Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, joined members of Springhill Cricket Club in Lower Penn this weekend to help prepare the playing surface and construct their new training nets that are to be built for the upcoming season.
Gavin joined volunteers from NatWest and club members to fit the new mobile nets. On Sunday, the club held their pre-season social event with a celebratory barbecue, which was dedicated to those who have helped the club ready itself for the new season.
The club is looking forward to being represented by three teams this upcoming season in the Staffordshire Cricket Club Championship. The first AGM meeting was held in their new pavilion earlier this month after the previous clubhouse was demolished in 2005 after it was destroyed by an arson attack.
Three years ago, the cricket club was awarded £50,000 of National Lottery funding to develop its new club-house. In addition to this, they secured a £50,000 grant from Biffa Award to complete the second phase of the development and also had financial backing from Sport England for the new facilities.
Dan Kinsey, secretary of the cricket club said: “It is a brand new clubhouse, a facility that wasn’t there at all previously. Our old wooden pavilion was burnt down 11 years ago, gutted in an arson attack, and it almost put the club to an end. The facility is solid, it is brand new. There are two changing rooms, which will have shower facilities. There are new toilet facilities, a big community room with a kitchen, and there will be a bar area too.
“Gavin Williamson has been a massive supporter of our club. He has really helped along the way. We have got a new mobile cage which we are putting together and is set to be used for the first time at the weekend. It will replace our old static nets which took a battering over the winter.”
After his visit Gavin commented: “I had a brilliant time helping out the team at Springhill Cricket Club. It’s really fantastic seeing how far the new facilities have come since the awful arson attack in 2005.
“The Club is such a wonderful community asset, and I would like to pay tribute to Dan and all those who help to run the club for their commitment. It has taken a huge amount of time, effort and dedication to get the facilities ready for the club and all the hard work has paid off.
“I would also encourage anyone with a passion for cricket or sport to get involved or even turn up and enjoy one of the friendly games matches they hold on Sundays.”