STORMONT Minister Gordon Lyons was in Bangor last week to formally announce a major grant for the city’s cricket club.
Mr Lyons’ Department for Communities is providing Bangor Cricket Club with £28,500 from the Olympic Legacy Fund to help the club improve training facilities at its Uprichard Park ground.
The funding boost means the club is close to the £44,000 total which will be used to improve the small, badly worn existing training area.
Peter McIlwaine, chairman of Bangor Cricket Club, said the Olympic Legacy Fund will have a hugely positive impact on the quality of the club’s training facilities.
“This in turn means that we can bring cricket to even more people in our community and also, hopefully, develop some sports stars of the future,” he said.
“It was great to be able to show the Minister the skills and enthusiasm of some of our young cricketers during training and to outline to him the benefits that the Olympic Legacy Fund will bring.”
During his visit Mr Lyons was taken on a tour of the club’s facilities and met some of the volunteers and players.
North Down MLA Peter Martin said the funding will have a big impact on the club’s facilities, including replacing the nets.
“This is great news for all men, women and children who play cricket in Bangor and will help enable more people to be active and encourage them to take up sport,” he said.
“I want to thank Minister Lyons for agreeing to come down to visit and also the Club for hosting a really fun and interesting session.”
