Cash boosts Gt Melton youth teams

Great Melton Cricket Club is to have its facilities upgraded to cater for a burgeoning youth setup.

The club will create new nets and a new junior wicket after getting �29,290 from England and Wales Cricket Board's Community Club Development Programme.

Club treasurer Grenville Island said it was great news for the 170 boys and girls currently in their youth teams.

"We desperately needed to extend our matchplay and practice facilities to accommodate our young cricketers."

He added: "We have a very strong junior section, and the new facility has enabled us to organise more fixtures and coaching opportunities.

We are delighted to make this award to Great Melton Cricket Club, the facility is key to the local development of cricket

Sport England's Jennie Price

"The new playing area is purely for the use of all age groups up to under-13, this has helped us enormously in the development of cricket at the club," he said.

The Community Club Development Programme aims to distribute funds from a �9.4m pot of cash provided by the Government and Sport England, with the ECB given the choice of where the funds are spent.

Sport England chief executive Jennie Price said Great Melton was the perfect candidate.

"We are delighted to make this award to Great Melton Cricket Club, the facility is key to the local development of cricket.

"This programme is an innovative way of helping to ensure that community clubs, the heart of grassroots sports development in the country, receive the capital investment they need," she said.