preloader-img

“The smiles on the kids faces said it all”: Delight at new cricket pitch in Dunblane

Cricket Scotland @CricketScotland
July 8, 2021 3 years

In the latest of this season’s Thursday features, Gary Heatly catches up with goings on at Dunblane CC…

On Sunday, June 27 the new artificial cricket pitch in Dunblane was used for a junior tournament for the first time after amazing fund raising locally helped to put it in place.

A year ago, we told you via the Cricket Scotland website how former England batters David Gower and Mark Butcher, along with other famous names, had recorded video messages of support for Dunblane Cricket Club to help them in their bid to install the pitch.

Dunblane Cricket Club aims to give playing opportunities to boys and girls under the age of 17, welcomes all abilities and wants to foster the growth and development of the sport in the town while provide the opportunity for all players to reach their potential.

And the £5,475 crowd funded by the club 12 months ago has allowed the dream of having a cricket pitch in the area to be turned into a reality.

“The pitch was installed in Laighhills Park on Friday, June 25 by the guys from ClubTurf Cricket and by the Sunday we were hosting a junior tournament which was really exciting,” explained Alan Robertson from the club.

“It was over 100 years since a cricket match or tournament had been hosted in Dunblane and the sun shone for the occasion.

“In the weeks leading up to this one we had been to Stirling County CC, Westquarter CC and Callander CC to play in junior competitions and the kids had loved it, so to be able to bring the other clubs back to their own ground in Dunblane was a real thrill for them.

“Kids and parents from the other clubs also commented on how picturesque our ground is and we look forward to hosting many other clubs at ‘home’ going forward.

“The smiles on the kids faces said it all really when it comes to just how important it is to have a local cricket pitch and with over 40 youngsters enrolled with the club the only way is up now.

“It has taken a lot of hard work by a band of volunteers to get to this point, but it has definitely been worth it for sure.”

The junior tournament held recently was one of the ‘Countdowns Festival’ run by CFV Cricket which will help the sport to thrive in the Forth Valley area.

The June 27 opening event is pictured

Follow Dunblane Cricket Club’s amazing journey on Twitter @DunblaneCricket

If you or your club has a story for us, then please email jakeperrycricket@gmail.com and gary@gh-media.co.uk – they look forward to hearing from you!

Most Popular News

Latest Videos