We take a look at Wednesbury Cricket Club where investment is helping the club move forwards .
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00:00We're here at Wensby Cricket Club and Craig, you're the chairman.
00:03That's right.
00:04And a bit of a celebrate to your night really.
00:06We've got the local councillors here with you.
00:08You've had a bit of money put into the club.
00:10What have you done with it?
00:11Frequently over the last 12 months really.
00:13We've had £70,000 new nets installed which we're standing in at the moment.
00:18We've had a new irrigation system fitted around the square.
00:21Two hybrid wickets installed.
00:24So this was news to me.
00:26So it's a machine.
00:27We'll try and bring it up there, a little clip of it.
00:29And it basically knits nylon into the...
00:33Yeah, it's like a big sewing machine really.
00:35Yeah, yeah.
00:36Nylon twine down, 25mm spread, down 10cm into the ground.
00:42And it helps the lifespan of the wickets.
00:46Yeah, because it's well used there, isn't it?
00:47So it just prolongs that kind of life of it.
00:50And the nets we're in, they were a tennis court once upon a time, weren't they?
00:54They were indeed, yeah.
00:56The tennis club, which is a separate club to us, kindly.
00:59They allowed us to take up this space.
01:01Yeah.
01:02So, yeah, we put the nets here.
01:04We're a small ground.
01:05We've got no space, really, for them to go other than here.
01:08Yeah.
01:09Yeah, so we're thankful to them for that.
01:11And how many people do you reckon you've got kind of tied to the club, using the club, you know, overall, roughly?
01:17Yes, we've got up to 100 children, including All-Stars and Dynamos.
01:22Very good.
01:22We run five youth teams.
01:24Yeah.
01:25And then we've got four adult sides on a Saturday and two adult Sunday sides.
01:29And where's this money come from to do all this work?
01:32Various pots.
01:33Yeah.
01:35Sport England have contributed to the ground improvements.
01:38Entrust and the council to the cricket nets.
01:41Cool.
01:42So, yeah, various pots of money.
01:44Well, I heard the council mentioned.
01:46Cue councillors.
01:48How are you doing, guys?
01:49Just introduce yourselves.
01:50Roll call.
01:51Go on.
01:51Councillor Luke Giles.
01:53I'm councillor Michael.
01:54Council P2U.
01:56Cool.
01:56So, what part of the council played in this, then, in kind of the funding on the various projects we've heard about?
02:03So, obviously, the cricket club applied for SILF funding.
02:06And, obviously, that was to help them do all the work that they've been doing.
02:09And, I mean, they've done a fantastic job here.
02:11Yeah.
02:12I really took my hat off to the club on what they've done with the money.
02:16And SILF funding stands for, just from Armageddon?
02:19Community infrastructure level.
02:21Yeah.
02:22Got you.
02:22Yeah, so that's when there's been developers who have done projects in the area and that kind of stuff.
02:26And there's a bit of money.
02:27Yeah, yeah.
02:28So, it's important, isn't it?
02:30Just for use.
02:31You know, we're always hearing, oh, kids are repaying, they're dossing on the street.
02:35You know, just on that level, having a facility like this is great, isn't it?
02:37Somewhere for them to engage themselves and learn skills, life skills, really.
02:42Yeah, and you look around tonight.
02:44I mean, the amount of kids that are involved, it's fantastic.
02:47I mean, you give them something to do.
02:50And not just, I mean, it's part of Wensbury.
02:52The cricket club is, I mean, these guys have kept this club going through some hard times.
02:57And to see it thriving like this, it's absolutely fantastic.
03:00Yeah, good.
03:01And you'd echo those comments, wouldn't you?
03:04I think, I think the thing is, this is a really historic club.
03:07It goes back, I think, to the 19th.
03:09It's 150.
03:11Wow, 150.
03:12150 years old, you know what I mean?
03:13Yeah, yeah.
03:14I mean, I've been part of this set-up in another sport, but to see the cricket club actually
03:22take this on and sort of improve it to the way it's doing is really brilliant.
03:27Yeah.
03:27So you were playing here before it was the cricket club?
03:31Yeah.
03:31Yeah.
03:32When it was still rugby.
03:33The rugby club used to be part of the sport union, yeah.
03:35And looking great for 152 Peter.
03:38Looking fantastic.
03:40And we've got a female player here, Freya.
03:42And what do you think of the facilities then, Freya?
03:45It's amazing.
03:46I've loved everything, so I've come here three years ago, four years ago now, and I'm never
03:50going to stop at this point now.
03:51Yeah, yeah, that's cool.
03:53We're after more people, aren't we, and more girls?
03:54Well, yeah, I was just going to say, yeah, you've auditioned, you've had a go bowling.
03:58I go, yeah.
03:59So, yeah, you'll be down.
04:00We've been improved on.
04:02Well, we've got the facilities now, so, yeah.
04:05So, yeah, after more female players the club are, aren't they?
04:07Yeah, most definitely.
04:09Me being the only one here, it's lovely if more women come and more girls.
04:13Yeah, yeah.
04:14It's just being more of an inclusive.
04:15environment for me, especially.
04:17Great stuff, great stuff.
04:18Well, well done to all involved guys, and long may the club keep flourishing.
04:23Cheers, guys.
04:24Cheers.