North Leeds
for 5’s, 7’s, 9’s & 11’s, this project when
it is completed will be named the Tom
Coupe Junior Oval in memory of one
of our junior cricketers who tragically
passed away last year.
Tom had played all his junior cricket
at the club and was a very popular
member; we are planning to have the
big opening of the oval on Tuesday 20th
August just before the Headingley Test,
fingers crossed we can get some big
names to be part of this magnificent and
special event.
SY:
How
important
development to the club?
is
youth
SW: Youth development is huge;
we have over 160 juniors with 40 on the
waiting list, all our senior sides have
mostly juniors who have come through
the junior ranks and our committee has
12 ex junior players now serving in one
way shape or form. The importance to the
club and our investment in our juniors
and the impact we have on our junior
community cannot be underestimated.
SY: How does the club ensure that
young players enjoy a smooth transition
into the senior game?
SW: When the junior has been
noticed by players/coaches he/she will
be drafted up into the 3rd team and
he will be nurtured and their progress
monitored by seniors and our wider
cricketing community.
SY: Would you consider yours to be a
community club?
SW: 100%, all the local schools feed
into the club at some age group, this
link goes back nearly 100 years with
Roundhay High School as ex pupils have
played a huge role in the club’s history
and development. We have a running
club using our clubhouse with nearly
350 members, Pilates is done inside the
club on a Mon/Tues, every year we hold
a Charity Beer Festival run by the Rotary
Club which attracts thousands, the club
is available for hiring for Birthdays/
Christenings/Wakes and Children’s
parties. Our community roots are the life
blood of the club, it is nurtured. We are
the North Leeds Cricket and Bowling
Club so members evolve from cricket to
bowling, all playing a continuing part in
sport and our community.
SY: What do you believe could be some
of the biggest challenges the club may
face in the coming years?
SW: Keeping the kids involved and
growing the coaching side of the club
while keeping control of the outgoings.
The popularity of cricket as a game is
also under threat and we need to do our
best to promote our game at all levels.
We need, as many clubs do, to see more
funding finding its way down to the
grass roots because this is where the next
Joe Roots Jonny Bairstows start their
journeys!
SY: What are the clubs ambitions for
the next five years?
for the 1st team to have some success as
it is over fifty years since they have won
anything major.
Keeping the committee and the
members energised to strive to offer a
fantastic experience when people come
to play/visit North Leeds and ensuring
that we create something for future
generations to enjoy.
SW: Maintaining a steady income
to keep on improving the club playing
facilities, creating a sustainable model
for future generations to manage easily,
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