NatWest CricketForce
Friday 4th, Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th April 2008
A great turn out on Saturday
..... click for pictures from Friday
..... click for pictures from Saturday
..... click for pictures from Sunday
..... click for ECB video from Sunday
We are grateful for the sponsorship received from; Travis Perkins, Parker Building Supplies, Chandlers, Johnsons Tiles, Build Centre, Focus DIY, Community Repaint, B&Q, Wickes, Buxtons Carpets, CJ Gowing & Sons, Kew Electrical Distributors, Pilbeams, AVS Fencing Ltd., Southdown Nurseries, Foreman & Sons, Forfars, The Ganges Restaurant, TJ Visual Solutions, Newbery Ltd.
NatWest CricketForce 2008 organiser Liz O'Neill
Liz O’Neill, our CricketForce 2008 co-ordinator writes:
What a weekend we had at St James Montefiore CC.
Everything started well on Friday, the pavilion was cleared, the marquee was erected and work began with a flourish. Painting started in earnest, rubbish began to be cleared, patios were dug out and materials were moved and prepared to be used. All was looking good and we knew it would be a fantastic weekend.
Preparing the picket fence for painting
On Saturday volunteers arrived early and everyone got stuck into the jobs they were assigned, only stopping for a quick cuppa and a bacon roll. By mid morning the ground was a hive of activity and we really couldn't have predicted the amount of people who turned up to the ground to help turn St James's into the club it deserved to be. Apart from the electrics tripping occasionally everything was running like clockwork and it appeared that all our goals would be achieved by Sunday evening. The children played plenty of cricket in between painting sightscreens, boundary boards and picket fence. The paint work on the exterior of the pavilion was completed - a big thank you to John Taylor who spent many hours prior to last weekend getting the bulk of the exterior painting completed - and decorating the inside was well under way. We were joined by players and staff from Sussex CCC throughout the day, who were more than willing to participate in the days activities. And a special mention must go to Sid the Shark, who spent the best part of an hour on the ground being jumped on by very boisterous children.
Sid the Shark in the Snow
Then it was back on Sunday. It was a lovely sunny morning when we arrived at the ground, but within an hour the skies had darkened and winter had come back to haunt us. Within half an hour 5 inches of snow had fallen and work outside had ground to a halt. Admittedly it was very pretty, but unfortunately it meant that no outdoor work could be done, hardly anybody could get to the ground and that the NatWest Showcase could not be used. Chris Adams, the Sussex CCC captain and Luke Wright, Sussex CCC and England, did manage to get to the ground along with members of the England womens team. They helped out with work inside and enjoyed our hospitality, and even participated in a snowball fight with the children. Finally we asked Chris Adams to officially open our new field, a memorable sight when surrounded by inches of snow.
For us it will be back to the ground this weekend, to finish as much work as possible and get the ground ready for what will hopefully be a very successful season.
A big thank you to every volunteer who assisted us last weekend and to those who will be working again this Saturday & Sunday. Of course, a very big thank you to all the suppliers and organisations who without them NatWest CricketForce at St James's Montefiore would not have been possible.
read Liz's blog on the ECB website.....
25th February 2008 - More than 90 people turn up to the Cricket Force meeting in the Jim Parks bar at the County Ground.