BANGOR Cricket Club has made significant progress towards its crowdfunding target to deliver first-class training facilities at its Upritchard Park ground.
The appeal has already exceeded early expectations, with strong backing from the local community.
Earlier this week, the club passed a crucial milestone of 90 supporters which makes the project eligible for Sport NI’s Olympic Legacy Grant.
As a result, Bangor CC has been awarded just under £28,500 in grant funding. This grant, however, is conditional on the club raising the remainder of the £44,000 balance itself.
Following a generous £1,000 pledge from Boyd Rice Solicitors, the club is now on the final stretch with around £1,000 left to raise to fully unlock the grant and just over two weeks remaining in the campaign.
The new facility will support more than 280 youth members, along with a combined eight competitive men’s and women’s teams. Although the club continues to thrive, its current practice area is worn, uneven and too small, with damaged netting limiting the quality and volume of coaching, particularly for young players.
The new training area which the club hopes to install will consist of a compacted 30 x 11 metre sub-base, providing space for three training wickets, topped with a bespoke all-weather artificial wicket surface designed to deliver realistic and repeatable bounce.
The project also includes a 33ft long mobile netted batting cage and a ball-stop end net. Once complete, the facility will double the club’s coaching capacity and help future generations of local cricketers reach their potential.
To help support the club’s appeal, go to: crowdfunder.co.uk/p/brilliant-new-practice-facilities-for-bangor-cc.
