Woolpit
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to support a 4th XI on Saturdays which is
one of our goals.”
This Season
“The main plans for this season are to
obtain funding for the extension, which
is the clubs main project . It will include
2 extra changing rooms, a bigger kitchen
and more entertaining space so we can
utilise this more for fund raising and
preparing meals etc. On the field we
have looked at recruiting new players to
strengthen the 1st XI to achieve the aim of
remaining in the EAPL.
A new coaching structure is being
introduced so we can identify those
more talented players earlier and so they
can have more individual coaching but
without moving away from our main
principal of being open to all abilities
which is one of the reasons our junior
section has been so successful in attracting
youngsters.”
Atmosphere
“The mood within the club is buoyant and
optimistic as a new season approaches.
We have always tried to maintain the
values of a small family club where every
member is important no matter what their
skill or ability. It’s important we remain
one club and promote fairness and the
spirit of cricket enabling all to enjoy the
exceptional facilities that the club has
been able to resource through hard work
over the years.”
Youth
“Youth cricket is the future of the club
as youngsters come through the age
groups and into adult teams. Also,
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with the numbers that we have it also
brings in valuable money in the form
of subscription fees and also from the
parents socialising and using bar facilities
especially on Friday evening’s when the
majority of junior coaching takes place.
Without the Junior section the club would
not have progressed as we have and
having a large junior section supports
the investment that we have made in the
ground and coaching facilities.”
Community
“The club has worked hard to develop
links with local community, especially
with our local schools. We also have
worked closely on a sports partnership
with our local District Council, local
business and the County Cricket board,
all have created important links. One such
link resulted in a sponsorship deal with
a local independent school, Finborough
School, who sponsor our overseas
coach, he then coaches cricket
within the School during the
summer term. We work closely
with groups within the village
and the clubhouse is used by
these groups and village
residents providing extra
funding and an asset for
the local community.”
Ambitions
“Our
main
ambitions
are to improve facilities
with the extension to the
pavilion, to retain current
junior numbers and increase
coaches to be able to provide top
quality coaching to all, to continue to
provided top quality coaching at adult
level by encouraging more members to
become coaches, to develop further links
with Albany Railways Cricket Club in
Australia; over the last 2 years young
players from Albany have played for
Woolpit and vice versa giving our young
players the opportunity to experience a
season in Australia.
It will also be important to develop
further links with the Italian national side
in supporting cricket’s development. We
had a young talented Italian cricketer at
the club for 6 weeks in a joint initiative
between the club and the Italian National
side receiving coaching and playing
matches. Additionally, we are looking to
introduce a 4th XI on Saturday and retain
our status as an EAPL side.”