Faringdon and District Cricket Club Project 175

Aim

Project 175 aims to secure the future of cricket in Faringdon by enabling significant junior programme expansion and facilities improvements

Background

Faringdon and District Cricket Club is a community based family friendly cricket club that caters for all ages and standards of player. The Club has formed part of the local community for 175 years and with your help we would like to lay the foundations of the next 175 years of cricket in Faringdon.

The impact of Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the Club both from an income and player membership point of view. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic the Club celebrated its 175th birthday. However, rather than enjoying a major celebration the Club was in steep decline and with no regular cricket being played the Club was struggling to attract new players. The Club came within a whisker of reducing to a single senior team. Rather than allow the downward  spiral to continue the Club decided to be bold and changed direction with a new vision: to become the premier cricket club in the region and cement the Club's place as a key pillar of the local community.  

What we have achieved

Fast forward 12-months and the Club secured District Council housing development funding for a new double net and has strengthened its two senior teams.

But most exciting is that the Club now boasts a junior membership that has grown from 15 All Stars in 2019 to 50 players aged between 5-13 in 2021.

The Club in the community

The Club's facilities not only provide for over 100 cricketers aged between 7-73 but outside of the cricket season the clubhouse plays home to Faringdon Rugby Club, a thriving club in its own right that boasts over 200 junior and senior players. 

The clubhouse also hosts a variety of private hire functions, such as birthdays, and community based activities, most recently the free hosting of a Fete for Kate - a fun run and fete that raised over £1800 for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Our plans for the future

Plans for the 2022 season will see junior age groups for U8, U9, U10, U11, U12, U13 and colts, combining to deliver a junior membership of over 120.

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We have also set ourselves the target of tripling the external use of the clubhouse by individuals and community based organisations.

What is required?

Our plans have been so successful to date that our rapid growth has placed a significant strain on finances, equipment and facilities, including the clubhouse which requires significant investment to upgrade furniture that is no longer fit for purpose. Despite being run by volunteers, it costs in the region of £13,500 to run the cricket club annually. Membership fees and bar income cover the majority of these costs but the ability to invest in additional equipment and clubhouse improvements is extremely limited.

To ensure the success of our junior programme the Club needs to invest in new junior training and match equipment to cover a range of ages and abilities, improve equipment storage, and create a safe play area for younger siblings during training and matches.

To meet increased demand during junior cricket training and matches (Friday nights can see upwards of 200 people at the club) and to build closer community links through external use, the clubhouse requires significant investment to replace aging furniture that is no longer fit for purpose.

Project 175 is designed to address these issues an with your help the club aims to raise £10,000 to meet these needs and in doing so lay the foundation for the next 175 years of cricket at Faringdon.

        Thank you for your support!

This project successfully funded on 23rd September 2021