of cricket, camaraderie and fundraising. 

OUR PLEDGE:

“Help us to raise vital funds to rescue our club and we will provide top class cricket and a community venue for generations to come”

Having over 100 registered cricket players and over 160 social members from the local community and surrounding villages, we aspire to continue to offer high quality and fair play cricket and bring together families and friends, of all generations, to a central hub within the community. With plenty of indoor and outside space to exercise in and enjoy, we hope to continue to provide a safe and social space for many years to come. 

Please make a donation or ‘buy’ one of our rewards on offer.  Any donation that you can make will be gratefully received and will help secure the future of Farnsfield Cricket Club.

This project successfully funded on 22nd September 2020