LAUNCESTON Cricket Club have had an exciting start to 2016 by securing a large grant to help towards the cost of a brand new two lane outdoor net at their club grounds.

Club secretary Bill Glen said: "Our cricket club continues to grow at our home in Lawhitton, Launceston. Our latest project is to build two lanes of ‘outdoor nets’ to ECB specifications, so that our flourishing Juniors’, Ladies’ and Seniors’ sections can enjoy practicing on high quality surfaces with excellent safety provision — the estimated cost for the whole project is £30,000.

“At the end of last season we asked our juniors, parents and adult players what they would like to improve at our club; better practice net facilities were high up on their lists. This winter we have been pursuing this goal, and we have recently been very fortunate to have received a grant for half this amount; we are now launching a fund-raising drive to meet the total cost with an equivalent amount from other sources.

“Our project will benefit our local community immensely — our Juniors’ and Ladies’ sections grow and are more successful every year; our links with three local schools grow stronger too, with Launceston College regularly using our facilities for matches and practices.

“In 2015 we started to host representative matches for the Cornwall Schools Cricket Association, and for Cornwall Ladies. We anticipate that by improving our facilities we will be able to host more such matches in future.

“The potential for growth and success at our club will increase dramatically when we complete this project; we hope to be able to build our nets for the 2016 season, and welcome any support that local people and businesses would like to offer.

“Please visit our website: www.launceston.play-cricket.com or contact me, the club secretary, on 01566 784603 for further details.”

Even though the club has a substantial grant guaranteed, they need to raise up to £8,000 to meet all the costs of building outdoor nets for 2016.

One way the club hopes to attract sponsors, both large and small, is through a ’Crowd Funder’ project which will go live later this month.

Bill Glen and the rest of the club are currently coming up with ways of attracting new sponsorship — even considering whether or not they can give away prizes to those willing to sponsor larger amounts.